The Canada 150 rink in Gananoque, Ont. opens for skaters
The outdoor rink that once stood on Parliament Hill is finally up and running again in eastern Ontario, but it hasn't been without its hurdles.
"It's taken us a few years to actually get it up and running," said the town of Gananoque mayor Ted Lojko. "I'm just happy to see it going. I'm happy that people are using it."
The town won the bid for the rink after it was set up on Parliament Hill for the Canada 150 celebrations during the winter of 2017-18. Now officially renamed the Gord Brown Memorial Canada 150 outdoor rink, after the region's late Member of Parliament, who fought to bring it to town.
This is the first time it has seen ice, since 2018.
"We've been through a lot of struggles to kind of get open and it's kind of nice to see some community engagement here and some community recreation that is happening, finally," said Doug Wark, community services manager for the town.
Struggles that arose when cracks appeared in the concrete after it was poured in 2020. An independent report stating the work was substandard and faulty, with some calling it a white elephant.
But the town said the ice would be ready this winter, and on Jan. 22 it opened to the public.
"Once spring comes, we will be looking forward to the staff bringing forward a report on some of the remedial stuff that can be done moving forward," said Lojko, items like sealing the concrete so the pad can be used for roller-skating, lacrosse and other summer sports.
The Gord Brown Memorial Canada 150 outdoor rink in Gananoque, Ont. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
The town operations crew says it's been a learning curve to make the ice this year and keep the rink maintained.
"We're fine-tuning, we're consulting other rinks in Brockville and Kingston and we're just trying to learn best practices," Wark said, like removing the snow after that large snowfall a week ago.
"This high glass is unique. It's an NHL rink that makes the snow removal quite difficult so we had to push the snow out compared to blowing it over the boards," he added.
"We've had some issue with getting the ice on the actual concrete; so we've been adjusting and trying to flood and re-flood to get the safest and best product that we can for skating, and it's held up so far so good," Wark said.
"It brings joy to see Gord Brown's vision come true here," Wark said.
"It's just nice to se so many people enjoying it and a positive in what has been in the past a kind of negative for us in the town."
The Canada 150 rink that was on Parliament Hill during the winter of 2017-18 is now open in Gananoque, Ont. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
Gord Brown's brother Jeff is also glad to see the rink finally operational as well.
"It's been a long road," he said, looking at the skaters. "But kids are skating on the ice, they are smiling, and that's what Gord wanted to see and it's awesome to get to that day."
"I know Gord's up there now smiling down on us and it's just amazing and I'm really glad to see it finally come together," Brown said.
With restrictions at the moment, 75 skaters are allowed on the rink at once, and it is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Most of the city is evacuating': Gridlock on Alberta highway after evacuation order in Fort McMurray
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Sask. police seize 1.5M pieces of evidence, lay 60 more charges in child exploitation case
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
'Inappropriate' behaviour shuts down Dublin to New York City portal
Less than a week after two public sculptures featuring a livestream between Dublin, Ireland, and New York City debuted, 'inappropriate behaviour' in real-time interactions between people in the two cities has prompted a temporary shutdown.
Bouchard scores late to lift Oilers over Canucks, tie series
After a final frame that saw the visiting Vancouver Canucks claw their way back and tie the game late, a point shot by Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard with 38 seconds left (until what seemed like certain overtime) iced the 3-2 victory for Edmonton to knot the series.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker rails against Pride month, working women in commencement speech
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against Pride month, working women, President Biden's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend.
King Charles III unveils his first official portrait since his coronation
King Charles III has unveiled the first portrait of the monarch completed since he assumed the throne, a vivid image that depicts him in the bright red uniform of the Welsh Guards against a background of similar hues.
Full List Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Alberta announces the 4 health agencies that will replace AHS later this year
The province has released more information on its plan to break up Alberta Health Services and replace it with four sector-based health agencies.
Biden administration moving ahead on US$1 billion arms package for Israel, AP sources say
The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it is sending a new package of more than US$1 billion in arms and ammunition to Israel, two congressional aides said Tuesday.