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You are in the Colonel Sam Smith Skating Trail folder
For city-wide information, see Current Rink Conditions in Latest News on the home page.
Colonel Sam Smith Skating Trail Profile
Compressors 200 hp plus 30 hp and 15 hp glycol pumps
Rink change area: Large change room with good benches, washrooms
Staff: zamboni driver and rink guards
Equipment and Maintenance: Two 75 HP compressors. Dedicated zamboni
Public Skating: 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. But no fences -- so it's open for skating by moonlight.
NO SKATE RENTALS
Opening and closing dates.
Opens: Nov 24, 2012
Closes: Mar 10, 2013
Free Pleasure-skating: Available a total of 56 hours a week, during prime time.
*prime time means after 4pm weekdays and all day on weekends
Comments about this rink: e-mail us at rinkissues@cityrinks.ca.
Rink Diary 2012-2013
Startup 2012
This rink had 2 rink staff flooding late nights (6pm to 2pm shifts). They tied to lay down at least 4 or 5 floods a night.
Visualization Of The New Trail
From The City of Toronto Website 2012-13
For the skating schedule, go to Colonel Sam Smith Rink page on the City website, then click on Skating.
For up to date listings of open rinks (not the same as scheduled openings), see Current Conditions on the cityrinks.ca Home Page
If you notice a different schedule at your rink, please let us know mail@cityrinks.ca
See also the City of Toronto Outdoor Rinks web pages.
Rink Diary 2012-2013
Startup 2012
This rink had 2 rink staff flooding late nights (6pm to 2pm shifts). They tied to lay down at least 4 or 5 floods a night.
Rink Diary 2011-2012
Saturday Dec.3 2011
good ice, nice weather
special sign
Tuesday Dec.6 2011
From Stephen O'Bright, Supervisor, Capital Projects-Building & Infrastructure, Parks, Forestry & Recreation, Parks Development & Capital Projects to an inquiry about the skating trail, from Belleville:
In 1996 a Master Plan study identified the opportunity to refurbish the existing former Power House to support park activities and the proposed "pleasure skating trail" as a recreation opportunity. The existing Power House was converted to accommodate public activity rooms, washrooms, including electrical infrastructure improvements. Concurrently, a new parking lot and traffic turning circle was constructed to reinforce access and to accommodate the arrivals to the Park.
Over the past 5 years, the new outdoor artificial ice skating trail became a reality as a result of focussed participation, community engagement and commitment.
Throughout all phases of the preservation of habitat, culture, heritage was a principle priority. The location of the skating trail minimized impacts and ensured that the park habitat was re naturalized as part of the overall amenity development. Storm water management principles were also introduced to manage the peripheral drainage patterns as well as seasonal operational needs of the skating trail.
The refrigerated trail is fully illuminated with a sound system. Its on average 4.5 m wide and 250 lineal metres in length, with a integral small practice area at the north end.
Power House conversion costs (pre City amalgamation) were approximately $800 k.
The Ice Skating trail construction costs including various consultants, studies, permit fees, and the refrigeration plant totalled $1.95 m
Rink Diary2010-2011
Wednesday Dec.8, 2010.
The skating trail opened today. Not many people know about it yet, since the official opening is not until Saturday the 11th. So there was no one skating as twilight was falling, but that situation will change, for sure, since the trail is really smooth and the view is wonderful. There's comfortable change room for people to warm up. The zamboni driver was proud to point out how long it took to make all that ice, and how solid the ice is now.
ice as smooth as glass
benches along the path
Power Plant building has a change area
lots of benches in the change area, and a Christmas tree
Dec.18 2010
Peter Kuitenbrouwer in the National Post: a great place to skate, needs hot chocolate!
Tuesday Dec. 21, 2010
January 12 2011
The skating trail continues very popular. The Christmas music has given way to a radio station which broadcasts lots of ads -- so part of the time while skaters are enjoying the outside air, they're listening to muffler ads.
February 27 2011, from L.N. to cityrinks.ca
I took my kids today at Colonel Sam Smith outdoor rink, we had lots fun. Unfortunately when I want to take picture of my kids, the supervisor come and told me not to.
I was wondering why I can't take picture in there, can you explain to me? I didn't have a chance to ask the supervisor because he left soon as he told me and I was kind of shocked.
March 7 2011, from cityrinks.ca to recreation supervisor Terry Hicklingbottom:
I understand that you are probably the relevant supervisor to respond to this email. Can you help with this? ...there seems to be some confusion about who can take a photo and under what circumstances.
March 17 2011, response from recreation supervisor Terry Hickingbottom:
There are parameters in place around photo taking and at Sam Smith we had numerous issues with enforcement and compliance of the Photography Policy.
In the instance that you have made me aware of, it would have been reasonable for our staff to create the opportunity by educating the participant regarding the "staging' of a photo to avoid having any other members of the public visible within the shot.
We will continue to educate our staff regarding this policy and the application of it at our rink locations. Read More >>
Rink Capital Costs
Tuesday Dec.6 2011
From Stephen O'Bright, Supervisor, Capital Projects-Building & Infrastructure, Parks, Forestry & Recreation, Parks Development & Capital Projects to an inquiry about the skating trail, from Belleville:
In 1996 a Master Plan study identified the opportunity to refurbish the existing former Power House to support park activities and the proposed "pleasure skating trail" as a recreation opportunity. The existing Power House was converted to accommodate public activity rooms, washrooms, including electrical infrastructure improvements. Concurrently, a new parking lot and traffic turning circle was constructed to reinforce access and to accommodate the arrivals to the Park.
Over the past 5 years, the new outdoor artificial ice skating trail became a reality as a result of focussed participation, community engagement and commitment.
Throughout all phases of the preservation of habitat, culture, heritage was a principle priority. The location of the skating trail minimized impacts and ensured that the park habitat was re naturalized as part of the overall amenity development. Storm water management principles were also introduced to manage the peripheral drainage patterns as well as seasonal operational needs of the skating trail.
The refrigerated trail is fully illuminated with a sound system. Its on average 4.5 m wide and 250 lineal metres in length, with a integral small practice area at the north end.
Power House conversion costs (pre City amalgamation) were approximately $800 k.
The Ice Skating trail construction costs including various consultants, studies, permit fees, and the refrigeration plant totalled $1.95 million
CELOS Estimate of Rink Operating Costs (2009)
posted January 07, 2009
We have gone to several disparate sources to arrive at an estimate of annual (seasonal) operating costs of Toronto's 49 outdoor rinks ("AIR's" - Artificial Ice Rinks).
Our best estimate of direct costs from these approaches is
- maintenance staff $1.3M
- rink guards $0.5M
- energy $1.4M
Total direct cost estimate $3.2M (average about $65,000 per rink - 12 week season)
Content last modified on January 23, 2013, at 06:06 PM EST