Outdoor rinks 101
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Follow guidelines to ensure everyone can enjoy a safe and fun skate
Who doesn’t love the feeling of stepping out onto the ice and gliding around the rink? To ensure everybody has the opportunity to enjoy Vaughan’s five outdoor rinks, the City is ramping up its resources to have staff available to support residents onsite. Skaters will be asked to keep their time on the ice to 45 minutes to share these popular community amenities with others.
It’s important to remember the City’s following health and safety guidelines and general rules so everyone can enjoy a safe and fun skate:
- In response to COVID-19 directives, the number of skaters on the ice at one time is limited to 25.
- Skating time is limited to 45 minutes. A horn will be blown to let skaters know when it’s time for the next group to enter the ice. Of note, flooding and rink maintenance may take place up to every 1½ hours – people must stay off the ice during that time.
- Practise physical distancing by keeping a safe distance of at least two metres (approximately six feet) from anyone who does not live in your home.
- Wash and sanitize hands properly before and after use.
- Do not speed or figure skate, backward skate, participate in horseplay and skating games, carry children or body-check on the ice.
- Playing hockey and shinny is not permitted.
- Note that changerooms and washrooms remain closed – it is recommended that participants arrive dressed in skating attire, apart from wearing skates. Benches and picnic tables are available for you to sit down to put on and remove skates; however, they are not sanitized.
- Skate in the same direction.
- Wear CSA-approved helmets and protective equipment (e.g. hockey gloves) – while this is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended.
- Wear skates at all times while on the ice, and wear skate guards when off the ice.
- Do not share equipment, including skates, gloves and personal water bottles.
- Gather all your belongings before exiting the rink. There is no “lost and found” on-site.
- Do not litter, and place disposable personal protective equipment, such as gloves or masks, into the garbage bin when done with them.
- Sneeze and cough into your sleeve or a tissue to prevent further transmission of germs, and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Do not visit parks and skating rinks if you are not feeling well.
- Do not use the ice when signs indicate the ice surface is unsafe.
- Follow the City of Vaughan Safe Community Centres Policy.
Boots, shoes, food, drinks, cellphones, electronic devices, animals, balls, chairs and strollers are not permitted on the ice – exceptions apply for sledges required to assist those with physical disabilities (the caregiver must wear skates). Read the Skating Rink Guidelines for more safety information.
Outdoor rinks are open daily, weather permitting, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., with the exception of the rink at Father E. Bulfon Community Centre, which closes at 10:30 p.m. They are located at the following community centres: Chancellor Community Centre (350 Ansley Grove Rd.), Dufferin Clark Community Centre (1441 Clark Ave. W.), Father E. Bulfon Community Centre (8141 Martin Grove Rd.), Garnet A. Williams Community Centre (501 Clark Ave. W.) and Vellore Village Community Centre (1 Villa Royale Ave.).
Any questions or concerns about outdoor skating rinks can be directed to Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.
Those who feel unwell, and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19, should contact York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653 or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For additional information and resources on COVID-19, including physical distancing tips and advice from Public Health officials, visit York Region's website at york.ca/COVID19.
To receive the City’s latest updates on COVID-19, check vaughan.ca/COVID19, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.
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