Outdoor Ice Rinks

It all depends on the weather. Before we can begin flooding, the ground and concrete pad must be completely frozen. This usually takes one to two weeks of steady cold — daytime highs around –5 °C or lower and overnight lows near –10 °C. Once that happens, crews start flooding in thin layers until the ice is solid and smooth.

If the ground isn’t fully frozen, the water seeps away instead of freezing properly. That creates soft spots and uneven ice that can’t be safely maintained. Starting too soon means more work later — and a shorter season overall.

On average, it takes about 20,000 gallons of water and roughly 30 separate floods over two to three weeks. Between the Parks, Sportsplex, and Fire Department teams, that adds up to about 250 combined hours of work before opening day.

Centennial Park Outdoor Rink is a joint effort between the Town’s Parks and Sportsplex staff, with support from the Fire Department for flooding.

The natural ice surfaces (Vistas, Winter Lake, and Highlands/Briegel Ponds) are mainly maintained and checked by the Fire Department.

In 2025:

Centennial Park Outdoor Rink opened December 19, 2025 and closed March 16, 2026.

In 2024:

• Natural ice surfaces opened December 17, 2024 once ice thickness met safety standards.

• Centennial Park Outdoor Rink opened December 28 after crews began flooding December 11.
  All rinks closed February 27, 2025 when warmer weather made the ice unsafe.

No. Please stay off all natural ice surfaces until the Town has confirmed that the ice meets safety thickness standards and signage has changed to “Open.” Entering early is at your own risk.

The Town follows Canadian Red Cross guidelines for ice thickness. Ice must be thick enough to safely support people and equipment before public use is allowed.

This webpage will be updated below and any news will be posted on the Town’s social media channels. Opening and closure dates depend entirely on the weather.

Many residents look forward to the opening of the Centennial Park Outdoor Rink (ODR) each winter, but there is a significant amount of work that takes place long before the first layer of ice is made.

As temperatures begin to cool in the fall, Town staff start preparing the facility to ensure it is safe and ready for the skating season.

Fall Preparation Activities

Before ice-making can begin, staff complete a variety of maintenance and inspection tasks, including:

• Removing the pickleball nets and equipment from the court area.
• Cleaning leaves, dirt, and other debris from the concrete pad.
• Pressure washing the concrete surface to remove buildup and provide a clean base for flooding.
• Inspecting rubber safety mats around the rink and replacing any that are worn, damaged, or missing.
• Inspecting the boards and replacing broken, loose, or missing screws and hardware.
• Sealing gaps between the yellow kick plate and concrete surface to prevent water from escaping during flooding.
• Inspecting gates, latches, and hinges to ensure they operate properly.
• Checking the condition of the boards for damage that could impact safety or ice retention.
• Updating signage
• Removing weeds or vegetation that may have grown around the perimeter of the rink.
• Ensuring drainage areas are clear and functioning properly.
• Completing a final site inspection to address any maintenance concerns before winter operations begin.
• Adjusting lights and timers. 

 Ongoing Winter Maintenance

Maintaining safe and enjoyable ice conditions requires regular attention throughout the winter season. Staff routinely complete the following activities:

• Snow removal following snowfall events, once priority sidewalks and pathways have been cleared.
• Flooding the ice at least once per week, weather permitting. Flooding cannot be completed when temperatures drop below -20°C, as water can freeze in the hoses before reaching the ice surface.
• Monitoring ice conditions and conducting weekly ice depth checks.
• Repairing cracks, chips, and damaged areas that develop through use and changing weather conditions.
• Removing debris and maintaining clear, safe access points.
• Inspecting boards, gates, and surrounding areas for potential safety concerns.
• Monitoring weather conditions to determine when maintenance activities can be safely and effectively completed.
• Posting updates or temporary closures when ice conditions are not suitable for skating.

A note about flooding: While cold temperatures are needed to make ice, extreme cold can actually prevent maintenance activities. Temperatures that are too warm or too cold can impact the Town's ability to flood and maintain the rink.

We encourage users of the ice surfaces to become “Snow Patrol” volunteers by clearing snow with shovels or small push-style snowblowers. Please refrain from using motorized vehicles on the ice.  Be aware, these rinks are bordered by snow edges only and do not have boards.