(Submitted photo/Nancy Bepple).
Ink Lake Rink

Volunteers needed to help recreate Inks Lake outdoor rink

Dec 5, 2021 | 2:47 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Outdoor Skating Association (KOSA) is looking for donations and volunteers to help maintain great skating ice at Inks Lake this winter for recreational skating, shinny hockey and speed skating.

Last winter, KOSA and Kamloops Long Blades built and maintained an Olympic size, 400-meter speed skating oval at the lake southwest of Kamloops for six weeks. KOSA says it was used by hundreds of people.

Both organizations hope to recreate the skating oval and add pleasure skating areas, a skating path around the lake, and several large and small shinny hockey rinks. KOSA says the plan is to get the skating surfaces ready in the new year and work at maintaining them for as long as the weather will allow.

KOSA says they need 10 to 20 people who can regularly groom and flood the ice, people with a quad and blade and shovels, and can help with organizing volunteers and graphic arts and marketing. Along with people power, $5,000 is needed for homemade Zamboni equipment, an ATV with a blade to clear snow, snow blowers, signage, pumps, hoses, lumber for the rink boards, and Porta Potties.