Olivia TaylorI love winter – the hot drinks, hangouts near the fireplace, thick coats, snow tubing, and of course, ice skating. My parents used to take our whole family skating every winter, and it brings up such fun and meaningful memories for me.
So, this winter, I’ve decided to keep the tradition alive and bring my nieces and nephews to the rink! Fortunately, Ottawa has numerous rinks to enjoy, with some of them available to the public at no cost.
By the end of the day, we had so much fun that we wanted to share with you the joy of ice skating, so we came up with this list! If you’re looking for low-cost activities to enjoy with your family or need places to practice your skating and hockey skills, read on!
Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink
– Media Credit: City of Ottawa
Address: 2185 Arch St
Business Hours:
- Monday-Friday (8 AM – 10 PM)
- Saturday-Sunday (10 AM – 10 PM)
Contact: +1 613-580-3600
Pricing: FREE
Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink on Arch Street is open to the public for free. It’s open every November to April for people to enjoy, unless the weather gets too intense. It’s perfect for students or families who want to have fun without spending a lot of money.
So, whether you’re bringing your team for hockey practice or just want to skate to relax, it’s a good option. The rink is conveniently located near the Canterbury Recreation Facility.
This rink has free on-site parking, a shaded patio area, picnic tables, basketball courts, and decent washrooms. It’s also near a park with a playground.
| Pro Tip: During spring and summer, you can rent out the covered outdoor rink slab for your programs. You can contact [email protected] for more details. |
Lansdowne Park
– Media Credit: splashofartistry
Address: Princess Patricia Way
Business Hours: Daily (5 AM – 11 PM)
Contact: +16135802429
Pricing: FREE
Lansdowne Park is a great place to skate, and the best part is that access is free! There are also skate sharpening and skate rental services available on Fridays and weekends, provided by Final Pass Skate Pass.
Skate rental costs $20 for 1.5 hours of use. Skate sharpening costs $10.
The outdoor refrigerated rink is just one of the many amenities at this park that are open to the public throughout the year. During the warmer months, you can play basketball here as well.
We love going here because there’s something fun for the whole family. There are numerous courtyards, green spaces, heritage buildings, such as the Aberdeen Plaza and the Horticulture Building, as well as vibrant play areas.
There’s on-street parking and an underground parking garage that is free for use. Unless it’s a game day, when only Club Seat ticket holders are allowed to park in the garage.
| Pro Tip: Lansdowne Park is very bike-friendly, with over 600 bike parking spaces and improved cycle lanes. You can use this cycling map as a reference. |
Ben Franklin Place
– Media Credit: lenaloukianova
Address: 101 Centrepointe Dr, Nepean
Business Hours: Daily (9 AM – 11 PM)
Contact: +16135802424 loc 41216
Pricing: Free
Access to the skating rink in Ben Franklin Place in Nepean is also free, and it’s open from morning until late at night. There are warm skate-changing huts and restrooms on site. However, the restrooms close earlier than the rink, so you can only use them until 8 PM.
The refrigerated rink is spacious, well-maintained, and safe, making it an ideal environment for children learning to skate.
| Pro Tip: After a long day of ice skating, you can warm yourself up at the nearby Royal Oak Pub, which offers warm and attentive service, delicious food, and a selection of brews. We love their fish and chips! |
Tom Brown Arena
– Media Credit: coraringette
Address: 141 Bayview Station Rd
Business Hours:
Contact: +16137988885
Pricing:
- Infant (2 years old and below) – Free
- Preschool – $2.25
- Regular (3 years old and above) – $3.50
- Household or family- $9
- Specialized (shinny hockey, pick up hockey, figure skating, speed skating) – $3.50-$7.75
Tom Brown Arena is a neighbourhood ice rink in Hintonburg. It’s known for its long history of hosting hockey games, skating sessions, figure skating programs, and other fun events.
We like going here because it has ample parking if you’re driving there. It’s also accessible by commute, with it just being a stone’s throw away from the O Train station.
The staff is always friendly and easy to talk to. They’re hands-on and amazing with kids. The ice quality is top-notch, and the facilities are well-maintained. Overall, a wonderful community rink to visit!
| Pro Tip: For information on the current schedule for skating courses and camps, you can call 613-580-2596. |
J.A. Dulude Arena
– Media Credit: kgraydonald
Address: 941 Clyde Ave
Business Hours:
Contact: +16137981716
Pricing:
- Infant (2 years and younger) – FREE
- Preschool – $2.25
- Child, youth, student, adult, and senior – $3.50
- Household or family – $9
We enjoy skating at the J.A. Dulude Arena because it’s clean, well-maintained, and generally has a friendly atmosphere. The skating community here is strong, so if you’re looking for friends with a similar hobby, it’s a great place to meet them.
Additionally, if figure skating is something you want to pursue as a sport, they offer programs and classes that are engaging and fun. It’s never too late to start. Whether you’re a budding athlete or a casual skater, there’s something for you here.
Some things we appreciate here are the ample parking spaces, meeting rooms available in case you need them, clean restrooms, a nice lobby to relax in, and even an in-house canteen for when you’re feeling snacky.
| Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a nice family place to get some food after skating, The Woodward is just across the street from the J.A. Dulude Arena. We love their sandwiches, especially their turkey club and Italian deli sandwich. Their coffee is pretty good, too! |
Rideau Canal Skateway
– Media Credit: rideaucanalskateway
Address: 1 Elgin St
Business Hours: 24/7 (When Open)
Contact: +1 613-239-5000
Ottawa is home to the world’s largest skating rink, Rideau Canal Skateway. It extends from downtown to Hatswells Locks. You can check specific access points here.
It’s usually open from January to early March, which is the usual skating season. While the rink is still closed for the season at the time of writing, we think a list of Ottawa skating spots is incomplete without it.
It’s one of the most iconic places to skate and a fun place to bring family. You can rent skates, tricycles, sleighs, and safety equipment here.
When you get tired, there are four rest areas with clean washrooms, picnic tables, benches, and fire pits – Rideau, Concord, Fifth, and Bronson. Some areas are even equipped with heated change rooms, and various vendors sell seasonal food and drinks.
| Pro Tip: Just in case you lose something valuable while at the Rideau Canal Skateway, it will be turned in to the National Capital Commission. You can reach them by calling 613-239-5000. |
Rink of Dreams
– Media Credit: OttawaRecCulture
Address: 110 Laurier Ave W
Contact: +1 613-580-2400
Business Hours: Daily (9 AM – 11 PM)
Pricing: FREE
Rink of Dreams is open from December to the end of March, usually, but official dates for this coming season have yet to be announced. It’s a 12,500-square-foot refrigerated rink that’s loved by locals and tourists alike.
Rink of Dreams is at the Ottawa City Hall, which is also home to two professional galleries – the City Hall Art Gallery and Barbara Ann Scott Gallery. So, if you enjoy and appreciate art, these are stops you must make when you go!
| Pro Tip: Our favourite stop near here is Beavertails for good coffee and flat donuts that are too good to pass up. |
Jim Durrell Recreation Centre
– Media Credit: ottawajrsens
Address: 1265 Walkley Rd
Business Hours:
- Monday (8:30 AM – 6:30 PM)
- Tuesday-Wednesday (12:30 PM – 7:30 PM)
- Thursday (12:30 PM – 5:30 PM)
- Friday (10 AM – 4 PM)
- Saturday-Sunday (12:30 – 5:30 PM)
Contact: +1 613-247-4811
The Jim Durrell Recreation Centre, located at the south end of Ottawa, is a dual-pad arena typically used for tournaments.
Its main rink is the Jim Peplinski Arena, the home base of the Jr. Senators of the Central Canada Hockey League. Jim Peplinski Arena can seat around 2000 people. Its second rink is the Walkley Arena, which seats 200.
If you’re a sports enthusiast, you’ll be glad to know that they offer a variety of programs, including hockey, figure skating, sledge hockey, ringette, etc., that you can enjoy. It’s also a great facility for league games.
When we visit, we always make a point to stop by the canteen. They serve delicious hot dogs and poutine that are perfect post-game grub!
| Pro Tip: They have on-site parking here and free public Wi-Fi! |
Fred Barrett Arena
– Media Credit: coraringette
Address: 2185 Arch St
Fred Barrett Arena is a popular spot for ice sports and public skating. We appreciate that it’s a great community sports arena for youth and hobbyists, offering well-maintained facilities and excellent ice conditions.
One of the things we like about this place is that it puts accessibility at the forefront with plenty of features such as a lift, designated parking, and passenger loading zones to help make it easier for PWDs.
| Pro Tip: There’s a skate sharpening and hockey stick repair shop called Wilansky Hockey located in the area, offering a wide range of products for all your ice sports needs. They have knowledgeable and friendly staff. |
