Skating

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. Check our cancellations page to make sure the ice pads are operating as usual.

There are also a number of outdoor rinks in neighbourhoods and public spaces across the city.

On this page

  1. Register online for skating
  2. Skating schedule
  3. Special skates
  4. Free skates
  5. Power skating clinics
  6. Fees, rules and equipment

Skating and shinny registration

Skating schedule

All participants must pre-register online on ActiveWaterloo. Skates take place at RIM Park.

The fall schedule is effective September 6. All programs are at RIM Park unless indicated.

Adult shinny

  • Monday to Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.
  • Sunday: 9:30 to 10:50 p.m.

Adult skate

P&C shinny

  • Tuesday, Thursday: 10:30 to 11:20 a.m.

P&C skate

  • Wednesday: 10:00 to 10:50 a.m.

Adult stick and puck

  • Sunday: 8:30 to 9:20 p.m.

Public skate

  • Saturday: 7:30 to 8:20 p.m. and 8:30 to 9:20 p.m.
  • Sunday: 3:30 to 4:20 p.m. and 4:30 to 5:20 p.m.

Special skates

There are no special skates scheduled at this time. 

Free skates

Thank you to our sponsors, Kuppers + Greene Orthodontics for these complimentary public skates that are provided at no charge to the community. Register in advance, up to 72 hours prior to the swim. 

Date  Time Location
Sunday, October 9 3:30 to 4:20 p.m.

RIM Park
Sunday, November 13 3:30 to 4:20 p.m. RIM Park
Sunday, December 11 3:30 to 4:20 p.m. RIM Park

Power skating clinics

The City of Waterloo operates the annual Power Skating program in August. Registration on ActiveWaterloo will begin in Spring 2023. Please review the details of each level as changes may occur to age groupings and skill expectations. 

Questions related to power skating can be sent to powerskating@waterloo.ca.

Fees, rules and equipment

Skating fees

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)

$4.85

$43.32

$101.09

Adult (18 to 54)

$6.45

$57.87

$135.02

Family* (up to four people)

$14.50

$130.18

$303.74

Additional family member

$2.45

    

Parent and child skate

$6.45

$57.87

$135.02

Parent and child shinny**

$10.75

    

Seniors (55+)

$4.85

$43.32

$101.09

*Family admission includes two adults and two children - a maximum of four people. Additional family members are $2.45 per person. Parents must be with children when using the pass. Maximum three extra children. **During the school year, children must be 13 or younger. In July and August, children must be eight or younger.

Skate rentals

Our facilities do not offer ice skate rentals. Local businesses have a number of rental options.

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 reserve them.

We don’t rent or provide other skate aids (such as push bars) at our facilities. They are permitted at the Facility operators discretion if you bring your own.

Skating rules

Be considerate of others by continually moving along the boards and keeping speed under control. Strollers are only permitted on ice during parent and child skates at the facility operators' discretion.

No food or drinks permitted on the ice and skates must be worn at all times. You cannot carry children while skating or pull sleighs. You cannot skate at excessive speeds or cut in and out of people while skating. Playing tag or rough play like pushing or pulling is not allowed.

We strongly recommend that CSA-approved safety equipment (including head, eye and facial protection) be worn by on-ice participants during all skating programs.