In Toronto news, Ball hockey is now legal on Toronto streets after city council voted 35-2 on Friday in favor of overturning an earlier ban against playing the hallowed game on our roads.
The decision to scrap the ban covering hockey and basketball nets came up after about 20 families in the Bedford Park neighbourhood were threatened with $90 municipal fines if they didn’t take their equipment from the street — Esgore Drive — within 20 days last December.
The ban on nets in the street had been in place for generations, but only enforced following a complaint.
Coun. Christin Carmichael Greb first brought the issue to council where it was picked up by the public works and infrastructure committee. On Friday, she celebrated the decision, which she called a win for families.
“Most of us grew up doing it so it’s not anything that’s different. You yell, ‘Car!’ You get out of the way and then you yell, ‘Game on’ and come back and play,” she said.
Technically the city can face liabilities if someone is injured playing sports or games on streets, according to a 2010 report.
But Greb wasn’t worried about that Friday, saying playing cautiously is a matter of common sense.
“Parents need to teach their kids how to be responsible and play the game safely,” she said.
Leave a Reply