Iona Park

Background

Ice here doesn't happen overnight -- the Hampton Iona Community Group, who trace back to a 1982 campaign to get this rink built in the first place, run it today under a City of Ottawa rink contract with a mix of volunteers and paid supervision staff. It typically takes 15 to 18 floods before the surface is smooth enough to skate on, so a slow start some seasons isn't a bad sign: in 2022-23, a stretch of warm weather (and city construction blocking access to flood) pushed the opening back further than usual. It's one of the smaller rinks in the ward, and a popular one with younger or beginner skaters.

Sources: Iona Park Rink, Hampton Iona Community Updates, Kitchissippi likes its ice!, Hampton-Iona's history: Standard Bread and a community on the rise

Two open surfaces without boards, so this one leans toward gliding laps and learning to skate rather than pickup hockey. The fieldhouse means you can lace up indoors and find a washroom, and with community volunteers keeping the ice and someone on site supervising, it's an easy stop with kids. Lights go up for the season, so evening skates work too — just note there's no accessible entry.