Adopt-a-Rink volunteer Ryan Davison floods the rink at Kiwanis Central Park on Dec. 16, 2021. (Photo Courtesy Bob Schneider)

By Chris Brown

Volunteers still needed

‘I do it because the kids love it,’ says Adopt-a-Rink volunteer

Dec 16, 2021 | 4:42 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The weather has finally gotten cold enough that outdoor rinks and ponds will soon be filled with the sounds of hockey players and skaters.

The City of Medicine Hat relies on volunteers to keep the rinks and ponds in skating shape each winter.

Volunteers are still needed at four skating spots in our community – Leinweber Park pond, Southridge pond, the River Heights low board rink and the Ross Glen high board rink.

Ryan Davison has been volunteering at the rink in Kiwanis Central Park off and on for about 20 years.

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“I do it because the kids love it, really, that’s the bottom line. And just having the kids out here, it just seems to make it a little bit more of a neighbourhood,” he said.

The city supplies shovels, chippers, hoses and training, and helps with snow removal. Then it’s up to the volunteers.

“On a daily basis, we’ll clean the ice off. It gets snowy when the kids are skating on it so we’ll come out and scrape it. And that’s kind of fun you’re interacting with all the people out here skating,” he says. “So we’ll shovel that snow off and in the evening we’ll flood it, generally every day or every second day we’ll try to get some water on it.”

Davison says the rink can be a popular gathering spot in the neighbourhood.

It’s also an economical way for parents and kids to stay active in the winter.

“And for me, it’s very rewarding seeing these kids out and the families out for a day or for even a few hours or whatever it takes for them to come out,” he says. “The weather isn’t always great but when it is, it’s sure a lot of fun.”

The South East Hill Neighbourhood Association will serve free hot chocolate and candy canes at the Central Park rink for a family-friendly event from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday. They plan to be there regularly on Sundays throughout the winter.

For more on the Adopt-a-Rink program, click here.