Published on January 13, 2026

Best Places to Skate and Dangerous Ice to Avoid

It’s time to take those skates and hit an outdoor rink! Enjoy the City’s outdoor skating facilities for a game of shinny or a family and friends outing. Do you know where to skate and what’s safe to skate on this winter?

Neighbourhood Boarded Rinks and Social Ice

Find great skating locations close to home! Explore and enjoy 17 neighbourhood locations for skating rinks and social ice. Don’t miss the freezeways in Rotary Park and Lions Park, where you can enjoy the fresh air and glide along while enjoying the scenery.

People skating at the Rotary Park Freezeway

People playing hockey at a boarded rink

To learn which outdoor boarded rinks and social ice surfaces are ready for you to enjoy, view the Outdoor Skating & Ice Conditions

Sturgeon River - Stay Safe and Off The Ice

The Sturgeon River is not safe to walk, skate, snowshoe, cross country ski or bring any type of vehicle onto. Even if you see others out on the river, do not go out on the ice. It is tempting to venture onto the surface, but it could result in severe injury or death. It is never safe to walk on the ice of the Sturgeon River, as water is continuously flowing beneath the surface.

Stormwater Management Facilities are Not Ponds

Your community stormwater management facility is unsafe for any winter activities.

Unsure if there is a stormwater management facility in your neighbourhood?

View the stormwater facilities Map

Stormwater management facilities experience fluctuating water levels, varied water quality (i.e. salt from roads and other pollutants) and temperature changes from weather conditions making these facilities unpredictable and not safe for use. To learn more, check out the video below:

Video length - 0:39

Staying Safe on the Ice
Do You Know What to do in an Emergency?

If the unexpected occurs, and you or someone else has fallen through the ice, follow these steps.

If you fall through the ice:

Call out for help.
Resist the urge to climb back where you fell in.
Get into a floating position on your stomach.
Reach forward onto the broken ice without pushing down – kick your legs and push your torso onto the ice flat.
Once you are back on the ice, crawl on your stomach or roll away from the open area with your arms and legs spread out as far as possible to evenly distribute your weight. Do not stand up!
Look for shore and make sure you are heading in the right direction.

If someone else falls through the ice:

Call 911.
Yell out rescue steps to the person.
Have them place their arms on the ice shelf and kick feet to thrust their chest onto the ice.
Instruct the individual to roll onto the ice shelf away from the hole they created.
Once away from the hole, direct the individual to crawl towards the nearest shoreline .
Stay with the person until help arrives.

(Source: Canadian Red Cross, 2019)

For more information about ice safety visit the Outdoor Ice Safety page