Edmonton on Ice
By Freya
I learned to skate in Grade 6 when my family first moved to Edmonton. I was nervous at first when I saw the other kids skating around effortlessly, blasting slapshots from the blue line. I laughed when my teacher advised me to “fall once per class,” but as my confidence as a skater grew, I quickly realized that Edmonton’s heart is made of ice.
From Rogers Place to the YEG Ice Castles, the Ice District, and the Silver Skate festival — Edmonton’s culture on ice has only grown since the 90s, when former city counsellor Tooker Gomberg suggested we flood the streets and let people skate to work.
Today, Edmonton has seven major outdoor rinks and over 100 community league rinks. I visited six skating rinks around the city to give you a virtual tour of Edmonton on ice.
Hawrelak Park
Hawrelak is my favourite skating rink because of its authenticity. You see everyone from beginners, to hockey players, to families — and you’re skating on a real lake! This year the main pond is closed, but you can still visit the Ice Castle and the smaller hockey rink.
For students, skating is a fantastic activity because it is free! Inspired by the friendly speedskaters I often see at Hawrelak, I love doing laps around the ponds for stress relief. It’s like running — but easier!
Frostbite and hot chocolate — that’s how I remember my first year of skating. However, city planners have been doing a lot to make winter activities more accessible. This solar skate shack is a pilot for a city-wide “warming hut” system.
Victoria Oval & IceWay
The IceWay is surreal at night, winding alongside the river valley. Only a kilometre from the Legislature and the downtown core, you can steal a moment away from the chaos — the perfect spot for a date night or quiet reflection.
Legislature Grounds
There’s something so regal about skating at the Legislature…despite the unfailingly corny music playing from the speakers above the change room. It’s a small rink but the dramatic Edmonton skyline and glimpses of the majestic building behind you make it a special visit.
Kenilworth Community League
Kenilworth brought out my inner child and reminded me why “it’s better in Edmonton.” Volunteers built a 400m long skate track which wraps around the community playground, complete with Christmas lights, hay bales, and skating aids for kids.
According to the WinterCity Edmonton initiative, we are learning to embrace winter: “the emotional climate of our city is warming in the coldest months…” The warm family spirit kept me warm enough to take this photo.
While the skating trail is open to the public, a separate hockey arena for community members keeps kids and other unsuspecting victims away from flying hockey pucks.
Rundle Park IceWay
Rundle Park is a postmodern paradise, sandwiched between the Lafarge cement plant and the forested river valley. The IceWay leads you deep into the trees past fire pits, skating dogs, kids on sleds, and the Sunridge Ski Area.
In 2012, the City launched WinterCity Edmonton, an initiative to make winter more exciting towards a city that thrives year-round. Instead of “living in denial for six months,” we’re using new technologies to make ice into art, events, and games.
This adventure of following the ice brought me to new places and communities in Edmonton. I’m starting to think of winter more as a gift than a curse, and the ice as both a shared experience and a shared resource. There are still 94 more ice rinks around Edmonton to explore!
More ways to explore Edmonton on Ice:
Boardwalk Ice on Whyte (Jan 24–27)
Silver Skate Festival (Feb 8–18)
Photo Credits: Brandon Kuhnke
