Skating

Find places, dates and times to skate and play shinny in Waterloo. Learn where to borrow skates and how to book ice time. 

We strongly recommend that all skaters wear CSA-approved safety equipment. 

On this page

  1. Register for indoor skating
  2. Free skates
  3. Register for shinny and Stick & Puck
  4. Outdoor skating
  5. Borrow skates at the library for free
  6. Book ice time
  7. Powerskating clinics
  8. Fees, passes, rules and equipment

Register for indoor skating

We offer indoor skating at RIM Park, Albert McCormick Community Centre and Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex:

  • public skating – for all ages
  • parent and child skating – for parents and children 13 and under
  • adult skating – for 18+ only

Registering online saves time when you get to the rink. Book online up to 72 hours in advance. Check for schedule changes before you go.

Check the schedule and register for indoor skating

Free skates

Thank you to our sponsor, Kuppers + Greene Orthodontics for these complimentary public skates. Register up to 72 hours in advance:

  • Sunday, December 22 from 3:30 to 4:20 p.m. at RIM Park
  • Sunday, January 5 from 3:30 to 4:20 p.m. at RIM Park
  • Sunday, February 16 from 3:30 to 4:20 p.m. at RIM Park
  • Sunday, March 30 from 3:30 to 4:20 p.m. at RIM Park

Register for Shinny and Stick and Puck

All Shinny and Stick and Puck drop-in programs are at RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex.

Parent and Child Stick and Puck (12 and under) — September to June

Parent and Child Stick and Puck is where parents and guardians can help kids practice hockey skills in a relaxed setting:

  • bring your skates, sticks and pucks
  • game play is allowed
  • nets are available for use
  • a skating adult must be present
  • the ratio on the ice must be 1 adult to every 4 children

Everyone must wear CSA-approved safety equipment on the ice, including head, eye, facial protection and gloves.

Book online up to 72 hours in advance.

Check for schedule changes before you go

Register for Parent and Child Stick and Puck

Adult Stick and Puck

Players 18+ can practice stick and puck handling, and skating skills:

  • bring your skates, sticks and pucks
  • game play is allowed
  • nets are available for use

Everyone must wear CSA-approved safety equipment on the ice, including head, eye, facial protection and gloves.

Book online up to 7 days in advance. 

Check for schedule changes before you go.

Check the schedule and register for Adult Stick and Puck
Adult Shinny

Adult Shinny is a non-competitive, informal game of ice hockey for players who are 18+:

  • bring your skates, sticks and pucks
  • nets are available for use

Everyone must wear CSA-approved safety equipment on the ice, including head, eye, facial protection and gloves.

Book online up to 7 days in advance.

Check for schedule changes before you go.

Check the schedule and register for Adult Shinny

Outdoor skating

Visit our outdoor rinks page to find your local volunteer-run rink. 

Waterloo Public Square rink (closed for the season)

The uptown Waterloo Public Square rink, 75 King Street South, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., weather dependent.

Borrow skates at the library for free

Use your library card to borrow skates at the Eastside Branch or the McCormick Branch of the Waterloo Public Library:

  • the Eastside Branch is close to the rinks at RIM Park and offers both figure and hockey skates
  • the McCormick Branch is close to the rinks at Albert McCormick Community Centre and offers hockey skates only

Check the library's hours to make sure you can borrow skates at the same time you plan to skate:

  • Monday to Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • closed on Sundays and holidays

Remember, you must return skates to the same location you borrowed them from.

Book ice time

Waterloo has eight indoor ice pads at four different facilities. Most are available for rent throughout the year. All have free parking and accept cash, debit and credit. 

For more information and to book ice times, email fab@waterloo.ca.

Powerskating clinics

The City of Waterloo and Twin City Hockey Skating School offer two-week pre-season powerskating clinics at RIM Park every August. 

Check back in spring for Summer 2025 program information. 

Email powerskating@waterloo.ca with any questions about the program.

Fees, passes, skating aids and rules

Skating fees and passes

This chart outlines single admission costs and multiple visit costs using our FitPass. FitPasses can be purchased at skating facilities or online using ActiveWaterloo. Prices include HST.

Age category

Single

10 visit pass

25 visit pass

Child and youth (3 to 17)

$4.95

$44.65

$104.17

Adult (18 to 54)

$6.60

$59.60

$139.06

Seniors (55+)

$4.81

$43.32

$101.09

Family* (up to four people)

$14.90

$134.04

$312.76

Additional family member

$2.50

    

Parent and child skate

$6.60

$59.60

$139.06

Parent and child shinny**

$11.00

    

Shinny (55+, Adult or Youth)

$11.25

    

*Family admission includes two adults and two children – a maximum of four people. Parents must be with children when using the pass – maximum three extra children as additional family members.

**During the school year, children must be 13 or younger. In July and August, children must be eight or younger.

Parent and child means 1 parent and 1 child.

Skating aids

We have wheelchair skates (skis that attach to a wheelchair) available at RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex and WMRC. We recommend calling ahead to the facility to reserve them.

We don't rent or provide other skating aids (such as push bars). You can use your own at the facility staff's discretion.

Skating rules

Be considerate of others by continually moving along the boards and controlling your speed.

You can only bring strollers on the ice at the facility staff's discretion during parent and child skates.

Do not bring food or drinks on the ice.

Participants must only wear skates on the ice.

Do not carry children or pull sleighs while skating.

Do not skate at excessive speeds or cut in and out of people while skating.

Do not play tag or play rough, such as pushing or pulling.

We strongly recommend that all participants wear CSA-approved safety equipment, including head, eye and facial protection, during all skating programs.