City committee calls for barriers, pond safety education after drowning

A committee studying retention pond safety after the death last fall of a kindergarten student near Ecole Dundonald School is ready to release its findings.

The City of Saskatoon scheduled meetings in the Dundonald neighbourhood Tuesday night and Wednesday night to reveal its committee’s recommendations on how to improve pond safety.

Ahmedsadiq Elmmi, a five-yearold student at Dundonald, was found in a stormwater retention pond on Sept 11. The pond is located approximately 100 metres from the school.

Tuesday’s meeting was for parents of children who attend the school.

A meeting for the community is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at nearby St. Peter School. In addition, there is a public meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Ecole Lakeview School, which is located approximately 140 metres from a body of water in the Lakeview neighbourhood.

St. Bernard Catholic School, located near Lakeview school, is about 250 metres away from the body of water.

The committee considered the following areas to improve safety: Design and construction, barriers, maintenance, education, signs and recreational use.

Administration is recommending that a partial 1.2-metre high wrought-iron fence be erected on the school side of the park pathway in Dundonald Park.

In newer neighbourhoods, administration recommends that roads or developments be used as barriers between storm ponds and schools or playgrounds.

But, administration 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.

Additionally, administration is proposing that the school divisions 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.

According to acting general manager for transportation and utilities, Angela Gardiner, the Saskatoon fire department will include messages about storm pond and ice safety to all schools with nearby ponds.

It is also recommending that storm ponds be located a safe distance from schools in the city ’s future plans if a barrier is not used to separate the two or other means of mitigating safety risks aren’t in place.

The recommendations are subject to approval by council.