Skating Activities

Public indoor recreational skating and stick & puck hockey is offered various times throughout the week, year round at numerous locations. Please refer to the current schedule for further details on times and location.

Skating Activities are available at the following locations (see schedule for details).

  • Aurora Family Leisure Complex (A.F.L.C.)
  • Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex (S.A.R.C.)
  • Aurora Community Centre (A.C.C.)

Outdoor skating is also available weather dependent in the winter months (usually January to mid-March). For an updated list of outdoor rink locations and availability please see below.

Prices

Admission Fees - Public Skating

$3.28 per skate, per person

$27.30 for 10 x tickets

$51.22 for 20 x tickets

$74.15 for 30 x tickets

Admission Fees - Shinny Hockey

$7.02 per skate, per person

$56.94 for 10 x tickets

Note: Prices effective January 1, 2024.


Desjardins Days

Free Public Skate activities happen one day per month! See the Desjardins Days webpage for details.

Skating & Shinny Activities - Service Disruptions & Holiday Schedules

Note - Regularly scheduled times may be altered throughout the year due to service disruptions and/or holiday schedules.

Please visit our Service Disruption Notices webpage for full details.

Please visit our Holiday Schedules webpage for full details.

Public Skating Guidelines

To ensure a safe, enjoyable environment for all Adult, Senior and Public Skate programs, all users are required to observe the following guidelines.


Public Skating Guidelines

  • The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association and the Town of Aurora strongly recommend wearing a helmet and glove protection while on the ice surface. Helmets are strongly recommended for everyone; especially for young children and new skaters.
  • Only participants wearing skates and/or the usage of a wheelchair are permitted on the ice surface.
  • Do not enter the ice surface until the ice resurfacer door is closed. When buzzer sounds, skaters are required to leave ice surface immediately.
  • Everyone must skate in the same direction. Public Skates may include a change in skating direction mid-way through the program. Staff will alert patrons of the change in direction by sounding the buzzer.
    • Tuesday Senior Skates will include a directional change for the last 15 minutes of the program.
    • The following programs do not change direction: Adult Skates, Thursday Senior Skates, and Sunday morning Public Skates.
  • Every 60 minutes of scheduled skate time includes 50 minutes of skating and a 10-minute flood.
  • Ice surface capacity will follow strict guidelines. For up-to-date capacity details, please see a Skate Patrol staff.
  • No hockey sticks, pucks, balls, chairs, or strollers are allowed on the ice surface.
  • No food or beverages allowed on the ice surface.
  • Skate blades must stay at ice level. No backwards skating, hockey drills, figure skating, carrying of children, racing or playing of tag allowed.
  • Any general horseplay, including play fighting, or deliberate interference of other skaters may result in patrons being asked to leave the ice.
  • The centre of the ice will be reserved as a learn to skate zone. This area is open to those learning to skate or with young children. The area should not be used to practice advanced skills.
  • Bench areas and designated dressing rooms are available for use during skates.
  • Payment is required at the Customer Service desk before you may participate in a program. Admission sales start 15 minutes before the scheduled start time on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • It is recommended that parents/guardians of children 12 years and under remain on-site and do not leave children unattended.
  • Skate Patrol staff are available on-site to enforce these regulations and ensure a safe skating environment for all patrons. The Skate Patrol staff have the authority to have any person(s) not abiding by these rules removed from the facility.
Parent & Child Stick & Puck/Skate Guidelines

Parent & Child Stick & Puck/Skate Guidelines

  • This program allows parents/guardians and children (10 years and under) to learn to skate and work on basic hockey skills.
  • No shinny games are permitted during this program.
  • Hockey equipment such as sticks, pucks, pads, etc. are allowed on the ice surface.
  • Parents must accompany children on the ice. Limit of 3 children maximum per parent/guardian on the ice.
  • The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association and the Town of Aurora strongly recommends full equipment be worn, including helmet and glove protection.
Shinny Hockey Guidelines & Rules

To ensure a safe, enjoyable environment for all shinny programs, all users are required to observe and respect the following rules.


All Shinny Hockey Programs

  • Each participant acknowledges the inherent risks associated with hockey and shall participate at their own risk.
  • The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association and the Town of Aurora strongly recommends full equipment be worn including helmet and glove protection.
  • Participants are not permitted on the ice until the ice-resurfacer door is closed.
  • When the buzzer sounds, all participants must leave the ice surface immediately.
  • No food allowed on the players’ benches or the ice surface.
  • Smoking and alcohol consumption in the facility is strictly prohibited.
  • Any abusive behaviour, incidents, accidents and/or emergency situations must be reported to a staff member immediately.
  • Absolutely no fighting or use of coarse language is allowed.
  • Spectators must remain behind the glass during Town operated Shinny times.
  • Use only designated dressing rooms.

Adult, Men's & Ladies Shinny Hockey

  • Adult, Men's and Ladies Shinny Hockey players must be 18 years or older to participate.
  • The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association and the Town of Aurora strongly recommends full equipment be worn including helmet and glove protection.
  • Admission must be purchased in person at the Customer Service Desk before players enter the changerooms.
  • Admission sales start 30 minutes before the scheduled start time on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • During admission, players will be required to show Photo ID and add their first and last name to the program roster each day, for the purpose of verifying attendance only.

Family Shinny Hockey

  • Family Shinny is an opportunity for families (children ages 6 to 10 and supervising adults) to practice basic hockey skills and engage in small half ice or quarter ice cooperative shinny game play.
  • Children will be required to have an accompanying adult on ice with them. Adults can supervise a maximum of 3 children. Supervising adults must be accompanied by a child ages 6 to 10 years.
  • All participants ages 17 and under must wear full CSA approved ice hockey equipment for drop-in shinny programs.  Full Hockey equipment includes neck guard, mouth guard, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, jock/jill, hockey pants, shin pads, hockey jersey, hockey socks, CSA-approved hockey helmet with a cage, hockey skates, and hockey stick.
  • Full equipment is strongly recommended for participants ages 18 and over. The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association and the Town of Aurora strongly recommends wearing a helmet and glove protection while on the ice surface.
  • Drop-ins have strict capacities and age guidelines. No exceptions will be made.
  • Admission sales begin 30 minutes prior to the scheduled program start time on a first come, first served basis.
  • Admission must be purchased in-person, with all participants present, at the Customer Service Desk before participants may enter the changerooms. Due to high demand, participants are not permitted to pay and hold spots for others.
  • Participants will be required to add their first and last name to a sign-in list during admissions, for the purpose of verifying attendance. 
  • No contact.
  • Every 60 minutes of ice time includes 50 minutes of play and a 10 minute flood.

Youth Shinny Hockey

  • This program is an opportunity for youth to practice hockey skills and engage in full or half ice cooperative shinny game play.
  • All participants ages 17 and under must wear full CSA approved ice hockey equipment for drop-in shinny programs. Full Hockey equipment includes neck guard, mouth guard, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, jock/jill, hockey pants, shin pads, hockey jersey, hockey socks, CSA-approved hockey helmet with a cage, hockey skates, and hockey stick.
  • Drop-ins have strict capacities and age guidelines. No exceptions will be made.
  • Admission sales begin 30 minutes prior to the scheduled program start time on a first come, first served basis.
  • During admission, Youth Shinny players ages 15 to 17 will be required to show Photo ID and add their first and last name to the program roster each day, for the purpose of verifying attendance.
  • Admission must be purchased in-person, with all participants present, at the Customer Service Desk before participants may enter the changerooms. Due to high demand, participants are not permitted to pay and hold spots for others.
  • No contact.
  • Every 60 minutes of ice time includes 50 minutes of play and a 10 minute flood.
Unsupervised Adult Skates
  • Adult Skates, taking place on Monday evenings, are open to participants ages 18 years and older. 
  • Adult Skates are open to leisure skating activity. There is to be no hockey equipment or activity on the ice during this time.
  • Please note that these skates may not be staffed at all times.
  • The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association and the Town of Aurora strongly recommends wearing a helmet and glove protection while on ice.
  • Participants may not enter the ice if the Zamboni doors are open.
  • If patrons require assistance during the skate, they should speak with Facility or Customer Service staff onsite.
Skating Activities - Winter 2024: January 6 to March 31

Location: S.A.R.C.
All skating activities will take place at the S.A.R.C. (any exceptions will be shown in the charts below).


(Updated on February 16, 2024)

Public Skate
DayTime

Sunday

11 a.m. to 12 p.m.*

4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

*Note: This skate does not change direction mid-way through the skate. All other Public Skates may include a change in the skating direction halfway through the program.

Tuesday

4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Wednesday

4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Friday

4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday

11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

4 p.m. to 5 p.m.^

^Saturday, March 9: Free Skate - hosted by Dream Home by Maryam & Re/Max Realtron Realty Inc and TD Canada Trust

Adult Skate
DayTime

Monday

9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Senior Skate
DayTime

Tuesday

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.*

*Senior Skate on Tuesdays will include a change in skating direction during the program.

Thursday

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Parent & Child Stick & Puck/Skate (children 10 years and younger with supervising adults)
DayTime

Monday

9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Thursday

1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Holiday & P.A. Day Public Skates
DayTime

Friday, January 19
P.A. Day Skate

1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday, February 2
P.A. Day Skate

1 p.m. to 3 p.m.»

»Note: This skate will take place at the A.F.L.C.

Monday, February 19
Holiday Skate

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Shinny Activities - Winter 2024: January 6 to March 31

Location: S.A.R.C.
All shinny activities will take place at the S.A.R.C. (any exceptions will be shown in charts below).


(Updated on February 16, 2024)

Youth Shinny Hockey – Ages 11 to 14 years (born 2010 to 2013)
DayTime

Monday

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Youth Shinny Hockey – Ages 15 to 17 years (born 2007 to 2009)
DayTime

Monday

3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Family Shinny Hockey (children ages 6 to 10 years and supervising adults)

Note: This program will take place at the A.F.L.C.

DayTime

Sunday

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Ladies Shinny
DayTime

Wednesday

11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Friday

11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Men’s Shinny
DayTime

Thursday

7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Adult Shinny Hockey
DayTime

Monday

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Tuesday

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Wednesday

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Thursday

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Friday

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Skating Activities - Spring 2024: April 1 to June 30

Location: A.F.L.C. & S.A.R.C.
April 1 to May 27 - Location: A.F.L.C. - All skating activities will take place at the A.F.L.C., due to annual maintenance on the S.A.R.C. arena floors. Any exceptions will be shown in the charts below. All skate programs will return to the S.A.R.C. starting on May 28.
May 28 to June 30 - Location: S.A.R.C. - All skating activities will take place at the S.A.R.C. Any exceptions will be shown in the charts below. 


(Updated on February 21, 2024)

Public Skate
DayTime

Sunday

11 a.m. to 12 p.m.*

*Note: This skate does not change direction mid-way through the skate. All other Public Skates may include a change in the skating direction halfway through the program.

Wednesday

4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Adult Skate
DayTime

Tuesday

8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Senior Skate
DaTime

Tuesday

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.*

*Senior Skate on Tuesdays will include a change in skating direction during the program.

Thursday

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Family Skate (children 12 & under with supervising adults)
DayTime

Saturday

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.»
»Sunday, April 27 - Skate is cancelled.

Parent & Child Stick & Puck/Skate (children 10 years and younger with supervising adults)
DayTime

Thursday

1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Holiday & P.A. Day Public Skates
DayTime

Monday, April 1
Holiday Skate

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Shinny Activities - Spring 2024: April 1 to June 30

Location: A.F.L.C. & S.A.R.C.
• April 1 to May 27 - Location: A.F.L.C. - All shinny activities will take place at the A.F.L.C., due to annual maintenance on the S.A.R.C. arena floors. Any exceptions will be shown in the charts below. All shinny programs will return to the S.A.R.C. starting on May 28.
• May 28 to June 30 - Location: S.A.R.C. - All shinny activities will take place at the S.A.R.C. Family Shinny will stay located at the A.F.L.C. Any exceptions will be shown in the charts below.


(Updated on February 21, 2024)

Youth Shinny Hockey – Ages 11 to 13 years (born 2011 to 2013)
DayTime

Tuesday

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Youth Shinny Hockey – Ages 14 to 15 years (born 2009 to 2010)
DayTime

Tuesday

3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Youth Shinny Hockey – Ages 16 to 17 years (born 2007 to 2008)
DayTime

Wednesday

3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Family Shinny Hockey (children ages 6 to 10 years and supervising adults)

Note: This program will take place at the A.F.L.C. during the entire Spring season.

DayTime

Sunday

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Ladies Shinny
DayTime

Friday

11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Men’s Shinny
DayTime

Thursday

7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.»

»Thursday, April 4 & 11: Shinny is cancelled.

Adult Shinny Hockey
DayTime

Monday

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Tuesday

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Wednesday

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Thursday

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

 

Outdoor Skating
Updated on March 4, 2024
Outdoor Skating Rinks are CLOSED for the season.

Please find a list of outdoor rink locations below. No hockey, stick and puck or other sports are permitted, unless on one of the designated rinks at Machell Park or Ada Johnson Park.

Helmets are recommended to be worn when using the rinks. Registration is not required to enjoy the rinks. 

Outdoor Rink Locations
  1. Town Park (1 Rink - Ez-Rink with boards and liner)

    Status update: Closed for the season

  2. Ada Johnson Park (2 Rinks - Ez-Rink with boards and liner)

    1 rink dedicated for pleasure skating
    1 rink dedicated for stick and puck
    Status update: Closed for the season

  3. Machell Park (2 Rinks - Ez-Rink with boards and liner)
    1 rink dedicated for pleasure skating
    1 rink dedicated for stick and puck 

    Status update: Closed for the season

  4. Confederation Park
    1 rink for pleasure skating 

    Status update: Closed for the season

  5. James Lloyd Park (Old fashion rolled rink over basketball court)

    Status update: Closed for the season
    Volunteer built and maintained only!

  6. Queen's Diamond Jubilee Park (Old fashion rolled rink)

    Status update: Closed for the season
    Town built. Volunteer maintained only!

Note - All rinks, except James Lloyd Park, will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, weather and rink conditions permitting. James Lloyd Park will close at 10 p.m.

Registration is not required to use the rinks.

Please note: The rinks at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Park and James Lloyd Park are built by volunteer groups in the community. When weather conditions are suitable, the volunteer group will start building a rink at these locations. Information on their status will be updated on this page.

Outdoor Rink Closures

As the weather begins to get warmer, staff will continue to monitor rink conditions and may begin closing rinks for the season, on a location by location basis at any time.

Stormwater Ponds

REMINDER: We are asking residents to be extremely cautious around frozen ponds. Please do not walk, sled or skate on the local ponds. Skating on ponds is not permitted and extremely dangerous. In fact, many of the Town’s ponds are not regular ponds, but instead stormwater ponds - an important part of our Town’s drainage system. The ponds may look safe, but under the surface they have flowing water that results in a thinner ice surface with unpredictable conditions.

 

Rules of Use 
  • Use of outdoor rink time is for pleasure skating for Town of Aurora residents only.
  • No hockey, stick & puck play or other sports are permitted, unless on one of the designated rinks at Machell Park or Stewart Burnett Park.
  • Masks are recommended when using the rink.
  • Helmets are recommended when using the rinks.
  • There are no washroom facilities available.
  • Please maintain physical distancing

Note - All outdoor rinks are subject to closure without notice due to inclement weather, poor rink conditions.