Kids will not be able to wear bicycle helmets to skating lessons at Burnaby ice rinks after Jan. 1.
The city made the decision after receiving a memo from Skate Canada last summer that its CanSkate programs would now require CSA-approved ice and snow sport helmets.
Burnaby doesn't use the CanSkate programs but the city still thought the ban was a good idea, according to Burnaby's recreation manager, Wendy Appleton.
"What people are doing on the ice here is similar to those programs," she explained, adding CSA-approved helmets are becoming the standard. "Safety is equally important to us."
There haven't been any specific injuries or incidences that led to the decision, according to Appleton, rather the city has decided to take a proactive approach.
"We don't want to wait until there is an accident," she said. "We decided that maybe its time we don't take the risk anymore."
City staff have been working to educate parents, letting them know that bike helmets don't provide adequate protection on the ice, and the programs have seen a reduction in bike helmet use over the past couple of years, according to Appleton.
But bike helmets are much cheaper, she said, and affordability is an issue with the CSA-approved helmets.
To that end, the city will provide helmets free of charge for its spring classes, but next fall participants will either have to buy their own or rent one for a small fee from the facility, according to Appleton.
The city has also worked with some retailers in the area, asking if they'd be willing to give a discount to program participants.
Sport Chek at Metropolis at Metrotown is offering 15 per cent off helmets for those with skating lesson registration receipts from the city, as is Larry's Hockey Shop in North Vancouver.
Scoff's Hockey Shop in North Burnaby is offering 20 per cent off for its Bauer 2100 helmet.
Scoff's owner, Jason Scoffin, thought it was a good way to promote the store.
While the shop specifically caters to hockey players, the kids taking lessons in Burnaby may develop an interest in the sport, he pointed out.
"They're not hockey players, so to speak, but they may end up there," he said.
But kids will only continue with ice sports or recreation if they aren't scared off by a bad fall or injury first, Scoffin added.
"If they have a bad fall, they won't want to go back," he said, adding that kids aren't always quick enough to get their hands out in front of them before doing a forward fall on the ice.
That's why Scoffin suggests parents purchase helmets with a face cage, to prevent bruised chins or noses.
Scoffin takes his young son skating, he said, and when he started out he was wild on the ice.
"He thinks he can take off, and go a million miles an hour," he said.
And the first time, he did, he face-planted, Scoffin said.
"He was a little scared, but he wasn't hurt," he said. "He got right back up."
And bike helmets are no help in a backward fall, Scoffin pointed out, since they're intended for front falls, and don't adequately protect the back of the head, often tipping forward.
"They don't really protect from the type of fall you're going to have," he said.
