One of Toronto's most beautiful outdoor skating rinks has reopened to the public, nearly two years after expensive maintenance bills forced its closure.
The Harbourfront Center Rink, located on the shores of Lake Ontario, officially opens for winter on Saturday night, with free hot chocolate and skate rentals.
Admission is free through the winter and the center will continue to offer free skate rentals on Saturday nights.
The rink closed in early 2023 after the Harbourfront Center Board was unable to provide the millions of dollars needed for repairs. The center had plans to turn the rink into a plaza, but that never came to fruition.
Then, this year, the federal government announced $10 million over two years to support Harbourfront Centre. A few months later, City Hall moved quickly to offer more money to reopen the rink for the winter season.
In October, Vice Mayor Ausma Malik, who also represents Spadina-Fort York, successfully used money collected by the city from two nearby developments to install a new skating rink at the harbor. According to that proposal, the amount of a one-time payment of $425,000.
“I've heard the outcry from the community about how important the skating rink is,” Malik said in an interview Saturday.
“It's a treasured spot on our waterfront,” she said, adding that she's been skating at the rink all her life and is now passing that tradition on to her family.
Harborfront Center will have to secure funding from donors and sponsors to keep the rink open for future seasons, Malik said.
Harbourfront Center CEO Cathy Loblaw Now that the city has made it possible to purchase a new rink, the center is hopeful that skating can continue. She says it's the one They die Part of what makes the center a year-round attraction.
“It's the heartbeat of the waterfront,” she said Saturday. “And (we're) excited to bring something so loved and cherished back to the community.”
New rink good for local businesses, BIA director says
The Waterfront Business Improvement District is helping cover the cost of free skate rentals every Saturday night this winter.
BIA Executive Director Tim Coker says having the third free, outdoor rink on the city's waterfront — after Bentway and Sherborne Common — helps local businesses during the slow, winter season.
“Having skating rinks is the best possible thing, 'cause I think there are days when it's very difficult to get people out … depending on the weather,” Kokur said.
When the waterfront rinks in Bentway or Sherborne are usually full, Kokur said, local businesses see more customers coming to them even during the winter season.
Although the skaters are already out at the new Harbourfront Center Rink, the opening ceremony officially starts at 7pm led by local Aboriginal DJ and hoop dancer DJ Kimiwan.
DJ'd skates will continue throughout the winter at the Harbourfront Centre.
The center is also currently hosting Winterfest Toronto, a holiday market with a variety of vendors that runs until January 5th.
