WELLINGTON COUNTY – There are many community ice rinks available this winter to county residents.
The rinks wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of dedicated volunteers who go out, in all weather, to flood and clear the rinks to keep them in good shape for skaters of all ages to enjoy.
Centre Wellington
In Fergus, there are several outdoor rinks:
– Tye Diamond (at St. David Street South and Albert Street East);
– Ryan Park (at Ryan and Sadler streets);
– Kirvan Park (at Kirvan Street off Farley Road and Elliot Avenue East); and
– Strathallen Park (on Strathallen Street).
In Elora, there are ice rinks at:
– Bissell Park (127 East Mill St.);
– Elora Community Centre (29 David St. W.);
– Elora Meadows Park (at Marr Drive and Stumpf Street); and
– South Ridge Park (at Bridge and Stafford streets).
These Centre Wellington Township rinks are made and maintained by a team of community volunteers.
There are also volunteer-run neighbourhood rinks at other Centre Wellington parks.
At township rinks, Centre Wellington provides equipment to assist volunteers, such as hoses, nozzles and shovels.
Opening dates for the rinks vary, as it depends on volunteers’ availability and weather. Dates will be posted on the townships’s website at centrewellington.ca/living-here/recreation-parks-and-facilities/recreation-programs/outdoor-recreation.
People interested in volunteering at an ice rink in Centre Wellington or hosting a community winter rink can apply at webforms.centrewellington.ca/Community-Services/Winter-Rink-Volunteers.
Guelph/Eramosa
There are eight outdoor rinks in Guelph/Eramosa that are all maintained by community volunteers:
– Cross Creek Park (78 Cross Creek Blvd., Guelph/Eramosa);
– David Masson Park (201 Landrex Blvd., Guelph/Eramosa);
– James Lynch Park (386 Evert St., Everton);
– Lloyd Dyer Park (209 Balaclava St., Rockwood);
– Max Storey Park (162 Dunbar St., Rockwood);
– Memorial Park (19 Memorial St., Eden Mills);
– Rockmosa Park (120 Rockmosa Dr., Rockwood); and
– Valentino Park (121 Fountain St., Rockwood).
As of Dec. 29, the Guelph/Eramosa Township website listed each of these rinks as closed.
The township is seeking more volunteers to maintain the rinks, and officials say, “Being an outdoor ice rink volunteer is a great way to meet neighbours and give back to the community.”
High school students can use volunteering at an ice rink towards the volunteer hours they need for graduation.
For more information about volunteering at an outdoor rink in Guelph/Eramosa visit get.on.ca/living-here/outdoor_rink.
The township provides a water source, hose, shovels and nets for each location.
According to township officials, the temperature needs to be below -5 degrees Celsius to make ice and it does not matter if there is snow.
“Typically, we are seeing 30 to 45 skating dates per season in southwestern Ontario,” the site states.
Moorefield
The Moorefield Optimists maintain an ice rink outside their hall at 14 Ball Ave.
Optimist president Ryan Campbell said people were skating on the rink in the middle of December, but a rise in temperature the week before Christmas meant the rink had to be closed, and then flooded again on Dec. 19.
Moorefield Optimists – This rink at 14 Ball Ave. in Moorefield is maintained by the Moorefield Optimist Club. Submitted photo
He spoke to the Advertiser between visits to the rink that day, and said he was hopeful it would be back up and running as soon as the following day.
When the rink opens or closes, the club posts details on the Optimist Club of Moorefield Facebook page.
The Facebook page showed the rink needed to close again on Dec. 29.
“In 2022, the club installed the roof and curtains with significant help from community projects, fundraising efforts and local support,” Campbell said, and these help extend how long the rink can stay open.
Though it’s a large rink (40 by 90 feet) surrounded by baseboards, there’s no Zamboni to maintain the ice – it’s shoveled by volunteers and flooded with “tremendous” support from the Moorefield firefighters, Campbell said.
The other volunteers are mostly Optimist members, and there’s a good group of people helping so they aren’t currently seeking volunteers, he said.
The club is currently in the process of replacing the rink board panels, and individuals and businesses interested in advertising opportunities are encouraged to contact a club member or reach out by email at info@moorefieldoptimist.ca.
Campbell said community facilities like the Moorefield ice rink “would not be possible without the continued generosity and involvement of our residents and local businesses.”
