City blames weather for creating new sinkhole on Sturgeon Creek path

A fresh sinkhole has emerged near the site of a previously large water-filled depression on a Sturgeon Creek active-transportation pathway. After the original sinkhole, discovered in June 2023, took over a year to repair, a new crater about 12 meters away from the original location has appeared. The current hole, measuring roughly three meters in length and 2.5 meters in width, has been obstructed with metal rods and plastic netting but continues to grow due to water infiltration and soil erosion.

City officials attribute the new sinkhole's formation to intense summer rainstorms that exacerbated existing erosion. Area councillor Shawn Dobson has noted that the original sinkhole fixing was incomplete, with the issue persisting to the south and west. Despite the recent blocking efforts, local resident Philip Kaban remains concerned about the safety of children and wildlife using the path, highlighting the flimsy nature of the current netting.

City spokeswoman Julie Dooley stated that the municipality is still working on determining the best long-term solution to prevent future sinkhole occurrences.