WATER-SKIER DISAPPOINTED
Adaptive event no longer allowed on Wascana Lake
Adaptive water-skiing is one of the few summer activities that Bryson Bolianatz can do with his twin brother, Tanner.
Bryson has cerebral palsy and needs a wheelchair to get around, while his brother does not.
Last month, the 18-year-olds took part in an event called Give It A Go Day on Wascana Lake, which gives people with physical disabilities the opportunity to try water-skiing.
“Not only was it a fun time doing the actual skiing itself, but it was a nice sense of community, too,” said Bryson. “You went there and there was a bunch of people similar to me there and we all just wanted to get out on the water and have a good time.”
For the past four years, the organizers of the event have obtained and paid for a special permit to bring a motorized boat onto the lake for the event, but after several complaints were made to the Provincial Capital Commission (PCC) — which oversees Wascana Lake and the surrounding parkland — they’ve been told that’s no longer an option.
“Honestly, I feel like the people who complained should be ashamed of themselves ,” said brys on .“id on’ t think people really understand the impact that activities can have on disabled people’s lives.”
The PCC received 12 complaints this year via email, phone calls and social media, including concerns from staff working the lake on the days the event took place.
“The concerns were all around safety,” said Ryan Whippler with PCC. “I’d like to emphasize that our top priority is the safety of everyone who uses the lake.”
Typically, motorized watercraft are not allowed on the lake, but an exception was made for the group.
He said the PCC contacted the organizers before making any decisions to get their take.
“They explained that it is really difficult for them to slow down or stop their wake boat as they can put their skiers at a safety risk,” said Whippler. “Obviously there’s a concern that a paddle boarder or a kayaker, they can’t easily get out of the way.”
He said they’ve noticed a significant increase in non-motorized craft on the lake, which he said may account for the fact that there were more complaints about this year’s event than in the past.
Despite doing their best to give advanced notice to the public, including reaching out to kayaking, canoeing, rowing clubs and more, Whippler said it’s not possible to reach every single person to let them know.
“From their side of it, they feel like they’re on the side of safety. I can’t blame them for that,” said one of the organizers and adaptive water-skiing coach, Lisa Williams. “I just think we can host an event that includes safety for our athletes and safety of the general public.”
Williams doesn’t want to criticize what the PCC has done for the group in the past. She said until now, they haven’t had any problems, but feels there are ways to share the lake safely, including attaching a banner to the buoys already in the lake to alert people there is a motor boat in the area.
But whipple rs aid the PCC didn’t see any safe alternatives, including the idea of cordoning off a section of the lake so that the event and other lake users don’t cross paths.
“From a logistical standpoint that would be extremely difficult,” he said. “I don’t think there are any sure ways of making sure that the lake was safe for everybody, so that’s why we had to make the decision we did.”
Whippler said Wascana Centre has received several messages from residents about the decision, some have been understanding, others disappointed. He said the PCC has responded to each person with the same message: Safety for everyone using the lake is their top priority.
Bryson said Wascana Lake is the ideal location because it’s accessible. Eight years ago, Bryson attended the same event at Regina Beach.
In a Facebook post this week, Bryson’s mom, Bobbi Laminman Bolianatz, describes how two people had to carry her son and his wheelchair back and forth over vast amounts of gravel.
“Not safe for anyone (and he would be too big and heavy to do this now),” she wrote.
Fellow organizer and a member of Canadian National adaptive skiing team, Blake Lamontagne, said not everyone has the ability to travel to places like Regina Beach or Katepwa Lake instead.
“Wascana’s a big lake,” said Lamont ag ne who became a T4 paraplegic after being in a car crash 11 years ago. “There’s no reason why we can’t go to one side or they can’t go to one side. It’s three days out of the whole summer.”
He said give it ago day changed his life and that it breaks his heart that next year, people might not get the chance to experience it. He’s not the only one.
“It’s just unfortunate that because of a few people complaining, they caved and said that it’s no longer going to be allowed,” said Bryson. “That’s what annoyed me more because, in my opinion, they should have said exactly what I’ve been saying and just say, you know what it’s only a few days of the year.”
Despite the complaints and the decision that followed, Bryson praised the organizers of the event for creating a kind, safe space, where everyone felt welcome.
“I had an excellent time,” said Bryson. “It was amazing.”
Williams said if they don’t get permission to use Wascana Lake next year, the event will likely be cancelled because it’s too difficult to find another location accessible enough.