Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association asks city for mask exemption
Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association has asked city hall for an exemption to its mask mandate for all users of city-run buildings, including hockey arenas.
According to the city’s general manager of community services Lynne Lacroix, masks are required for all activities other than when participating in swimming pools.
“Mask-wearing is indeed required in all public spaces including activity spaces such as arenas, weight rooms, and running tracks,” Lacroix said Monday during the city’s planning, development and community services meeting.
Kelly Boes, executive director of Saskatoon Minor Hockey asked for an exemption citing challenges and potential for injury if hockey players are forced to wear masks while practicing and playing on the ice.
“We’re in uncharted territory here, forcing children to mask while playing in real hockey games,” Boes told the committee.
“I see potential concerns including blindspots created by a mask especially when looking down at your feet or in the crease area. An extra second looking for a puck while trying to make a play will make players much more vulnerable and not aware of another player coming.”
Mayor Charlie Clark told the committee he would like to hear from the provincial government and the public health team about how and where to mandate masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Saskatoon.
Clark noted that with more than 1,000 active cases of COVID-19 in Saskatoon, the city has the highest concentration per capita of active cases.
“We’ll do our best but I still think a provincial framework would be an easy way for all of these sports agencies to ensure they are safe and can continue,” Clark said.
Boes’ request for an exemption for players to be maskless while practicing and playing on the ice has been referred to city administration for future reporting.
Boes notes how the cities of Prince Albert and Regina do not have mask mandates for minor hockey teams when playing on the ice.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.