Closing unsafe toboggan hills in Toronto: Personal injury lawyer on liabilities with 640 Toronto

Interview Overview

In a detailed interview with Kelly Cutrara on 640 Toronto, James Fireman, an Ontario personal injury lawyer and Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, delves into the City of Toronto’s recent decision to close 45 toboggan hills due to safety concerns.

This decision has sparked questions among families eager to use their local parks for winter activities.

What are the implications of using non-sanctioned parks for tobogganing? Are parents liable for any injuries that occur? Could the city bear responsibility for accidents despite the closures?

This interview illuminates the city’s Toboggan Hill inspection program, initiated in 2017, and explores the broader implications for public safety, individual freedom, and municipal liabilities.

Fireman critically assesses the city’s protective measures and advocates for alternative strategies that could more effectively balance safety concerns with the public’s right to enjoy winter activities.

Interview Notes

• Preventing potential lawsuits: Toronto appears to be trying to prevent potential lawsuits that could incur as a result of injuries on toboggan hills. In reality, signs might not prevent the public from using hills deemed unsafe by the city. The closure of some hills can also lead to overcrowding in other parks which poses other safety risks.
• Critique of overregulation: Fireman highlights the potential for the city’s strict measures to inadvertently lead to riskier tobogganing practices in unsupervised, potentially more hazardous areas. Obstacles, including hay bales, will be placed on some hills. There is always an inherent risk to tobogganing, and parents and families can and should implement their own safety measures to prevent injuries.
• Suggestions for safety measures: Fireman proposes public education on safe tobogganing practices and equipment, alongside consideration for safer toboggan designs.

Related Resources

For further insights and discussions related to tobogganing in Toronto, public safety, and personal injury law, explore the following resources:

• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Personal Injury – Important Legal Information