Winter wonderful at Glebe Memorial Rink 

Shinny at Glebe Memorial 

Photo: Roger Smith 

Rink Rats at rest 

Photo: Eric Chernoff 

Winter wonderful at Glebe Memorial Rink 

by Dudleigh Coyle  

What a treat to have a real winter again for yet another banner year of skating at the Glebe Memorial outdoor rink. Families new to the north end of the Glebe have been delighted to discover our diamond-in-the-rough at 75 Glendale. No boards, no slap shots, just old-fashioned skating and shinny. 

Special thanks to Randy Freda for great base ice and to the dedicated hoser group led by Eric Chernoff. Another remarkable year for Dave Hemphill’s student supervisors who keep watch after school and on weekends. I find it hard to believe that after 40 years of doing this job I can still convince more young dads to join our adult volunteer team – must be the orange hat, Habs tuque or crazy cool charm I exude! Whatever it is, we are a growing volunteer team, and I couldn’t be happier with how easy it is to keep our rink running so well.  

Through the years we’ve enjoyed steady support from the City of Ottawa Outdoor Rink Program. Our strength is our community base. We currently have 26 dads and grandads who take turns being the “adult in charge” during the week from 7 to 9:30 pm. Some have also joined the flooding group; the more experienced do both. On weekdays from 4 to 7 p.m. and on weekends 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., we employ student supervisors to be in charge. This system works smoothly. I’d estimate that during the last 40 years Glebe Memorial has had more than 95 parent volunteers and well over 100 student supervisors. 

We are a boardless rink catering to young families with young skaters. There is always a shinny game going on at one end of the ice. Everyone plays and everyone shovels when needed. In the event of a really heavy snowfalls, like the two that buried us between Feb. 13 and 16, we bring in a plowing service as we don’t keep a snow blower on the premises.  

Special note for parents in the north end of the Glebe – we would love to include you in our volunteer team known fondly as the Glebe Rink Rats. The job is easy and fun. Be in touch with me (dudleighcoyle@gmail.com) and I will explain. Kids love having their parents on the team.  

Dudleigh Coyle is the Chief Rink Rat at the Glebe Memorial Rink on Glendale Avenue.