“Esquimalt once banned throwing snowballs as "missiles"”
REPEALED! A historical bylaw prohibited "throwing of any stone, snowball or other missile" in public areas.
The snowball ban in Esquimalt wasn't targeting childhood fun—it was part of broader public nuisance regulations that lumped snowballs together with stones and other projectiles as "missiles." The legal language of the era often used "missile" to mean any thrown object, not just military weaponry. Similar provisions existed in many North American municipalities, typically enacted in the early-to-mid 20th century when town councils were concerned about property damage and pedestrian safety. What made Esquimalt's version notable was that it explicitly mentioned snowballs. The bylaw has since been repealed, and Esquimalt children can now engage in snowball fights without fear of municipal prosecution.
Where the story gets it wrong
The snowball ban was not a standalone law — it was part of a broader streets regulation bylaw that prohibited throwing various objects (stones, missiles, and similar projectiles) on public roads. Snowballs were simply included in the general category of thrown objects. The law has been fully repealed and is no longer in effect in Esquimalt.
A former Township of Esquimalt bylaw prohibited the throwing of snowballs within municipal limits, classifying them alongside stones and other projectiles as "missiles." The bylaw has since been repealed and replaced by the Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2898, which does not contain a snowball prohibition.
- Current status
- Repealed
- Penalty
- The original bylaw carried standard municipal infraction fines. The snowball provision has since been repealed.