posted October 03, 2012

Rink change area: people used to have to sit at an outdoor picnic table or on bleachers (very chilly!). But a new change room has been built at the back of the arena right next door, and it's beautiful.

• Rink change room opening ceremony

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Comments about this rink: e-mail us at [email protected].

2022 - 2023

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Rink diaries from earlier years

2021 - 2022

Nov.27, 2021

Opened for the season

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2020 - 2021

Dec.2, 2020

Opened for the season

COVID-RELATED RESTRICTIONS: To find out how to book a skating time, go to the city's outdoor rinks web page.
All shinny hockey has been removed except for Greenwood (and only children and youth are allowed there). The city's opening rules are described here and our rinks blog is here.

2019 - 2020

Dec.30, 2019

The rink has an alert on the city's website, saying "ice not safe for skating," no reason given.

The city has a new helmet initiative -- skaters who refuse to wear a helmet for shinny hockey are told to leave the ice, and if they refuse, staff are told to call police.

2018 - 2019

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2017 - 2018

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2016 - 2017

Nov.28, 2016

This rink opened on time. This morning it was a bit of a lake on top of the ice, but the sun was out -- now that the clouds have come the ice will probably firm up fast. The building attendant was mopping what looked like an already pretty clean floor. He said the ice was fine over the opening weekend but there were few skaters -- same as in other years.

He said this morning so far there were two skaters.

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2015 - 2016

This rink opened sometime after Nov.28, 2015 and closed March 10, 2016

Feb.13, 2016

Councillor Mihevc's skating party was from 1.30 to 3.30. It was a bright sunny day but the temperature never got above minus 18. So almost no one came. An extra rink staff had been put on for the event, so there were two staff. But there were never more than 8 people on the ice, and about the same number in the building. The councillor's assistant put out hot chocolate and cookies and bright pink valentine's day marshmallows. A few parents came through the change room with their kids after the Saturday skating lesson inside the arena, and stayed for hot chocolate.

I brought five bins of Randy's loaner skates, but only loaned out one pair -- no surprise, with the cold (despite the sun). The most remarkable thing was that when I was bringing in the skate bins from the car at the start, and asked the two youthful rink staff if they could help me, they declined. They said they had to text their supervisor for permission. She didn't answer, so they didn't help. One of them sat in the little office and worked his cell phone off an on for the two hours of the scheduled event, and the extra rink guard went out on the ice from time to time and sat inside the office to get warm the rest of the time. There were so many cookies and hot chocolate left at the end that the two staff were able to take as many as they wanted and drink as much hot chocolate as they wanted.

The city prides itself on introducing youth to their first jobs. Parents beware -- don't let your kids work at a city job -- if they think this is what work is, they may not keep a job anywhere else for very long.

Feb.9, 2016

At 1.45 pm the rink had excellent ice but it was empty. The change room was empty as well, and the indoor arena was empty. There were posters up, though, about the upcoming "Winterfest social" this weekend, advertising free skates and free hot chocolate. Sounds like fun, unless it turns very cold.

January 12, 2016, email from J.K.

Jan.17, 2016, follow-up e-mail from J.K.

Jan.6, 2017, email to Councillor Mihevc's office

we noted that last month Cedarvale Rink was closed much more often than most compressor-cooled rinks in the city. Is something wrong with the compressors?

January 7, 2016, email from Beth Gosnell, assistant to Councillor Mihevc

Your query was forwarded to me, and I have asked the Supervisor of the facility. He informed me that there were issues with the compressors going off over night during the warmer temperatures which leads to the loss of the ice bond. It has now been resolved.

Dec.27, 2015

This rink was closed from Dec.23 - 26.

Dec.17, 2015

Rink is closed.

Dec.16, 2015

Rink is closed.

Dec.15, 2015

E-mail from skater at noon: rink issues coolers unoperational @ phil white arena outside all puddles.....artificial rink

-- and yet on the city's website this rink was NOT marked as closed.

Dec.8 2015

Request from a parent council to have a skating outing for a primary school.

Response from cityrinks.ca:

Classes don't need a permit at the outdoor rinks, nor do they need permission from the recreation supervisor -- as long as you come at a pleasure-skating time, not a shinny-hockey time. When you look at the Cedarvale outdoor rink schedule, you can see that on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons it's public skating between 1.30 and 4.30, and during that time any class can come.

You don't get exclusive use but one of the rink guards at Cedarvale said they are seldom busy on weekdays during pleasure-skating time.

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2014 - 2015

March 17 2015

Rink marked "closed" for today, by 3 pm.

March 10, 2015

This rink, connected to the Phil White Arena, has very low usage most days anyway, but today at 6 pm it had nobody. Despite the "closed" signs on the change room doors, the rink gate was open and the ice was evidently okay except for one pylon near the middle. Two guys came onto the ice with hockey sticks and pucks, but they were just wearing their boots. They said the ice was not good, and they certainly didn't seem to be sliding much.

Feb.7 2015

This was the official opening of the warming room. The dicey weather forecast (lots of snow) never really happened, so skaters had a very pleasant time skating around on good ice, with little flakes of snow coming down, and the happy scene of many sledders and tobogganers going up and down the hills next to the rink.

The warming room is a very pleasant space, with benches installed kittycorner to frame the two large angled structural girders that could not be removed. In consequence, the benches form conversational areas for the skaters -- a win-win. CELOS brought skates to lend out. Federal M.P. Caroline Bennett came too.

Three of the architects and two of the capital projects staff involved with the project, as well as the contractor, came to watch the ribbon-cutting. There were also a number of Parks and Recreation staff, some from the rink and some from nearby centres or administrative units. One of the rink staff said that last winter when it was so cold, many skaters told him that they were giving up on the rink because there was nowhere to take shelter and there were no handy washrooms either. He said it's such a relief to have the warming room now, and he's sure that neighbourhood skaters will all return.

Councillor Joe Mihevc was obviously very proud of the room. He said that the kitchen is another good feature, and that skaters who want to have a neighbourhood event at the rink can now make hot chocolate and serve cookies. In summer, he said, people who are in the playground or picnicking will have handy access to the new washrooms. When he was asked about keeping the warming room open next winter for statutory holidays like Boxing Day and New Year's Day (unlike the experience of the current year), he said he was in favour and would appreciate a fall reminder.

Views of the rink

From The City of Toronto Website 2014-15

For the skating schedule, go to Cedarvale then click on Skating.

shinny hockey only

leisure skating only

2015 - 2016

2013-2014

2022 - 2023

---

Rink diaries from earlier years

2021 - 2022

Nov.27, 2021

Opened for the season

---

2020 - 2021

Dec.2, 2020

Opened for the season

COVID-RELATED RESTRICTIONS: To find out how to book a skating time, go to the city's outdoor rinks web page.
All shinny hockey has been removed except for Greenwood (and only children and youth are allowed there). The city's opening rules are described here and our rinks blog is here.

2019 - 2020

Dec.30, 2019

The rink has an alert on the city's website, saying "ice not safe for skating," no reason given.

The city has a new helmet initiative -- skaters who refuse to wear a helmet for shinny hockey are told to leave the ice, and if they refuse, staff are told to call police.

2018 - 2019

---

2017 - 2018

---

2016 - 2017

Nov.28, 2016

This rink opened on time. This morning it was a bit of a lake on top of the ice, but the sun was out -- now that the clouds have come the ice will probably firm up fast. The building attendant was mopping what looked like an already pretty clean floor. He said the ice was fine over the opening weekend but there were few skaters -- same as in other years.

He said this morning so far there were two skaters.

---

2015 - 2016

This rink opened sometime after Nov.28, 2015 and closed March 10, 2016

Feb.13, 2016

Councillor Mihevc's skating party was from 1.30 to 3.30. It was a bright sunny day but the temperature never got above minus 18. So almost no one came. An extra rink staff had been put on for the event, so there were two staff. But there were never more than 8 people on the ice, and about the same number in the building. The councillor's assistant put out hot chocolate and cookies and bright pink valentine's day marshmallows. A few parents came through the change room with their kids after the Saturday skating lesson inside the arena, and stayed for hot chocolate.

I brought five bins of Randy's loaner skates, but only loaned out one pair -- no surprise, with the cold (despite the sun). The most remarkable thing was that when I was bringing in the skate bins from the car at the start, and asked the two youthful rink staff if they could help me, they declined. They said they had to text their supervisor for permission. She didn't answer, so they didn't help. One of them sat in the little office and worked his cell phone off an on for the two hours of the scheduled event, and the extra rink guard went out on the ice from time to time and sat inside the office to get warm the rest of the time. There were so many cookies and hot chocolate left at the end that the two staff were able to take as many as they wanted and drink as much hot chocolate as they wanted.

The city prides itself on introducing youth to their first jobs. Parents beware -- don't let your kids work at a city job -- if they think this is what work is, they may not keep a job anywhere else for very long.

Feb.9, 2016

At 1.45 pm the rink had excellent ice but it was empty. The change room was empty as well, and the indoor arena was empty. There were posters up, though, about the upcoming "Winterfest social" this weekend, advertising free skates and free hot chocolate. Sounds like fun, unless it turns very cold.

January 12, 2016, email from J.K.

Jan.17, 2016, follow-up e-mail from J.K.

Jan.6, 2017, email to Councillor Mihevc's office

we noted that last month Cedarvale Rink was closed much more often than most compressor-cooled rinks in the city. Is something wrong with the compressors?

January 7, 2016, email from Beth Gosnell, assistant to Councillor Mihevc

Your query was forwarded to me, and I have asked the Supervisor of the facility. He informed me that there were issues with the compressors going off over night during the warmer temperatures which leads to the loss of the ice bond. It has now been resolved.

Dec.27, 2015

This rink was closed from Dec.23 - 26.

Dec.17, 2015

Rink is closed.

Dec.16, 2015

Rink is closed.

Dec.15, 2015

E-mail from skater at noon: rink issues coolers unoperational @ phil white arena outside all puddles.....artificial rink

-- and yet on the city's website this rink was NOT marked as closed.

Dec.8 2015

Request from a parent council to have a skating outing for a primary school.

Response from cityrinks.ca:

Classes don't need a permit at the outdoor rinks, nor do they need permission from the recreation supervisor -- as long as you come at a pleasure-skating time, not a shinny-hockey time. When you look at the Cedarvale outdoor rink schedule, you can see that on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons it's public skating between 1.30 and 4.30, and during that time any class can come.

You don't get exclusive use but one of the rink guards at Cedarvale said they are seldom busy on weekdays during pleasure-skating time.

---

2014 - 2015

March 17 2015

Rink marked "closed" for today, by 3 pm.

March 10, 2015

This rink, connected to the Phil White Arena, has very low usage most days anyway, but today at 6 pm it had nobody. Despite the "closed" signs on the change room doors, the rink gate was open and the ice was evidently okay except for one pylon near the middle. Two guys came onto the ice with hockey sticks and pucks, but they were just wearing their boots. They said the ice was not good, and they certainly didn't seem to be sliding much.

Feb.7 2015

This was the official opening of the warming room. The dicey weather forecast (lots of snow) never really happened, so skaters had a very pleasant time skating around on good ice, with little flakes of snow coming down, and the happy scene of many sledders and tobogganers going up and down the hills next to the rink.

The warming room is a very pleasant space, with benches installed kittycorner to frame the two large angled structural girders that could not be removed. In consequence, the benches form conversational areas for the skaters -- a win-win. CELOS brought skates to lend out. Federal M.P. Caroline Bennett came too.

Three of the architects and two of the capital projects staff involved with the project, as well as the contractor, came to watch the ribbon-cutting. There were also a number of Parks and Recreation staff, some from the rink and some from nearby centres or administrative units. One of the rink staff said that last winter when it was so cold, many skaters told him that they were giving up on the rink because there was nowhere to take shelter and there were no handy washrooms either. He said it's such a relief to have the warming room now, and he's sure that neighbourhood skaters will all return.

Councillor Joe Mihevc was obviously very proud of the room. He said that the kitchen is another good feature, and that skaters who want to have a neighbourhood event at the rink can now make hot chocolate and serve cookies. In summer, he said, people who are in the playground or picnicking will have handy access to the new washrooms. When he was asked about keeping the warming room open next winter for statutory holidays like Boxing Day and New Year's Day (unlike the experience of the current year), he said he was in favour and would appreciate a fall reminder.

Rink Diary 2012-2013

See also: Editor's and Rink Users' blog

Wednesday Dec 12, 2012

From Cedervale Women Shinny Skater to Dierdre Norman: All was great at Cedarvale AIR tonight. 18 women, fun game, ice was ready and guys gave us no problem clearing off at 8:30. Thx for all your help. E

Thursday Dec 6, 2012

Women's shinny 8:30 to 10pm Every Wednesday. From Dierdre Norman to Wendy Jang

The outdoor season is here and going well so far. I do need a little help from you regarding the new Cedarvale AIR. The first women-only shinny was yesterday and the women had to share the ice with the guys again. There were only 6 women as it is not well known yet and the 'lead' gal decided to share because she was unsure of how to best approach the situation. There were no difficult or abusive behaviours but obviously we want to start off on the right foot (skate) so if you could let me know who is the rink supervisor for that rink and/or who to contact to make sure there is staff and they are aware of the women-only-no-matter-what policy I would be appreciative. E, the 'lead' gal said that the only staff person was the zamboni driver. There should have been a rink guard somewhere. Can you please let me know names and contact info so that I forward this before the next shinny time? Thanks for all your support.

December 16 2012

Dec.26 2012, Boxing Day, letter from rink user to the zamboni supervisor

I want to share some concerns about Boxing Day shinny @ 10 AM (women's)-

- we had 20 min instead of 1 hour

- the zamboni driver arrived before 10 to do the ice but waited til 10:30

- we stood and sat in the cold for 10 mins while he first scraped then flooded the ice

- we had a mild altercation with the rink guard with a batch of little children at 11 who wanted their time spot on ice

We played 4 on 4 m my feet were freezing from just standing so long- the [arena beside the outdoor rink] was not open.

I did overhear the zamboni driver saying that he didn't know what the rink schedule is.

One of the Dads said he lives nearby and this is not unusual.

All of this unpleasantness would have been avoided if the zamboni driver cleaned the ice in the 10 minutes that he was actually there before 10 AM

Your help so this does not repeat itself, is very much appreciated.

Dec.28, 2012, response from zamboni supervisor

Please feel free to call me on my cell at 416-936-3262 and I can deal with the operator immediately.

In the meantime I will remind them of the importance of cleaning the ice as scheduled and provide them with more copies of the rink schedule.

Rink Capital Costs (2011)

The net cost to the city for Cedarvale was $1,387,599.30, awarded Nov 9, 2011

See this link Contract Award for Cedervale

CELOS Estimate of Rink Operating Costs (2009)

posted January 07, 2009

We have gone to several disparate sources to arrive at an estimate of annual (seasonal) operating costs of Toronto's 49 outdoor rinks ("AIR's" - Artificial Ice Rinks).

Our best estimate of direct costs from these approaches is

• maintenance staff $1.3M
• rink guards $0.5M
• energy $1.4M

Total direct cost estimate $3.2M (average about $65,000 per rink - 12 week season)