Website makes skating more accessible for all
Photo: The author and his hockey player sons
Photo: Sarah Housser
By Thabang Mashologu
One of the things Ottawans are known for is our love of skating. From heading down the Rideau Canal during Winterlude to games of shinny in the Glebe, skating brings us together, no matter our background, age, or skill level. We’re fortunate to have such fantastic public arenas in our city, all well-maintained by dedicated staff who keep things running smoothly year-round.
But when you try to find out when and where you can skate, you’ll notice that it’s not always as straightforward as it should be. Sure, our city’s arenas offer something for everyone – family skating, public skating, pick-up recreational hockey. However, since rink schedules vary by location and frequently change, finding drop-in skating times on the City of Ottawa website can be time-consuming and frustrating. I believe more residents would get out on the ice if access to this information were easier.
That’s why I launched the website OttawaPublicSkating.ca back in July 2023. It’s an independent, unaffiliated and free resource designed to make it easier for everyone in Ottawa to find drop-in skating times at community arenas. As a parent with two boys in Ottawa Sting rep hockey, I’m in and out of arenas all the time. However, I noticed that it was challenging for many people to find out when and where they could skate. It didn’t feel right that people had to jump through hoops just to get on the ice. So, I thought, why not bring all that information together in one easy-to-use place? Now, instead of bouncing around websites or going to rinks to check times, you can find everything you need in one spot with no hassle.
Since its launch, the site has seen steady traffic of a few thousand visitors each month. It’s especially busy during hockey and ringette tryouts, as well as around holidays and PD days. We’ve received positive feedback from users who say the site makes their lives easier. While OttawaPublicSkating.ca uses publicly available data, it’s important to note that it is an independent project and is not affiliated with the City of Ottawa. I run the site on my own. Moreover, I’ve even heard that some arena staff are now suggesting residents use the website to track skating times, meaning it is becoming a trusted source.
It’s been truly fulfilling and heartwarming to see how skating unifies our diverse community. Every time I go to the rink, seeing people of all ages, colours and backgrounds makes me proud of the wonderful community we live in. If even one person has made it to the rink because of our website, we’ve fulfilled our purpose.
One of the bonuses of this project has been involving my 12-year-old son in this project. Since he’s into coding and business, he’s started helping with updates to the site. It’s been a fantastic way for us to spend time together while he learns some real-world coding skills. Plus, it’s great seeing him take an interest in something that combines tech with community impact.
Together with my son, we are always looking for ways to improve the site. For example, we recently added ball hockey times. We’ve heard that there is a similar issue for public swimming times, but that’s still on our to-do list.
Now, just to be clear, while the site does feature some ads to help cover the costs of running it, it’s not a money-making venture – far from it. The ads simply help keep the site running, so we can continue to offer this resource for free.
It’s been wonderful to see how OttawaPublicSkating.ca fits right in the City’s Play Free initiative, which offers free family and public skating throughout 2024 for children and youth under 17 with accompanying adults. This program has indeed lowered the barriers to enjoying skating, and I’m so glad the website helps people take full advantage of it.
I also want to express my heartfelt thanks to the City of Ottawa staff who maintain our public skating rinks and provide these fantastic services to our community. Their hard work and dedication make it possible for us to enjoy safe, well-maintained skating facilities. So, if you haven’t already, visit OttawaPublicSkating.ca and let me know your thoughts. You can also follow along for updates on X (formerly Twitter) @OttawaSkates and find us on Facebook and Instagram.
See you on the ice!
Thabang Mashologu is an engineer and software executive who lives in the Glebe with his wife and two hockey-loving sons.