This is what the Westboro/Dovercourt rink looks like now (or a week ago, = )). But in a month or two it will indeed be a rink with a "puddle", the name affectionately given to the ice surfaces without boards or defined edges. And I'm winterizing my blog with wintery details for k'kids, with more to come....
Dovercourt has some great outdoor skating lessons that don't fill up nearly as early as the City indoor rink sessions (which I always miss). Fisher Park has what I'm told is an awesome hockey development program if you're not quite prepared for the full commitment of the West End Hockey League, the other popular option. It does however fill up extremely quickly. Fisher Park also has its own skating and power skating sessions. Registration for the winter session starts on Monday November 15th is in person only at the Community Centre office (613) 798-8945 located in the Fisher Park School, 250 Holland Ave. Payment by cash or cheque. For the hockey you have to be there bright and early.
Information on the outdoor rinks below is taken from the City of Ottawa site at http://ottawa.ca/residents/parks_recreation/seasonal/fw/outdoor_rinks/locations_en.html. Information below is current as of November 6th, 2010.
Champlain Park, 140 Carleton,, rink with puddle, field house w/ washrooms, lights, boards, supervised Mon to Fri: 5 to 9 pm, Sat, Sun: 10 am to 5 pm
Dovercourt (see Westboro, below)
Fairmont, 265 Fairmont, double surface with trailer and lights, Supervised Mon to Fri: 4:30 to 8:30 pm, Sat, Sun: 1 to 9 pm
Fisher Park, 250 Holland, Ottawa, Rink with puddle, Trailer, lights and boards (not sure whether it has supervision)
Iona, 223 Iona, Double surface, Field house, washrooms, lights, no boards, Supervised Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri: 6 to 11 pm, Wed: 4 to 9 pm, Sat, Sun: 11 to 5 pm
Laroche, 52 Bayview, Rink with puddle, Field house, washrooms, lights and boards, supervised Mon to Fri: 6 to 10 pm, Sat: noon to 9 pm, Sun: 1 to 5 pm
McKellar Park, 539 Wavell Ave., double surface, lights, no boards, field house w/ washrooms (though not sure of fieldhouse hours), supervised Mon to Fri: 4:30 to 8:30 pm, Sat, Sun: noon to 6 pmWestboro (aka Dovercourt), 411 Dovercourt Ave. , rink with puddle, trailer, washrooms etc. in recreation centre, lights, boards, supervised Mon to Fri: 4:30 to 8:30 pm, Sat, Sun: 10 am to 3 pm. Great family sledding hill at same location. Picture at right is of Dovercourt's outdoor lessons.
Woodroffe, 180 Lockhart Ave., rink with puddle, field house, washrooms, lights, boards, supervised Mon to Fri: 5 to 9 pm, Sat: 11 am to 7 pm, Sun: noon to 6 pm
