New outdoor ice rink opens its doors to the community
Recently, things got a little easier for students and families in the Jewish community looking to scratch their outdoor skating itch.
On January 20, 2021, the Gray Academy-Tough Duck Community Ice Rink officially opened. A brave group of community members gathered on the chilly Wednesday afternoon for the inaugural skate, marking the beginning of what will become a trendy spot in the Jewish community for many winters to come.
Gray Academy spearheaded the rink's creation, but it became a group effort, as is the case with many great things. The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba presented the opportunity to be involved in the rink's creation to the Rich family, who were quick to jump on board with the idea.
"We were told about the idea of the rink, and it was something that we thought was very important," says Gavin Rich. "Part of our family's foundation mandate is that we invest locally, and we thought that this would be something that can benefit many people for many years."
In addition to being open to the community, the rink is a fun change of pace for students at Gray Academy of Jewish Education. They can now add hockey and skating to the list of Phys Ed activities they take part in at school.
Hockey Skills, lessons to enhance students’ on-ice abilities, are now available for the first time.
"The numbers speak for themselves. We're thrilled about how popular it's been because to us, it's all about use, use, and more use," says Rich. "We hope that this gets used by as many people as possible, which we're already seeing happen."
However, the rink is still not quite in its final stage. The 2021/2022 winter season will bring with it the installation of permanent lighting, ensuring that future on-ice excitement will continue into the evening for years to come.