Temporary Tioweroton Winter Gate

A temporary gate will be erected on the Tioweró:ton Territory at the beginning of the road heading to the North House. The Tioweró:ton Department of the Lands Unit saying that the gate was removed from the Fire Road and refurbished. Over the past few years, non-locals have been attempting to use the Territory as a shortcut, getting stuck in the winter, with many not equipped for the cold temperatures. On numerous occasions, the Caretakers have had to pull them out because tow trucks cannot access the road or pick up persons walking looking for help. It also puts undue stress on the Lands Unit vehicles which are not intended to be used in towing capacities.  Veronica Leborgne is the General Manage of Lands Operations at the Lands Unit:

“We’re placing it at the beginning of the road heading up toward the North House, which is where Wendy and Gerry live, the 2 caretakers. The reason for it’s installation is because during the winter months over the past few years a lot of non-locals try and access that road and it’s really not passable by a vehicle, so they often get stuck there sometimes for hours. The caretakers have been pretty lucky that they haven’t found anyone frozen to death on that road. They have been using it as a short-cut to try and get to the other side, so the purpose of the gate is to try and prevent the non-locals from using that road during the winter and getting stuck there.”

While side by sides and snowmobiles will still be able to access the road, the gate is meant to prevent cars from accessing the road during the winter. Cars will continue to have access while the road remains passable, after which the Gate will be closed. The Gate will be installed in the coming days before the ground freezes. It will be opened or removed next spring, depending on how successful it is deemed to have been this winter.