Skating

Winter rentals are available from September to the end of March for recreational skating, skating lessons, figure skating, ringette and hockey.

Summer use of the concrete floor surfaces may include ball hockey, lacrosse and other team sports.  Dry pad rentals are available from April to August at a number of arenas. 

Most arenas feature snack bars, offering a limited selection of hot and cold food and beverage items.  Earl Nichols Recreation Centre, StarTech.com Community Centre, Stronach Community Recreation Centre, Medway Community Centre, Kinsmen Recreation Centre and Lambeth Community Centre arenas have multipurpose activity rooms that are suitable for small receptions and tournament meeting areas.  All arenas are equipped with a sound system.

Staff at individual arenas are not able to book ice time or receive payment for any rentals.  Please call 519-661-5575 during regular business hours to discuss ice hours and book a rental.

Indoor rinks are located at the following community centres and arenas:

• Argyle Arena
• Bostwick Arena (at StarTech.com Community Centre)
• Carling Arena
• Earl Nichols Recreation Centre
• Farquharson Arena
• Kinsmen Recreation Centre
• Lambeth Community Centre
• Medway Community Centre
• Oakridge Arena
• Silverwood Arena
• Stronach Community Centre

Two teams are created from registrants to play in non-competitive shinny hockey game.  CSA-approved full caged helmet is mandatory for all participants, shoulder pads optional. Participants are required to supply their own properly fitted helmet and will not be allowed on the ice without one.

Adults can bring their stick and puck to improve their shot and stickhandling. 

This is an unstructured ice time. No private programs are permitted. Organized hockey games, slap shots and structured practices are not permitted. No aggressive play is permitted.

All participants are required to wear a full-caged CSA approved helmet. The maximum number of participants on the ice is 30 people.

Register

Current schedule:

From April 25 to June 27:

• Bostwick Arena (at StarTech.com Community Centre) - Mondays from 12 to 1 p.m.

This skate is for adults for all ages who are interested in performing basic figure skating moves including but not limited to backwards skating, turns and ice dancing, as well as hockey skating moves including but not limited to backwards skating and tight turns.

Current schedule:

From May 2 to June 27:

• Bostwick Arena (at StarTech.com Community Centre) - Mondays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Parents can come out with their children to practice stickhandling and improve their shots.  An adult must accompany children on the ice. 

This is an unstructured ice time. No private programs are permitted. Organized hockey games, slap shots and structured practices are not permitted. No aggressive play is permitted.

All participants are required to wear a full-caged CSA approved helmet.

Register

Current schedule:

From May 2 to August 29:

• Bostwick Arena (at StarTech.com Community Centre) - Mondays from 4 to 5 p.m.

CSA approved helmets are recommended. 

Register

Free for adults (18 or older) to spend quality time with pre-schoolers, 5 and under, in a safe, quiet environment. CSA approved, full caged helmet required. This program has no ice cruisers.

REGISTER

Free to adults (18 or older) to spend quality time with preschooler (5 and under) in a safe, quiet environment.  Bring your own sticks and pucks and work on hockey skills.  CSA approved, full caged helmet required for everyone. Skate assists are not permitted.

REGISTER

CSA approved helmets are recommended. 

Register

Current schedule:

Starting May 8:

• Bostwick Arena (at StarTech.com Community Centre) - Sundays  from 12 to 1 p.m. and 1 to 2 p.m.

Starting July 3:

• Bostwick Arena (at StarTech.com Community Centre) - Sundays  from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Available at North London Optimist Community Centre.

Register

Adults aged 55 and up are invited to enjoy music and exercise while they skate. There will be a flood of the ice halfway through the skate. Skating around the ice is the only activity permitted. No routines or skating as partners.

Please remember that there are skaters of all abilities. Beginner skaters are asked to move to the centre of the ice surface with more experienced skaters closer to the boards. Please judge your skating speed based on the number of people on the ice.

Register

Current schedule:

• Bostwick Arena (at StarTech.com Community Centre) - Mondays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

This skate is for adults aged 55 and over who are interested in performing basic figure skating moves including but not limited to backwards skating, turns and ice dancing as well as hockey skating moves including but not limited to backwards skating and tight turns. There will be a flood of the ice half way through the skate.

All areas of the ice are available to everyone. Please be aware of the other skaters and give appropriate clearance for spins and other figure skating activities.

Register

Participants with and without mobility challenges can use their sticks and pucks on the ice while seated in an accessibility/mobility device called a "sledge". CSA approved, full caged helmets and hockey gloves are required, and participants must provide their own sledge.

Register

It's never too late to skate! This program teaches basic skating fundamentals while enhancing a healthy and active lifestyle.  Participants advance at their own pace in a relaxed atmosphere with a fully certified coach.

*CSA approved helmets are mandatory. Visit our registration page for information related to financial assistance.

Register

The Learn to Skate program is designed to offer children ages four and up the opportunity to learn through interactive strategies that will teach basic skating techniques.  Each lesson lasts 45 minutes. There are four levels within the program. Children will graduate from each level once they have mastered the below criteria. Please register your child in the appropriate level based on their ability.

Register

Level One

• Make snow, walk or march across the ice
• Stationary jump, fall down and get up
• Marching around on the spot (both directions)
• Walk backwards
• Kicking ball with alternating feet
• Two foot glide – sitting and standing
• Forward skating across the rink without falling, with a consecutive push-glide sequence

Level Two

• Forward skating across rink without fall, with consecutive push-glide sequence with speed
• Forward stop, forward and backward double sculling
• Forward and backward skate and jump
• Forward two foot–one foot glide (hold for a minimum two seconds)
• Backward skating width of the ice with weight transfer from one foot to the other with gliding motion
• Stationary “V” pushes

Level Three

• Backward consecutive “C” pushes across the ice
• Backward stop while skating
• Backward two foot–one foot glide with balance
• Forward circle thrusts, backward “C” circle thrusts
• Forward and backward one-foot glide on curve
• Forward tight glide turns

Level Four

• Forward and backward crossovers
• Mohawk turns, forward to backwards and backwards to forward (edge optional) or three-turn (with optional edge)
• Forward outside and inside edges
• Lunge/knee drop
• Two-foot  and one-foot side stops

*CSA approved helmets are mandatory. Please indicate your child’s badge level on the registration form. Visit the registration page for information related to financial assistance.

Free to adults (18 or older) to spend quality time with pre-schoolers, five and under, in a safe, quiet environment.

A preschool program designed to teach young skaters from ages three to five how to skate without the assistance of a parent or caregiver. This interactive program will teach your young tot to skate by participating in creative themed activities while focusing on fun and continuous movement. Colouring sheets and incentive stickers are awarded each week for skaters' efforts.  Parents or guardians over the age of 16 must be present and on the ice with their child. Helmets are required for all including the parent or guardian.

*CSA approved helmets for both child and adult are mandatory.  Class is limited to 15 participants. Visit our registration page for information related to financial assistance.

Register

Western Fair is not included in available locations. Last minute ice bookings will not apply to statutory holidays unless the facility is already scheduled to be open.

Last minute ice bookings are for a minimum of 1 hour increments. Last minute ice is booked on a first-come, first-serve basis. These bookings not and cannot be used to replace regular bookings. Bookings cannot be cancelled to book last minute ice. These bookings are final and are non-refundable.

A rental contract provided by the City of London must be signed and proof of insurance required prior to the booking. Please visit our recreation rentals page for more information.

The City of London reserves the right to cancel last minute ice bookings when it is considered to be used for profit or gain or is being abused to replace or in the place of regular ice bookings. Time will not be added to an existing contract.

The City of London reserves the right to cancel or amend the implementation of Last Minute Ice at any time at its discretion.

Last minute ice rental rates (HST will be added)

$137.00 for prime time and $107 for non-prime time. Payment is required at the time of booking.

How to book last minute ice:

Last minute ice can be booked through Play Your Way online as well as be calling customer Service at 519-661-5575. Arena staff are unable to book last minute ice.​​​​​​

Book last minute ice

Skating fees (taxes included)

Skating passes (taxes included)

For those unable to meet recreation program costs, financial assistance may be available.  Call 519-661-5575 for more information.

Skate rentals and sharpening is only available at the facilities listed below. These facilities are independently owned and operated. 

To ensure a safe enjoyable environment for public skating all users are required to observe the following rules:

General Rules

• Do not proceed on the ice until the zamboni is off the ice and the gates are closed.
• The following are prohibited from the ice rink:
• Animals
• Food and Beverages
• Tobacco products
• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs
• Profanity

Safety

• Children 5 years of age and under must wear CSA approved helmet (3 months and younger do not require a helmet if in a stroller).
• We strongly recommend that all users wear CSA head protection.
• Maintain a safe controlled speed.
• Beginner skaters only in the centre circle (or as marked).
• Skating aids, strollers or buggies may be allowed when deemed safe by the cashier or cruiser.
• No chairs or umbrella strollers are permitted.

For reasons of safety, the following are not permitted during general public skate sessions:

• Games (crack the whip, tag, horseplay)
• Snowball or glove throwing
• Hockey/ringette sticks, pucks or balls
• Skating backwards
• Holding children in arms while skating
• Jumps, spins or other figure skating routines
• Sitting on the rink boards
• Persons not wearing skates

Assumption of risk

Skaters and spectators are deemed to have knowledge of and assume the inherent risks including, but not limited to:

1. Injuries from collisions or contact with other individuals on the ice surface
2. Injuries from falls

The ice surface maximum skating capacity is 160 participants.

Victoria Park skating rink is closed for the season. 

The Rotary Square ice rink at Covent Garden Market is closed for the season.