Enjoy Free Leisure Skate and Shinny Hockey Programs

News Release

December 3, 2010

Lace up! Discover Toronto’s outdoor rink program

Lace up your skates! Beginning tomorrow, December 4, Toronto’s outdoor rink program is in full swing, offering a wide range of free leisure skate and shinny hockey programs for all ages. Weather permitting, the City’s outdoor rink program will operate until February 27, with an extended season at a number of locations until March 13.

Toronto’s 51 outdoor rinks are compressor-cooled, which makes it possible for them to operate in a range of weather conditions. Ice quality, however, may vary according to the outside temperature and precipitation, and closures during the skating season are sometimes necessary.

Don’t forget to protect your head. All children under the age of six must wear a CSA-approved hockey helmet on the ice. Helmets are also mandatory for people of all ages participating in supervised shinny hockey and learn-to-skate programs.

More information about Toronto’s outdoor artificial ice rinks, including a map of rink locations, schedules for each location, closures, learn-to-skate programs and helmet/equipment requirements, is available at http://www.toronto.ca/parks/skating/outdoor-rinks.htm. We also have a new Facebook page called “Outdoor Skating in Toronto.”

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto’s government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. For information about non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.