Meewasin opens outdoor rink in Saskatoon after unusually long wait

Wednesday’s opening of the Meewasin Skating Rink next to the Delta Bessborough hotel is one of the latest starts the rink has seen.

Wayne Stus, the Meewasin Valley Authority’s construction and facility supervisor, said the rink has usually been open for a month by this time of year.

“Typically, we get the rink going in late November, or for sure that first week in December,” said Stus. “This has been one of those years where the weather has been so unpredictable.”

It was important to Meewasin to have the rink up and running for the holidays.

“A lot of people will be home for the Christmas break and the holiday break,” said Stus. “With the lack of snow and winter activities to do, at least they can maybe go and come to our skating rink.”

The Dec. 20 opening was among the latest the rink has ever seen. (Will Mandzuk/650CKOM)

Over the last few weeks, rink attendants worked late into the evenings and sometimes into the night to ensure the ice surface would be functional for the holidays.

Attendants had to work late in the day to allow for temperatures to drop well below freezing in order to ensure the water would turn into ice. Stus said -10 C is the ideal temperature for flooding.

“We for sure did not have those cooler temperatures into the fall and into the beginning of winter.”

Attempts were made in early November during a colder period, but temperatures quickly rose back up above freezing and the ice turned to slush.

The rink will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free of charge. There are a limited number of skates available to borrow, but skaters were advised to bring their own if possible.