Published on January 24, 2024

Stay Safe on the Ice This Winter

The weather is warming up again and it is the perfect time to take advantage of outdoor skating within the City. Enjoy the fresh air while hitting the rink for a game of shinny or teaching little ones a new skill.

When choosing an outdoor area to skate on, keep in mind that not all ice surfaces are created equal.

Neighbourhood Boarded Rinks and Social Ice

You do not have to travel far to find somewhere to lace up your skates. There are 17 neighborhood locations with skating rinks and social ice to explore and enjoy. Don’t forget to check out freezeways in Rotary Park and Lions Park where you can glide along while enjoying the scenery.

A snowy landscape with trees and an ice skating path

Visit each location throughout the season and find your favourite. Updated ice condition info is always available online so you know which outdoor boarded rinks and social ice surfaces are ready for you to enjoy.

Sturgeon River

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.

Did you know the following environmental factors affect ice thickness?
Water depth and size of body of water.
Currents, tides and other moving water (i.e. water from stormwater outfalls).
Chemicals, including salt.
Fluctuations in water levels.
Logs, rocks and docks absorbing heat from the sun.
Changing air temperature.
Shock waves from vehicles traveling on the ice.

Your Community Pond – Not a Pond After All

Your community pond may look like the perfect place to play, but it has a secret. It's not a pond at all. It's a stormwater management facility and its unpredictable ice thickness also makes it unsafe for all activities.

Unsure if there is a stormwater management facility in your neighbourhood? This map identifies the stormwater facilities in St. Albert.

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: