Video of man being arrested in Calgary for skating has gone viral

Photo: Clint Senko - Facebook

It doesn't get more Canadian than a game of shinny hockey on a frozen pond.

It is a tradition almost as old as the nation itself, and it's been done by countless Canadians over the years.

Just don't do it in Calgary during a pandemic.

A video of Calgary police arresting a young man for skating on a pond has gone viral Saturday.

Much of the online anger over arrest has been directed at the police, but a statement by the Calgary Police Service reminds people, officers are only enforcing laws enacted by the government.

Calgary police issued a statement Saturday on its Facebook page regarding the arrest.

“This video only shows a portion of what was a long interaction. Despite signage outlining the rules at the site, bylaw services was called when over 40 people were using the area. They explained the restrictions, but could not get users to comply,” said the statement, adding because the crowd would not comply, bylaw called police.

The statement goes on to say the crowd was asked to disperse numerous times and the man who was arrested was asked “multiple times to comply with the restrictions and was given multiple opportunities to only receive a ticket.”

The man refused to provide identification to police, which by law, he is required to do.

The man was arrested for obstruction of an officer and resisting arrest for not identifying himself and for not remaining with the officers when told to do so.

“No one in our service enjoys asking Calgarians to stop doing normal activities and we completely understand the frustrations these restrictions cause as our families are grappling with them too. However, our job is to enforce the laws that our elected governments put in place and our members do their best to gain voluntary compliance,” read the statement.

The video of the interaction below contains strong language, and may not be appropriate for all viewers.