Record breaking temperatures in November have delayed the opening of outdoor skating rinks in City of Edmonton parks. December normally brings visions of sugar plums and skating on a frozen pond under a winter sky, but the ponds we usually skate on at William Hawrelak, Victoria, Rundle, and Jackie Parker parks are not ready for skaters.

“After the first freeze, it can take six to eight weeks for a skating surface over open water to be safe to skate on, depending on consistent freezing temperatures,” says Wayne Sager, Parks Branch Leader at William Hawrelak Park.

Large open ponds like the one in Hawrelak Park take longer to adequately freeze, prepare and maintain. Early significant snowfalls can affect and comprise the formation and preparation of ice. The ice surface also needs to be solid enough to hold the equipment required for snow removal and ice preparation and maintenance.

Ice prepared on solid ground, like the Victoria Speed Skating Oval, takes two to three weeks to prepare with consistent freezing temperatures. If the cooler weather continues, the preparation of this and similar rinks will begin by the first week of December.

Rinks will not open until safe skating surfaces are created that meet Alberta Occupational Health and Safety guidelines.

As soon as the ice at Hawrelak, Victoria, Rundle and Jackie Parker Parks are safe and properly prepared within the guidelines, the public will be notified. Opening dates may vary as these ice surfaces themselves vary in their size, location and required preparation.

The public is asked to stay off of public rinks and ponds until they are ready and opened to skaters. Going on these surfaces ahead of their opening can be dangerous and also delay their preparation.