Skating Activities

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 October 1, 2025)

Public Skate

Sensory Skate

Adult Skate 

Senior Skate

Parent & Child Stick & Puck/Skate (children 16 years and younger with supervising adults)

Holiday & P.A. Day Public Skates

Location: S.A.R.C.

All shinny activities will take place at the S.A.R.C., except for Family Shinny which takes place at the A.F.L.C. (any exceptions will be shown in charts below).

(Updated on September 8, 2025)

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

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

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

Family Shinny (children 10 & under with supervising adults)

Ladies Shinny

Men’s Shinny

Adult Shinny Hockey

Admission Fees - Public Skating

$3.28 per skate, per person

$27.30 for 10 x tickets

Admission Fees - Shinny Hockey

$7.02 per skate, per person

$56.94 for 10 x tickets

Free admission for Goalies in all Shinny Activities.

Note: Prices effective January 1, 2025.

Desjardins Days

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

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.

Skating Activities - Descriptions

Shinny Activities - Descriptions

Note - Please see guidelines for specific rules and age differentials.

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.
• The Town may have skate aids available, but availability isn’t guaranteed; families are welcome to bring their own, though strollers and chairs aren’t permitted on the ice.
• 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.

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. Effective for the Winter 2025 Schedule Men’s Thursday morning Shinny, ticket sales will begin at the start of the program.
• 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.

Adult Shinny Registration

• Goalies can register one month in advance. Registration opens on the last Friday of each month for the upcoming month. To register, please email our Customer Service staff with the subject line "Attention: Adult Shinny Registration".

Family Shinny Hockey

• Family Shinny is an opportunity for families (children ages 6 to 10 and supervising adults 18+ years old) to practice basic hockey skills and engage in small half ice or quarter ice cooperative shinny game play.
• Family Shinny requires that children be accompanied by a supervising adult (18+ years old). Each adult may supervise up to three children and must be accompanying a child aged 6 to 10 years. It is strongly recommended that supervising adults (18+ years old) participate on the ice, it is mandatory that they remain accessible on the sidelines at all times.
• 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 14 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.

Parent & Child Stick & Puck/Skate Guidelines

• This program allows families (16 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.
• Accompanying adults must supervise children on the ice. Limit of 3 children maximum per adult on the ice.
• The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association and the Town of Aurora strongly recommends full equipment be worn, including helmet and glove protection.

Unsupervised Adult Skate Guidelines

• 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.

Outdoor Rink Locations

1. Aurora Town Square - 50 Victoria St, Aurora
   1 rink for pleasure skating 
   Status update: Closed
   Hours: Aurora Town Square operating hours
   
   

2. Town Park  - 49 Wells Street, Aurora
   (1 Rink - Ez-Rink with boards and liner)
   Status update: Closed
   
   
3. Ada Johnson Park - 60 Hartwell Way, Aurora
   (2 Rinks - Ez-Rink with boards and liner)
   1 rink dedicated for pleasure skating
   1 rink dedicated for stick and puck
   Status update: Closed
   
   
4. Machell Park -15 Orchard Heights Drive, Aurora
   (2 Rinks - Ez-Rink with boards and liner)
   1 rink dedicated for pleasure skating
   1 rink dedicated for stick and puck 
   Status update:  Closed
   
   
5. Confederation Park - 30 Glass Drive
   1 rink for pleasure skating 
   Status update: Closed
   
   
6. James Lloyd Park - 355 Stone Road
   (rink over basketball court)
   Status update: Closed
   Volunteer built and maintained only
   
   
7. Queen's Diamond Jubilee Park - 18 Civic Square Gate
   (Old fashion rolled rink)
   Status update: No rink this year
   Town built. Volunteer maintained only

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.

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.

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 Ada Johnson Park.
• Helmets are recommended when using the rinks.
• There are no washroom facilities available.

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

Outdoor Rink Closures

As the weather fluctuates, staff will continue to monitor rink conditions and may temporarily close rinks, on a location by location basis at any time.

Stormwater Ponds

REMINDER: We ask that residents 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.