Kamloops outdoor skating rink recognized at UBCM convention

“It’s a really great all-year-round space that we’re very happy to have as a new asset.”

Construction on the rink began early last year after city council greenlit the project in February 2024. It opened to much fanfare on Jan. 7 this year and closed for the season on March 20, a few days ahead of schedule because of warm and unseasonable weather.

The ice is due to return in a few months, as the city envisions operating the rink between December and March each year as long as outdoor temperatures aren’t consistently above 8 C.

“We’re hoping to have a really activated space and making sure we have skate rentals there because that was very popular as well,” Holmes added. “We’ll make sure we have all those amenities and we’ll have lots of events to make it a really fun, active space for people to be all year around.”

The rink helped the Kamloops Outdoor Skating Association (KOSA) realize its roughly decade-old dream of seeing people skating at Riverside Park. While it also told CFJC Today that it was a “great inaugural season,” there are a few improvements it hopes to see ahead of the upcoming season.

KOSA’s wish list includes a dedicated web cam for the rink, set schedules for ice resurfacing so people can plan their outings, extended fire pit hours, adult skating aids as well as dedicated times with music turned down or off so people who want a more peaceful experience can utilize the facility.

On the maintenance side, KOSA wants people to keep as much dirt and debris off the ice, and it hopes to see staff regularly remove any debris that ends up on the rink. It also wants people to stay off the ice for a few minutes after the Zamboni leaves to let the ice harden, adding it would make the surface much more smoother.

It’s also hoping for more signs encouraging all users to be respectful of other people on the ice in the hopes of avoiding collisions.

by Victor Kaisar

Kamloops outdoor skating rink recognized at UBCM convention

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