Father wants full fencing around pond where son drowned in September
The father of fiveyear-old Ahmedsadiq Elmmi, who drowned in a pond in Saskatoon’s Dundonald neighbourhood on Sept. 11, 2017, feels there’s only one solution to improve safety there.
Elmmi, a kindergarten student, died after he was located in the pond near Dundonald School. The City of Saskatoon subsequently launched a comprehensive review of storm ponds in the city.
Earlier this week, the administration brought forward three options for the Dundonald pond, including fencing the schoolyard, fencing the pond, or constructing a 1.2 metre wrought-iron fence that would serve as a physical barrier between the school and the pond.
Hussein Elmmi, Ahmedsadiq’s father, said the only option he sees as suitable is to fence the entire body of water.
“That pond, it has to be fenced,” he said. “I don’t want other parents to feel the way we feel.”
Information from the city indicates feedback collected from school administrators, teachers, social media and other consultations showed “support for partial fencing at Dundonald Pond,” because placing a barrier around the school would create an “institutional feel” and “safety risks of perimeter fencing outweigh safety benefits.”
The recommendations are still up for discussion and need to be approved by city council.
The Dundonald pond was one of the 28 wet ponds and eight dry ponds the review examined. Design and construction, barriers, maintenance, education, signs and recreational use were all part of the review.
Elmmi said he thinks additional signage may not be enough, noting some students are too young to read. City officials say increased signage would use universal symbols and language to relay information.
In newer neighbourhoods, the review recommends using roads or developments as barriers between storm ponds and schools or playgrounds. It recommends a case-by-case assessment of the use of fencing as a barrier where other options can’t be used to mitigate safety risks.
Another recommendation is for the school divisions to work with the city to teach students about storm pond safety, with added attention paid to the schools near the Dundonald and Lakeview storm ponds. The fire department will also include messages about storm pond and ice safety to all schools with nearby ponds.
The review also recommends future storm ponds be located a safe distance from schools if a barrier is not used to separate them, or if other ways of mitigating safety risks aren’t in place.
Public school division spokeswoman Veronica Baker said the division won’t comment on the recommendations at this time because they haven’t been adopted by city council.
The school division has completed an internal investigation into the drowning, but the corresponding report is still being finalized.
Corey O’Soup, the provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, was also asked to investigate the incident. His report is expected in late March.
That pond, it has to be fenced. I don’t want other parents to feel the way we feel.