Skating, Arenas and Indoor Walking Tracks

Unless otherwise specified, the following guidelines apply to all skating programs:

All participants – must respect and abide by posted signs and cooperate with arena staff. Rules are modelled after Ontario Recreation Facilities Association Inc. Public Skating Guidelines (Sept. 2018).

Parents/guardians – must be within sight and control of their children under 12 years. Do not leave children unattended.

Use of helmets – CSA-approved hockey helmets are mandatory during skating programs with sticks and pucks on the ice, and must include facial protection for those under 18 years. Helmets are strongly recommended in all other programs.

Keeping pace – maintain reasonable control of your speed, course and direction. Do not skate in groups. Do not stop where you obstruct other skaters. Accept responsibility for knowing the range of your ability while on skates; skate within the limit of that ability and as appropriate to the session in which you’re skating.

Food & beverage consumption – is permitted in the arena lobby and spectator seating area only.

Games, hockey games, and hockey sticks – no games are to be played at any time that will endanger the safety and the enjoyment of others. This includes horseplay, hockey games, and the use of hockey sticks.

Shoes – ice skates required, no street shoes on ice.

Skating aids – only permitted during the Beginner Skate.

Wheelchair sledges – wheelchairs and sledges are welcome. Individuals using these devices must travel in the same direction as other skaters. Attendants/helpers are welcome to assist however, they must wear skates or ice cleats on the ice surface.

Technology – headsets, cell phones, cameras, or other handheld electronic devices are not to be used while skating.

Carrying of infants/children – children must not be carried by any means (such as on shoulders, in arms, or any carrier, etc.) while on the ice.

Sitting on boards – patrons may not sit on the rink boards at any time.

Figure skating – figure skating maneuvers are only permitted during open figure skate.

Chairs, sleds, strollers, and pylons – are not permitted on the ice surface.

This free drop-in program is open to all skaters; general arena rules apply. Wearing a CSA-approved helmet is strongly recommended. For safety reasons, please skate with the flow of other skaters. The use of skating aids is not permitted for this program.

This is an opportunity for children and adults of all ages to learn how to skate. This skating session is intended for slow-paced learning.

• All participants must be in skates
• All children must be supervised by a parent/guardian (18+) on the ice
• Wearing a CSA-approved helmet is strongly recommended
• Skating aids are permitted for this program
• No hockey sticks or figure skating allowed
• Chairs, sleds, strollers, and pylons are not permitted on the ice surface

This is an opportunity for children to develop their hockey skills. Please note that hockey sticks will be permitted on the ice surface for this program. This skating session is for children up to 9 years.

• All participants must be in skates
• All participants must be supervised by a parent/guardian (18+) on the ice; one child per adult
• CSA-approved hockey helmets are mandatory and must include facial protection for those under 18 years
• It is recommended that all participants wear full hockey equipment

New to 2025! This is an opportunity for families with children to develop their children's hockey skills. Please note that hockey sticks will be permitted on the ice surface for this program. This skating session is for children up to 14 years.

• All participants must be in skates
• All participants must be supervised by a parent/guardian (18+) on the ice
• CSA-approved hockey helmets are mandatory and must include facial protection for those under 18 years
• It is recommended that all participants wear full hockey equipment

This is an opportunity for lap skating and is open to those 18 years and older. Wearing CSA-approved helmets is strongly recommended.

This is an opportunity to participate in self-organized, non-contact hockey. CSA-approved hockey helmets are mandatory and must include facial protection for those under 18 years.

• Adult Shinny – Open to participants 18 years and older
• Teen Shinny – Open to participants 15 to 17 years old
• 50+ Adult Shinny – Open to participants 50 years and older

Open to all figure skaters who are currently in, or have previously participated in, Skate Canada’s STARskate program. All skaters will be expected to be aware of others on the ice and maintain a safe environment for all. Wearing a CSA-approved helmet is strongly recommended.

General track hours

Arena-specific hours (late summer)

Notes

• Evening and weekend hours depend on facility rentals (most evenings; weekend hours may vary)
• Statutory holidays and long weekends may affect hours

• The walking track is for recreational users only.
• No spectators are permitted on the track.
• The walking track is available for use when the arena is open, except when otherwise posted by Haldimand County.
• Only clean, walking and running shoes are permitted on the walking track.
• Walkers, joggers and runners share the same track. Please be considerate to all track users.
• All individuals must travel in the same direction and pass on the left. Slower users (including those with walkers or strollers) stay on the right.
• Please do not travel in groups larger than two across.
• No food or beverages will be permitted on the track.
• Exercise apparatus or sports equipment not related to track use (such as skipping ropes, medicine balls, floor mats, hockey equipment, etc.) is not permitted to be used in the track area.
• Children and youth teams using the track must be monitored by an adult.
• Music selection is at the discretion of the Haldimand County Staff.
• Haldimand County is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.

The County operates four arenas (Caledonia, Cayuga, Dunnville and Hagersville) which are available for winter ice—depending on location—from mid-August to mid-May. The current Council-approved subsidy level for winter ice at arenas is 61%.

In 2018, summer ice was to be discontinued due to lack of support. However, in response to community interest, Haldimand County Council directed staff to initiate a three-year pilot project to investigate the financial and operating feasibility of offering summer ice on one pad in one arena. The Haldimand County Caledonia Centre’s (HCCC) Clark ice pad was selected for the pilot project and remained open from May to September.

• During the pilot program (2018-2020), the interest in summer ice was as follows:
  Weekly, the total available prime hours was 59 hours;
• The highest percentage of prime time summer ice hours booked in one of the three years of the pilot was 42%; the average of prime time summer ice used over the three years was 36%. This is less than half the number of prime time hours as are booked in the winter;
• The hours booked were predominantly during the week, with almost no uptake on the weekends. In order to make summer ice more financially feasible the County needs at least 14-16 hours of prime time booked consistently on a summer weekend;
• Of the summer ice booked, about 30-40% was by non-residents (mostly from Hamilton), meaning Haldimand County taxpayers are subsidizing ice rental rates for non-taxpayers;
• It should be noted that, although the County’s arenas closed in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, applications for summer ice had already been processed and were incorporated into the summer ice schedule.

In 2024, ice user groups were polled about their interest in a return to summer ice. Based on the responses, as well as other operating and financial considerations, staff do not recommend a summer ice program for the following reasons:

• Typical scheduling of ice time requires a minimum four-hour block of rentals to open the arena. This policy is in place to maximize staff resources. During the three-year pilot, the County accepted any rentals at any time during the day to encourage customer interest. In the future, if the policy of a minimum four-hour block of rentals was enforced, there would likely be a reduced uptake for summer ice;
• Following the regular season and spring tryouts, minor hockey associations are not permitted to book ice for their rep level players until mid-August and local league until after Labour Day (e.g. until after the summer ice season);
• Staff suggested the Cayuga Arena might be the most cost-effective location for summer ice (newer and more efficient facility); however, the majority of historical summer ice users (resident and non-resident) indicated they do not want to book or travel to Cayuga, which will likely result in fewer rentals, especially in prime time;
• Keeping summer ice results in increased demand on utilities (approximately $30,000 more for June/July/August) and staffing resources (as the County’s arena staff normally transition to parks/fields/trails work in the summer);
• While staff do not support summer ice, it is recommended to keep one pad open in Caledonia until the May long weekend to accommodate playoffs, spring tryouts and other occasional rental requests, e.g. skills development. Should demand for this extension increase, it is possible the second Caledonia pad could also remain open.