OTTAWA – The City’s COVID-modified Learn to Skate programs will take to the ice in January at 10 indoor arenas and the outdoor Lansdowne Skating Court.

The full listing of group or private skating lessons for the young and young-at-heart will be online at Join.ottawa.ca on Monday, Dec. 14. Registration opens on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 9 p.m.

There are no Learn to Skate programming offered in either of the West Carleton indoor arenas. The closest facilities offering programing include the Jack Charron Arena and the CARDELREC Recreation Complex in Goulbourn.

Some of the class offerings include:

• Just You and Me for new skaters ages 3 to 6 years with parent accompaniment
• Kinder Gliders for ages 4 to 5 years
• Junior Gliders for ages 6 to 12 years
• Senior Gliders for ages 8 to 12 years
• Teen Beginner and Intermediate for ages 13 to 17 years
• Adult Beginner and Intermediate for ages 18 years and older
• Private skating lessons for all ages 4 years and up

Classes have been modified with COVID-19 safety protocols and have a limit of 25 skaters on the ice, including coaches. The Just You and Me program requires adult accompaniment on the ice for the child for the duration of the program. 

All skaters, including an adult accompanying a child, must wear skates and a CSA-certified hockey helmet when on the ice. Visit ottawa.ca/recreation for all of the safety protocols and measures in place at all city facilities.

Just in time for the holidays, drop-in indoor skating is expanding to more locations with additional reservation timeslots, starting Saturday, Dec. 19. The city’s outdoor refrigerated rinks will also be open, weather permitting.

Starting Sunday, Dec. 13, the city will be introducing rink ambassadors at select outdoor rink locations. Rink ambassadors will organize fun activities in the parks while educating the public on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when being active.  

For more information on city programs and services, visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).