For better use and better management. The UNOFFICIAL Website of Toronto's Outdoor Skating Rinks
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Welcome to The Unofficial Website of Toronto's Outdoor Skating Rinks
There's nothing like outdoor skating
A project of CELOS (*)
Rink change area: there are many Muskoka chairs to change skates, and also chairs and tables indoors at the snack bar, with mats on the floor
Staff: on the rink, at the snack bar, at the skate lending, at the bonfire pit
Maintenance: This rink is made of large synthetic tiles so it doesn't need to be resurfaced to get the ice smooth.
Skate Rentals/Sharpening: Friday 6pm 11pm, Saturday & Holiday Weekdays 10am 11pm, Sunday 10am 8pm. Christmas Eve 10am 4pm, Christmas Day Closed. New Years Eve & New Years Day 10am 4pm. Family Day Monday 10am 4pm
Bonfire: Friday 6pm 11pm, Saturday & Holiday Weekdays 6pm 11pm Sunday 4pm 8pm, Christmas Eve 12pm 4pm. Christmas Day Closed. New Years Eve & New Years Day 12pm 4pm. Family Day Monday 12pm 4pm.
Comments about this rink: e-mail us at [email protected].
2017 - 2018
Friday, Jan.19, 2018
At 6 p.m. there were a few skaters, three people at the fire pit, and at least 6 courteous staff -- but not many visitors for them to help. The4 staff said there would most likely be more people later in the evening, and that weekends are busier, especially Saturday evenings. There are beautiful light displays to see, and snacks, and lots of places to sit. But some skaters were complaining that the synthetic ice is clunky and doesn't allow gliding.
beautiful lighting everywhere, although the rink itself is dim
blue skates for rent, $10
little animals that are really skate aids
the snack bar -- hot dogs, bags of chips and cookies, pop and juice
the sitting area for the snack bar
Muskoka chairs everywhere -- but mostly empty
the bonfire. Always one staff in attendance
We asked if an Ontario Place management staff person would meet us there, for a little walk-about, but she said that wouldn't work, and if we email her our questions, she could answer them that way. So we'll try that.
Monday Jan.8, 2018
12 noon: there's not a soul at the winter village in Ontario Place. The main paths are cleared but because of the warmer temperatures there's a bit of melt-water coming off the big snow piles, freezing into black ice over the asphalt -- a bit treacherous.
All the buildings are locked up. Then three people pass by on one side. One works for Ontario Place. He says two wild-life workers have just released an injured -- now healed -- duck back into the water where they rescued it.
The staff person says that the rink doesn't really open until the afternoon. He agrees that the lack of public transport to Ontario Place is a problem. They haven't been lucky with the extreme-cold weather either, but he says that even during the cold weeks, people still came, and warmed themselves at the bonfire on the weekend.
the rink has been cleared of snow but there's no one on it
the food area, but the path is not cleared yet
skate ending logo.....
....but no one is around
Questions/responses about access
Dec.22, 2017, query from Jutta Mason to [email protected]:
I'm a senior with arthritis and I can't walk the distance from the bus stop to winter village. Is there a way to be driven close to where the bonfire is?
Dec.23, 2017, response from Ontario Place info staff:
Unfortunately the closest TTC stop is about a 10 15 mins from Ontario Place and we dont have the resources to offer any type of shuttle service. If you need access to a wheelchair once you arrive, you can sign one out at the concessions building. Please note ID will be required.
Please also note that this is an outdoor event and weather should always be a consideration. If there is snowfall, we will do our best to clear the snow as quickly as possible.
Dec.24, 2017, comment from Jutta Mason
Could you please pass this note along to your management:
- my cohort is getting a lot bigger and some of us might like to bring our grandkids to Ontario Place, but the distance from TTC to where things are happening e.g. this winter is a significant barrier.
- Is the TTC stop as near as the distance would be if I spent $25 to park the car in a disabled spot?
- Would you be able to send me Ontario Place's Accessibility policies?
- Has your management considered an as-needed shuttle of the kind the airport staff drive inside the airport? Your on-site staff seem to drive a similar kind of vehicle.
I appreciate any additional information you can give me, based on these questions.
Dec.25, 2017, email from Ontario Place staff
We are currently in the process of reviewing Ontario Place accessibility policies as it is important to us to continue to work on making the space accessible to all.
As you probably are aware, Ontario Place was partially closed for 5 years until this past May so our resources are still fairly limited but will hopefully continue to grow as the continued revitalization plans progress.
The closest TTC stops are at Exhibition Place, so unfortunately not even on our property. I can confirm that we do have 26 accessible parking spots in our lots, you can find the location of these spots on our website: www.ontarioplace.com/parking. The 2 West Entrance spaces are the closest to the entrance for the winter activities. Parking is a rate of $3/half hour up to a maximum of $15.
As we work through accessibility improvements, we will certainly take customer feedback, such as yours, into consideration.
Dec.5, 2017, rink opening on Dec.8
News release about "Winter at Ontario Place" here.
Dec.4, 2017
Lots of activity because there's going to be an opening ceremony with the minister present. Vendors are getting $1000 for 5 hours serving at the event. It's impressive to see how a fantasy landscape is put together in a hurry.
last-minute plastic ice maintenance, with a heater?
dirt and trees placed on top of concrete
moving picnic tables in, skate building behind
laying out the mats for the Beaver tails truck
Choco-sol bike arriving to set up hot chocolate table
bonfire area, made to look woodsy on top of concrete
Nov.27, 2017
the rink at Ontario Place in 1980, Star photo by Dick Loek
the area that got the photoshop overlay in the media release
Summertime, it was a roller rink.
the actual rink, Nov.27, ready to go
substructure
entry point under construction
The new plastic rink seems to be almost ready, at the Waterfall Stage. Some workers at the site said they think it will open on Dec.1 -- not sure about that. They said there will be skate lending and skate sharpening in the adjacent building. Maybe food too, and music? Could be fun.
Nov.14, 2017
the magic of photoshop only gets you partway
It's a mystery: the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport sent out a press release on Nov.2, saying that their winter programming will include "skating on a synthetic ice rink and other activities."
But there's no evidence of any such rink on the grounds of Ontario Place, nor is there more information available through the Ontario Place media office. Where will it be? When will it open?
BlogTo ran a piece on the rink, but they seem to be mostly guessing too. The picture they got from the province is pretty, but so far it's only a picture -- can't skate on that.
Here's wikipedia on synthetic ice rinks.
Content last modified on January 22, 2018, at 10:22 AM EST