Blades of Glory

We’re not saying it’s easy. Teaching a two, three or four year-old to skate can be tough—on your back, your patience and your mental state. But like most things in life, early investments pay off later—and often quicker than you think. Toronto has 52 outdoor rinks available to the public, so there’s no excuse for being a Canadian who doesn’t know how to skate. Here are some of the latest additions to our ever-growing list of the rinks we love. 

It’s not the largest rink located next to Lake Ontario (Natrel wins by size) but the just-opened, 920 square metre Sherbourne Common skating rink does boast incredible views and a first-hand look at one of the widely anticipated Waterfront revitalization projects along the Lakeshore. Located in front of the park’s main pavilion, Sherbourne Common Rink offers seating around the sides of the ice and rubber matting for skates. Aside from washrooms and daily Zamboni clearing, other amenities are not available (or have yet to open) so bring snacks and sharpened skates with you.

If the confines of a typical oval rink leaves you cold, Colonel Sam Smith Skating Trail is a must visit. The 360 metre winding trail—Toronto’s first—is roughly in the shape of a figure eight and located at the base of Kipling where it meets Lakeshore. It’s open from 9 am to 10 pm (but only certain hours have rink staff). A large change area with benches helps with getting the kids’ gear on and off.

The Brickworks Skating Trail off of Bayview is a hybrid between a rink and a trail, but it can’t be beat for offering a unique combination of skating under a salvaged roof in a former industrial building, with several on-ice ‘garden mounds’ to skate around, creating a different feel than your everyday outdoor rink. The Brickworks is open Thursday nights and weekends, weather permitting, so call ahead before you go. There are a few outdoor benches for putting on skates. What we love best about this facility in any season? The food. A café is usually open on site for delicious hot chocolate and baked treats during skating hours.

The Dufferin Grove community never disappoints. It has a fantastic farmers’ market and park (in the summer), and a great skating community in the winter including skate rentals. Dufferin Rink boasts one of the most welcoming changing/warming areas in the city—think a cozy, petite chalet with wood-burning fireplace, toys, games, fresh baked bread (available for 25 cents per slice), pizzas, soups, and a Friday Night supper program especially for families. The rink tends to be busy (and note that the rink house is not open on Thursdays during the organic food market from 1 to 8 pm, however there are plenty of benches outside), but if you want to see an example of an urban rink experience done right, Dufferin Rink is the place to go.

If you love to watch them skate, but are more of a fair-weather fan yourself, take the family to Ledbury Rink in the Lawrence and Bathurst neighbourhood. The indoor change room right next to the outdoor ice provides benches and rubber mats. A large glass window overlooks the entire rink surface letting you stay warm while they skate down the length of the ice, which includes passing under a small bridge. Now that’s good urban planning.

Good to Know: All city-run rinks require helmets for kids age six and under.

Take the kids out to new rinks this winter and ensure that the only thing that’ll get dull is their well-used skates.