Skiers and snowboarders of all ages must wear helmets at Nova Scotia ski hills. Nova Scotia's Snow Sport Helmet Act, which has been Nova Scotia law since 2012, requires all downhill skiers and snowboarders to wear a securely fastened, certified snow sport helmet on ski lifts or the slopes.
Parents are responsible to ensure that kids under 16 wear a helmet. Ski hill owners must post signs reminding ski hill users that they have to wear a helmet.
The majority of Nova Scotia skiers and boarders already wear helmets voluntarily, but the province chose to regulate as a way to try to encourage those who don't wear one. Nova Scotia was the first province to have such a law.
Ski hill users who break the helmet law face a minimum $250 fine (out-of-court settlement fine of $410), while ski hill owners face a fine of up to $2000.
For more information:
- Read the law online at: nslegislature.ca;
- helmetmatch.com (Atlantic Collaborative on Injury Prevention and QEII Department of Neurosurgery);
- myhelmet.ca or moncasque.ca (Canadian Ski Council);
- Canadian Paediatric Society - Skiing and snowboarding safety.