Warm Montreal weather affecting some winter activities

With warm weather closing out the year, outdoor activities are being affected and looking for family fun can be tricky — and sometimes dangerous — with mild temperatures.

The newly opened covered, refrigerated ice rink on Dawson Avenue in Dorval is the only game in town on mild days.

"It's part of our reflection on how to deal with climate change. At least now we have one skating rink that's going to be open," said Dorval Mayor Marc Doret.

One family passing the puck around says their other winter sports are unavailable these days.

"Usually when we have more snow here, we do skiing and stuff like that. But with the rain, I mean, except the movie theatre, a good option is to go outside — it's the rink right here," one resident told CTV News.

Montreal reached a high of 11 C on Monday, with the forecast calling for a high of 4 C on Tuesday. 

Right next to this rink beside Edgar Rouleau Arena is a new toboggan hill but on Monday it was all green.

"If we don't have any snow, what else can we do? We can get a snow cannon. And that's for 2025. It's just a little bit too early right now. I would say that the crews are going to come in mid-January and that's going to be the future as well for a lot of other cities," the mayor said.

One resident says it's a good idea.

"A snow cannon? Tobogganing … those are some of the best memories of my girls and my kids. And they're actually, like, 13 and 16 years old and they're like, 'Dad, we can't do that anymore," he said.

Something else you can't do anymore is trust the ice on lakes and rivers.

Raynald Hawkins, the executive director for the Quebec branch of the Lifesaving Society, says an average of seven Quebecers fall through ice each winter.

"The majority of the winter drowning victims in Quebec province occur more with snowmobilers and VTTs [all terrain vehicles] and because the person didn't respect those safety components," he said.

He says any ice surface less than 10 centimetres is dangerous. Hawkins says call 911 if you see someone go through the ice and try to pull them out while keeping your distance.

"Use your hockey stick, use your coat, use wood, use something to have the extension to the victim and tell the victim to grab it," he said.

He adds that if you go through the ice, get your upper body out and slide or crawl to safety.

"When you can put your arms outside, kick with your legs, like in swimming lessons, and try to put your upper body outside," he said.

Doret says there are plenty of safe activities to help fill the holiday period, even with mild temperatures.