The rink is up and running thanks to the amazing effort by the maintenance team. This year there are no COVID restrictions from the city. Indoor facilities will be open during supervised rink hours for warming, skate changing, washroom use, and access to the first aid kit. Our student volunteers will oversee the use of the changerooms and the rink during these hours.

Students, if you’re 14 yrs old or older, this is a great way to earn your community volunteer hours. We’re always looking for more help. Sign up is easy with our Google form:
https://forms.gle/EmpbS7UVRit5y7fg9

Contact us at ChamplainParkRink@gmail.com if you have questions.

Supervised Rink Hours for 2023:

Mon-Fri 6-9 PM
Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM
Sunday 12-4 PM

Public requests to the city for ice time permits will continue to be forwarded to the rink operators. We encourage all rink users to review the City of Ottawa’s outdoor skating rules.

Champlain Park ODR updates

See our Facebook page for the latest rink news and schedule (also posted near the rink).

Let’s have a great skating season!

Here’s how you can help make that happen.

1. Respect others.
2. Leave the rink in better shape than you found it.
3. Please keep snow off the boards (1′ away or over is preferred).
4. Have fun!

Views of the new freshly flooded rink on the morning of January 16, 2023:
Continue reading “The Rink is Open!” →

Champlain Park Outdoor Rink – call for community support!

Hello Champlain Park residents and friends,

We’re happy to let you know that the Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA) will be taking on the task of building and maintaining the Champlain Park outdoor rink for the 2022/23 season. A huge thanks to our neighbours, Paul O’Blenes and Rod Gillyatt, who have volunteered as rink maintenance coordinators this year! Both worked with Matt during the past two years.

We’re also grateful to Aimee Ferron, who is taking on the rink supervision contract again, as she has done for the past two years.

We are looking for volunteers for both Maintenance and Supervision (separate duties).

Continue reading “Rink: Call for Support” →

Will be even slipperier with today’s freezing rain 🙂

Here’s the message Matt posted on Facebook this morning:

All three surfaces are now open!

Some caution is required as the ice is in fair condition. A couple of days of skating should smooth out most of the bumps. There are also a couple of ice chippers available for chipping away any bumps.

A big thank you to the volunteer crew for putting the surfaces together in just 5 days.

As a reminder, more frequent updates will be provided on the CP Outdoor Rink group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2537978573169546/

As the days grow longer and spring appears on the horizon, the Champlain Park rink volunteers recently got together for a game of parents vs kids hockey, and to celebrate the successes of winter 2021.

Continue reading “Outdoor Rink Wrap Up” →

An update on our Rink page https://champlainpark.org/park/the-rink/…

Important notice – Provincial Shutdown Update – Outdoor Rinks

On Tuesday February 16^th, 2021, the Government of Ontario is moving Ottawa to the orange level of restriction. The main difference at Champlain Park is that team sports (hockey) is now allowed, with restrictions.

Although outdoor skating is permitted, there are restrictions and requirements that must be adhered to:

• There is a requirement to wear masks within 15 meters of the rink.
• A maximum of 25 skaters permitted on boarded rinks.
• A maximum of 12 skaters on puddle rinks.
• Maintain a 2 meter physical distance between those residing in different households.

The orange level of restriction does allow for game play to resume and indoor facilities to be open for purposes beyond washroom and first aid use. Therefore, effective Tuesday February 16^th, the following allowances will be implemented within the outdoor rink program:

• Hockey, ringette and other game play activity will be permitted on the rinks with the requirement for those from different households to maintain a 2 meter physical distance.
• Indoor facilities will be open for washroom use, first aid requirements, warming and skate changing (health screening must be completed before entering the facility) – may not be available at Champlain Park.

Public requests for ice time permits will continue to be forwarded to the rink operators. The restrictions for hockey or ringette apply to permit requests as well.

Please let your Rink Supervisors know if you have any specific questions pertaining to your rink: Contact Matt @ ChamplainParkRink@gmail.com

Just a quick note to say the rink is now iced up and fully open as of this morning. We have three areas – the hockey rink inside the boards, a circular skating loop rink outside the boards and a “puddle” rink over the baseball diamond.

Thanks to the team of volunteers for getting it into shape, lead by Matt.

Be aware of the city COVID rules, rough summary: masks required and distancing (crowd limits too) and no team sports.

– Alex

Champlain Park Outdoor Rink – call for community support!

Hello Champlain Park residents and friends,

We’re happy to let you know that the Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA) will be taking on the task of building and maintaining the Champlain Park outdoor rink for the 2020 season. A huge thanks to our neighbours, Matt Karam and Paul O’Blenes, who have volunteered as rink coordinators this year!

We have already received interest from community members to assist with the rink, but we will need all the help we can get for rink maintenance. Maintenance needs will be a mix of regularly scheduled tasks, as well as ad hoc calls for help, depending on weather events and conditions (such as shoveling snow before a thaw or small frequent clearings during a blizzard). A large volunteer network will help ensure we maximize the number of days the rink is open. We are eager to begin building the rink as soon as the weather permits, hopefully around mid-December.

In terms of COVID countermeasures, the City will be posting signage at all outdoor rinks this winter, reminding skaters to maintain 2 metres distance and specifying gathering limits, based on allowances that apply at the time. Please note that in light of the current public health conditions, the CPCA will not be taking on the responsibility to provide either public access to the Fieldhouse changerooms, or supervised rink hours. However, a special thank you goes to St. George School, who graciously donated three benches which will be available outdoors to put on and take off skates.

If you are interested in volunteering to help with maintenance, please email Matt at ChamplainParkRink@gmail.com. We would also welcome students looking to fulfill their community hour requirements.

Looking forward to a happy and safe winter on the Champlain Park ODR!

Dan Wilcock