Assiniboia welcomes Weyburn Red Wings with open arms during ammonia shutdown
2h ago
Billets were found for all Red Wings players in just four hours.
Wascana Lake is the latest place in Regina where people can enjoy a refreshing skate.
The Government of Saskatchewan announced the official opening of the Rink on Wascana on Thursday. It’s a full-sized outdoor rink with boards, lighting, washrooms and warming facilities.
“This has been in the works for about three years. It started the past couple of years with ice testing and environmental testing to make sure it could stand up and was safe to use,” said Ryan Whippler, the acting executive director of the Provincial Capital Commission.
Whippler said it took about two weeks to clear the area and build the rink.
The ice needs to be at least 19 inches thick for it to be safe; the depth currently sits at around 23 inches.
The rink in front of the Legislative Building joins Iceville — the rink at Mosaic Stadium — as two of Regina’s newest outdoor skating venues.
Crews will work to keep the Rink on Wascana up and running, flooding it every two or three days in the morning before it opens to the public for that day. The PCC invested $200,000 to complete the rink.
Garrett Gosselin with Skate Regina was out on the rink on Thursday, saying it was a nice change of pace from the organization’s normal facilities.
“We’re so used to skating indoors with no windows and no sunshine. To finally have the opportunity to step outside and have some fresh air and feel a bit freer on the ice, I think it’s really special,” Gosselin said.
“The city is so great in providing these opportunities for everyone to get out and skate. Skating is such a great activity for all ages, it’s a great cardio workout plus you get some fresh air and some sunshine,” the City View Skating Club’s Meghan Manson added. “There’s just no better way to spend your winter.”
The rink will be open to the public daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and is expected to stay open until the end of February, weather permitting. It will also be used during the Regina Frost Festival from Feb. 4-13.
Hockey will not be allowed on the rink outside of special events.