Public Skating and Shinny Programs

Admission standards and capacity restrictions apply.

Skate patrol staff enforce these rules and ensure a safe skating environment for everyone. Failure to respect these rules and follow instruction from the skate patrol may result in ejection.

Please report any accidents or injuries to the skate patrol or arena staff immediately.

Only persons wearing skates are permitted on the ice surface.

No food or drinks are allowed on the ice surface.

Helmets are strongly recommended or mandatory for all programs. Details follow.

Children should be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times.

Coaching is not permitted during any recreational skates or shinny hockey.

Skaters and players must stay off the ice until the Zamboni (ice resurfacer) has returned to the garage with the doors fully closed.

Outdoor skating opportunities are available at Trafalgar Park weather permitting. Sticks and pucks are only allowed at designated times.

Recreational Skates

All skaters must skate in the same direction.

No pucks, hockey sticks, chairs, strollers, or other equipment are allowed on the ice surface except for skate aids approved by the Town of Oakville, which must stay in the roped-off area.

Please note: Wheelchairs are allowed on the ice if a responsible person age 16 or older with skates on accompanies the participant.

Not allowed during public skates:

• General horseplay, fighting, or deliberate interference with other skaters.
• Figure skating; skating backwards, erratically or at excessive speeds.
• Tag or games.

Shinny Programs

• No slap shots, wrist shots or any form of aggressive play is allowed.
• All players must wear CSA-approved helmets.
• All children must wear full hockey equipment. Full equipment including CSA-approved helmet with full mask are also mandatory for Shinny Hockey: Age 14 to 17.
• Half-mask and full equipment are strongly recommended for adults.

Shinny Hockey

Self-organized, non-contact hockey.

Adult and Child Shinny Hockey Age: 7 to 10 is a chance for caregivers (18+) to teach children hockey skills. Maximum of two (2) children per caregiver.

Stick and Puck

Adult and Child Stick and Puck: 8 years and under is a chance for caregivers (18+) to practice hockey skills with children in a safe and recreational environment. Maximum two (2) children per caregiver.

The Recreation and Culture department strives to make our programs and services accessible and inclusive to all members of our community including those with intellectual or physical disabilities; attention and behaviour difficulties; vision and hearing impairments; learning disabilities; allergies and medical conditions.

For more information, visit our Inclusion and Support Services page.

Admission for support persons

Persons requiring that a support person accompanies them in order to participate in Recreation and Culture drop-in programs can apply for an Express Pass. Express Passes are provided at no-charge, provide free entry for the support person and streamlines the program check-in experience.

For more information, please speak to a Customer Service Representative at your local recreation and culture facility.

Medical conditions

Individuals with seizure disorders or other serious medical conditions should be accompanied by an individual knowledgeable of their condition and responsible who can provide immediate assistance if needed.

General Activity drop-ins

The following fees are effective February 1, 2020, and include HST, as applicable.

With an individual paid General Activity admission, you get:

• access to any recreational swim* in our indoor and outdoor pools, or
• access to any recreational skate* (including Adult and Preschool Instructional Hockey, etc.) in all of our arenas, or
• access to any drop-in sport* including basketball, pickleball, and more!

*Does not include Waterfit, squash/racquetball courts, rock climbing or shinny hockey.

Single admission options

• Adult – $5
• No charge for children under 2 years of age
• Youth (ages 2-17) – $4
• Senior (ages 65+) – $4
• Group (five individuals maximum) – $15

A 10-visit General Activity Pass is a great way to save money without worrying about an expiry date!

Get unlimited access to any General Activity drop-ins using your annual or three-month pass.

Each "visit" of a 10-visit pass is good for one admission to one General Activity drop-in.

A fee of $11.30 is applied to all passes purchased by non-residents, except 10-visit passes.

Annual General Activity Passes

• Adult – $273.74
• Youth (ages 2-17) – $218.99
• Seniors (ages 65+) – $218.99
• Family** – $496.47

Three-month General Activity Passes

• Adult – $91.25
• Youth (ages 2-17) – $73
• Seniors (ages 65+) – $73
• Family** – $165.49

10-visit General Activity Passes

• Adult – $45
• Youth (ages 2-17) – $36
• Seniors (ages 65+) – $36

• **A family with one or two adult guardians over the age of 18 and their dependents, 18 years of age or under, or full-time students under the age of 25 qualifies for a family pass. Multiple families cannot be combined on any pass purchase.
• Monthly fees are based on the commitment of a yearly membership. Initial payment will include first month membership fee, equipment surcharge and applicable taxes.
• Lost or stolen cards are subject to a replacement fee.

Visit the Fitness Centres page for information about membership options, including unlimited access to General Activity drop-ins and more!

Shinny programs

Single admission (per person, per visit) for Shinny Hockey is:

• Adult – $8.14
• Youth (ages 2-17) – $6.50
• Seniors (65+) – $6.50

Goalies play for free! There is no group rate for shinny hockey programs.

Now available at Trafalgar Park, too!

New to skating, or just getting back into it, and you don't have skates and/or a helmet to participate? Skate and helmet rentals are available at Joshua's Creek Arenas, Maple Grove Arena, River Oaks Community Centre, Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, and Trafalgar Park Community Centre during all recreational skates.

• $6.22 for skates
• $3.11 per helmet
• $7.35 for a combo

Please note: Only cash payments are accepted at Maple Grove Arena.

A driver's license, passport, birth certificate, or citizenship card is required to rent skates and/or helmets. ID will be held until equipment is returned. Quantities and sizes are limited. Regular recreational skating admission fees, rules and capacity restrictions apply.

Participants must wear skates for admission to public skating. Helmets are strongly recommended.

Let’s Play Safe Concussion Awareness

The Public Health Agency in Canada reports that more than 40 per cent of brain injuries in children and youth ages 10-19 years who visit emergency departments occur in sport and recreation activities.

For more information about the importance of helmets visit the Concussion Awareness page.