Quebec father refuses to take down snow fort in front yard
Quebec father refuses to take down snow fort in front yard after city determines it’s a safety hazard
A snow-fort battle has broken out in Beaconsfield.
Early in the new year Yan Lefebvre built a snow fort in his front yard for his and other children to enjoy, but it wasn’t long before he was contacted by the city and told to take it down.
Mayor Georges Bourelle told the Montreal Gazette that the fort encroaches on city property and poses a risk to both children and city workers.
Lefebvre spoke to the media, saying that he doesn’t understand why it’s a problem. He said the fort is a good thing because it gets the kids outside playing.
Parents say they will supervise and then get distracted for a minute and a tragedy can occur
“Building a snow fort is a personal decision,” Bourelle said. “Personally, I wouldn’t build one because they can be dangerous. But then, a swimming pool can be dangerous, too. Parents say they will supervise and then get distracted for a minute and a tragedy can occur.
“The issue in this case is that the city property line measures two metres in from the street and part of this fort is built on city property.”
The fort has no roof, so there is no danger of a potentially-deadly snow-ceiling collapse, but Bourelle said at this time of year it is dark by 5 p.m., visibility is poor and children are still outside playing.
Related
Two young boys survive more than two hours trapped in snowbank after plough accidentally buries them
Ontario boy, 9, dies after he was found trapped under a collapsed snowbank near his family’s farm
Freedom sliders defy tobogganing bans in defence of Canadians’ right to slide down hills
“If a snow plow passes, there is a chance the children won’t be seen,” he said. “I haven’t stopped snow removal on the street at this point, but the next time we have a snow storm, we will have to give it some serious thought.”
According to a report, Lefebvre said he plans to have a rebuilding party this weekend to repair damage done to the fort by a passing snow plough.
Bourelle said there is no bylaw prohibiting the building of snow forts, so Lefebvre cannot be fined.
“We can’t legislate everything people do,” Bourelle said. “But it boils down to common sense and good judgment. Do parents want to expose their children to a potential risk? And I don’t want to put a city worker in a position where a tragedy could occur.”