Greater Sudbury issues call for volunteers to sustain outdoor rink network

There are 11 outdoor rinks in Greater Sudbury that have only a few or none of the volunteers needed to maintain them throughout the winter months.

The City of Greater Sudbury is issuing a call for community volunteers, emphasizing their critical role in operating and maintaining the municipal network of outdoor skating rinks. With 56 rinks across the city, municipal staff are seeking additional helpers to ensure these popular winter facilities remain open and accessible.

Partnership between staff and volunteers

The operation of the outdoor rinks is a collaborative effort, heavily dependent on community involvement. Jacinda McLean, the city’s recreation coordinator, outlined the shared responsibility to CTV News.

“We rely heavily on volunteers to build and maintain the rink and then we supplement that with staffing,” she said.

“We hire a part-time staff. To help with opening the field houses, you know, being available for bathrooms and cleaning. They assist with ice making, but that’s not their main purpose.”

Currently, the city has approximately 200 volunteers, but requires more to fully support the system.

“There are 11 specific sites, and we actually have, recruitment, open on the city’s website right now,” said McLean.

“Anyone who’s interested in volunteering, generally aged 14 and above, I believe it is, they can go on to the city’s website, search for outdoor rink volunteers. Click on the link, provide their, you know, basic information, name, address, phone number, if they have any experience.”

“We do do like a security check as well,” she added.

Once accepted, city staff will then run volunteers through some snow blower and snow handling safety training.

Rewarding to the right people, greater community

Jim Niesing, a volunteer at Westmount Community Centre Park for more than two decades, exemplifies the long-term dedication of community stewards. He became involved as a way to give back.

“When my kids got involved in hockey and ringette, that’s when we decided, you know, we had time to give back to the community all the ice time and everything we enjoyed here,” he said.

“I decided to get out here and do something good for the neighbourhood.”

He told CTV News about his dedicated team of volunteers who prepare the ice daily for an average of 20-30 users, finding deep value in the results of their work.

“It’s just great to come out here at nighttime, see the amount of kids that are out here, the smiles on their face, the great volunteers we have here in the community and all that,” Niesing said.

Getting involved

For residents considering volunteering, Niesing encourages them to take the first step and highlights the broader benefits beyond shovelling.

“Take a walk in your neighbourhood and see what’s out there. Good time to meet your community. If you can’t shovel or scrape a lot of other things to do as well,” he said.

“It’s really good to get out. You’re getting some exercise, getting to meet other people in the community and and just making friends. Right, out there and we need the volunteers. I mean, that’s what, that’s what keeps it going.”

The city is specifically focused on recruiting volunteers for the following 11 rink locations:

• Cedar Park
• Central Lane
• Cote Park
• Don Lita
• McFarlane Lake
• McLean
• Rosemarie
• Russell Beaudry
• Ryan Heights
• Theresa
• Wahnapitae

Prospective volunteers can find more information and apply through the City of Greater Sudbury’s website.