Community-driven outdoor rink thriving

An outdoor rink in Crowsnest Pass has become a hub of winter activity, drawing strong community engagement and even inspiring expansion. The project, spearheaded by a group of local volunteers, has seen significant success this season after a challenging first attempt last year.

Stacy Kozak, one of the key organizers behind the initiative, first proposed the idea two summers ago after realizing the community lacked an outdoor skating rink. Unsure whether one had ever existed in the past, she began speaking with residents and heard conflicting accounts of previous attempts.

“I met with a lot of people, and there were different stories about rinks that used to exist,” said Kozak. “There was a lot of disagreement about what had been done in the past.”

She eventually brought the idea to the municipality during a planning meeting, where she pitched the need for an outdoor rink. That discussion led to a pilot project last winter, but it was ultimately unsuccessful as ice was never fully completed for skating.

Despite that setback, a small group of dedicated volunteers remained determined to try again. They partnered with the Bellecrest Community Association which offered a piece of land at Memorial Park for a new rink.

“A fellow named Gord did the first flood in November, and by the end of the month, we had skatable ice, which was amazing,” Kozak said.

This winter, the rink has been a clear success, with strong community participation. The Crowsnest Outdoor Rink Facebook group has grown to over 500 members, and a recent photo challenge saw dozens of submissions showcasing residents enjoying the ice.

“The rink has been getting quite a bit of use,” said Kozak, “In fact, it was getting so well-used that a couple of weeks ago, one of our volunteers said, ‘Let’s build another one.’”

A second rink was built during the recent cold snap, allowing more skaters to enjoy the space. Though December’s warm weather initially made ice maintenance difficult, January’s colder temperatures helped create and sustain high-quality ice, and the season is expected to last well into February.

“While many of us don’t love the cold, it’s been great for making and maintaining ice,” Kozak said, “Now that we have a nice, thick surface, we should have a pretty long skating season.”

A special Family Day skate was planned, but ultimately cancelled due to weather.

“The weather looks like it’s going to be really cooperative, so we’re really excited,” said Kozak, speaking the week prior, “We’re promoting it through the Crowsnest Outdoor Rink Facebook group, and Bellecrest is helping spread the word too.”

As for the future, Kozak and other organizers are already thinking ahead to next season. A community feedback session is planned for spring, where volunteers will gather input on what worked well and what could be improved.

“We’d love to hear from the community—what they liked, what they didn’t, and what we could do differently,” she said, “One thing we’ve noticed is that the surface fills up quickly, so having the second rink will help. But we’re also interested in hearing what else people might want.”

Kozak also highlighted the importance of community support for the Bellecrest Community Association, which has provided water, electricity, lights, and a new hose specifically for the rink.

“They’ve been incredibly supportive,” she said. “I’ve been encouraging people to donate or join because it’s only five or ten bucks a year, and they’re making this rink possible.”

One additional initiative that has gained traction is a skate donation program. Volunteers have collected several pairs of used skates, which are currently available at Ophelia’s Outpost for anyone in need. However, storage space is limited, and organizers are looking for a long-term solution to keep skates accessible to the community.

“This is about providing an affordable, accessible winter activity close to home,” Kozak said, “It’s amazing to see how successful it’s been this year, and I’m so grateful to all the volunteers and community members who have stepped up.”

With strong community support, the rink is expected to return next winter, potentially bigger and better than before.