Public weight scales at Hamilton’s Wild Waterworks ‘need to go,’ says nutritionist

Back in late June, Amy Ormrod had hoped to recreate one of her favourite childhood memories with her young son at Hamilton's Wild Waterworks.

The 43-year-old had grown up riding the water slides at the Van Wagners Beach Road park - but what happened on her last visit has put that tradition on pause.

Walking toward one of the slides, Ormrod told The Spectator she suddenly saw kids getting weighed and a sign requiring all visitors to step onto the scale.

I couldn't believe it," said Ormrod, who opted to avoid the water slides that day. I couldn't do it, it's just so humiliating."

The weigh scale policy at Wild Waterworks has drawn the ire of many after it was first reported by CHCH. Several people, including Ormrod, have also left negative online reviews of the park, all of which point fingers at the rule.

Bruce Harschnitz, a manager at the Hamilton Conservation Authority, which oversees the water park, told The Spectator that in an effort not to offend specific individuals, all riders are being asked to go on the scales before being permitted on the attraction."

Harschnitz said the scale readings are viewed only by staff and are not broadcast to the public - unlike some have alleged online.

He further pointed to the maximum weight limits that are set by water slide manufacturers as reasoning for the process. Tube slides have a combined weight limit of 400 pounds, while body slides have a weight limit of 300 pounds, according to the park.

It's unclear when exactly the weigh-ins were implemented at the park, however, Ormrod did note that she wasn't weighed before riding the water slides back in 2019. Wild Waterworks was closed for both the 2020 and 2021 season due to COVID.

Regardless of when the policy began, Hamilton-based nutritionist and intuitive eating counsellor Michelle Cordeiro said the scales need to go."

Cordeiro said water parks are already hard places" to be for people who struggle with their body image or an eating disorder.

It really lacks a lot of compassion and understanding to put a policy in place that is supposed to be about safety, but is putting people in an unsafe place by publicly weighing them," she said.

Cordeiro suggested the park change out the numerical weight scales, as well as ensure visitors understand which slides they may not be able to ride as early as when they purchase a ticket.

Harschnitz said, in the wake of the backlash, the conservation authority will be reviewing our safety procedures to determine how best to meet safety standards and follow guidelines and restrictions while still providing the best possible visitor experience."

Rules at other parks

The Hamilton water park isn't the only Ontario facility with rules that require weigh-ins.

Wet N' Wild Toronto manager Susan Kruizinga told The Spectator that the Brampton water park has information online about weight and height restrictions on their slides as well as signage throughout the park making people are aware that they will be weighed" before riding.

At Splash Works, which is located inside of Canada's Wonderland, there are several weight-sensitive attractions - but they feature nonnumerical scale systems, said spokesperson Grace Peacock.

Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com