There are not a lot of activities to do during the winter months of the pandemic. Needless to say, it can be challenging to find winter activities to keep you in shape. If outdoor skating rinks at Harbourfront or Nathan Phillips Square offer a bit too much fresh air for your liking, you may enjoy skating at some of the indoor skating rinks in Toronto, which are still open at time of publication. Skating during public skate and family skate hours is free at Toronto’s indoor skating rinks while attending during adult only skate hours costs $3.
Central Arena
Located at 50 Montgomery Road (north of Bloor St. W. and west of Royal York Rd.), 416-394-5439, Central Arena offers Public Skate hours on Saturdays and Sundays from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Public Skate admission is free. Adult skate (18+) hours (unsupervised) are Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the cost is $3.50. The last day for public skating is Sunday, March 20, 2022.
Don Mills Civitan Arena
Located at 1030 Don Mills Road, the Don Mills Civitan Arena offers Public Skate on Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Older Adult Skate (60+) is Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is $1.75. Leisure Skate (unsupervised) is Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays from 3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Last day for public skating is Sunday, March 20, 2022.
The East York Memorial Arena at 888 Cosburn Avenue (near Woodbine Ave), 416-396-2871 offers indoor skating to Woodbine-Lumsden, Upper Beaches and Beaches neighbourhood residents. Family skate hours are Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m with free admission. Children under 6 must wear a CSA-approved helmet. Older Adult Skate (60 years and over) is Mondays and Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and costs $1.75. The rink will not be open on Saturday, January 1, 2022. The last day is Sunday, March 27, 2022.
Larry Grossman Forest Hill Memorial Arena
The Larry Grossman Forest Hill Memorial Area at 340 Chaplin Crescent (north of Eglinton Ave. W. and east of Spadina Ave.), 416-488-1800, operates independent of the City of Toronto. Pleasure skating is currently cancelled due to COVID-19.
York Mills Arena
York Mills Arena at 2539 Bayview Avenue, 416-395-7844, offers Public Skate hours on Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Fridays from 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., Saturdays from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Early Years Skate (up to 5 years) with Caregiver are Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Public skates are free admission. Last day is Sunday, March 13, 2022.
I hope you get a chance to visit one of the indoor skating rinks in Toronto this winter. It will bring a sense of normalcy to an otherwise unusual season!
