Stay off frozen lakes and ponds, park board warns

The Vancouver Park Board is warning people to stay off frozen lakes and ponds.

While temperatures are dipping well below the freezing mark, officials say it's not yet safe to walk on.

Currently, the ice is about three centimetres thick. According to the Canadian Red Cross, ice needs to be at least 15 centimetres for walking and at least 20 centimetres for skating.

The Park Board has assigned crews to patrol area lakes.

The warning is in effect for Trout Lake, Lost Lagoon, Jericho Park and the pond in Sutcliffe Park at the entrance to Granville Island.

Farm turned ice rink

Although it isn't safe to walk or skate on ponds or lakes, a farmer in Surrey has found a safer solution. Jas Singh flooded a portion of his land transforming the fields into an outdoor ice rink.

"We are lighting the whole place up, dance lights coming up," Singh told CBC News. "So we're here all night long if people want to come out."

Singh says the farm will be accepting donations for their food bank operation.

On Saturday, it was sunny but windy in Vancouver with a high of -2 C. It's expected to dip down to a low of - 9 C Saturday night. Sunday's forecast calls for a mix of sun and cloud and a high of -2 C.