Free public skating at Forest Glade Arena garners big turnout

by Joelle Brassard

Forest Glade arena in Windsor provides free skating on Friday evenings open to the community. 

Cory Elliott, Manager of arenas and recreation facilities for Windsor, said public skate nights have been around in our Windsor community since they first opened. 

While normally in the past there has been a charge for public skate, due to Charles Clarke Square being unavailable in recent years, the city has taken it upon themselves to make it free for this year and this past year said Elliott. 

“My personal favourite part of public skate night is seeing all of the people enjoy themselves,” said Elliot. “Due to the fact that it’s free we’re maxing out most nights, we look for about 100 square foot per person on the ice for safety and we’re seeing that full in all our rinks including Adie Knox which we recently brought back for public skate.”  

Elliot says public programing like skate nights are important for the community to get people involved, active and going to places they don’t normally go, which goes for kids and adults alike. 

Baryl Nisar, a local teen skater who attends public skate nights said he thinks skating is an essential skill everyone should learn. 

“The best thing about skating for me is the thrill. It feels like you’re on a different planet. You’re just gliding, not walking or running but just going with the flow or flowing in the wind.” said Nisar. 

Elliott encourages all Windsorites to give public skate nights a try. 

“We want everyone to come out and try it. We have concessions as well as skating,” said Elliott. “Or for those who don’t have skates, there is a great program through All Saints Church downtown that offers a skate loan program. If you contact them, they can get you a pair so you can try out our public skate if you can’t afford to buy your own.” 

There will be special March break skating hours on Monday March 11, Wednesday, the 13 and Friday March 15 from 11:55 a.m to 1:45 p.m. 

All dates and times for public skating in Windsor for all arenas can be found at ActiveWindsor.ca. 

The skating season ends on March 22.