Community ice rink – preparation for 2018-2019 season

We thank those people who volunteer at our rink. We are enriched by your support and your ideas, and we are grateful for your help in running the community rink.

Our community ice rink is well utilized by community members, but the volunteerism to maintain the rink has been low for several years. New volunteers are needed so we can continue offering this wonderful recreational activity to the community.

In preparation for the upcoming season, we are currently looking for two things:

1. Maintenance team: A minimum 7 volunteers who are each committed to working one night a week between mid-December and late-February. If an individual can’t make their night on any given week it is up to them to make arrangements to find a one-time replacement. The person responsible for their night will be responsible to build and maintain the rink if weather permits. If weather does not permit – for example if it is above freezing – the volunteer has that night/day off. Of course, a volunteer can also help on any other day of the week – for example if more than a foot of snow falls in one day it is much faster to shovel with a group of 4 or more people than by yourself.

This approach works at other community rinks and it helps ensure individuals (who are volunteers) do not feel burned out. Having 7 volunteers greatly lightens the load compared to previous years, where 2 core volunteers spent 5-7 evenings a week at the rink for two straight months.

2. Supervision team: A minimum of 10 volunteers who are each committed to working one shift a week between mid-December and late-February. These volunteers will supervise the fieldhouse for 3-hour shifts (once a week or biweekly). Keeping the fieldhouse open is a requirement for the City of Ottawa to supply us with hockey boards, lights, hoses, etc.

Supervision volunteers can choose one or more 3-hour shift per week. They are responsible for:
i) unlocking the fieldhouse so community members can use the change room and washroom,
ii) being the emergency contact if there are any problems (e.g. call 911 if someone is hurt),
iii) take head counts each hour,
iv) tidying the fieldhouse, and
v) occasionally clearing snow (they are not required to clear all snow, as anyone using the rink for recreation are welcomed to do so with the shovels available)

We are required to keep the fieldhouse open for a minimum number of hours each week, so please let us know if you can volunteer on a weekly basis, or biweekly, or even as a standby if we have a last-minute cancellation.

Here is the schedule for supervisors:
– Weekdays one 3 hour shift from 6pm-9pm
– Saturday: three 3 hour shifts starting at 11am
– Sunday: three 2 hour shifts starting at 1pm

All volunteers are asked to participate in the creation of the initial ice surface, or “base ice.” The initial ice build requires temperatures below -5C (-10C is better) and regular flooding with water in order to build the base. This flooding can occur at any time of day (morning, afternoon, evening), and we will be in need of volunteers to flood the ice as soon as temperatures allow (usually the 3rd or 4th week of December) in order to get the rink up and running. Flooding involves taking a 1″ hose and spraying the entire area (both hockey rink and puddle rink) to saturation. Initially, each flooding will require 2-4 hours per flooding, and as a watertight area is created with surface ice, the time will reduce to 1-1.5 hours. Approximately 5-10 floodings are required to create base ice before it can be skated on.
As you can understand, the timing of this initial work is subject to weather conditions. We will not know exactly which date to start until a few days beforehand. This requires flexibility on behalf of the volunteer group, and as usual, the more people involved the better. We started on December 14th last season.

New volunteers must make themselves known to the GPCA by October 1st 2018 so that we have confirmation in time to sign the rink agreement with the City of Ottawa.
Community members interested in volunteering are asked to contact Adam Norman by email (glabarparkca@gmail.com) or call/text 613-552-5615.

If insufficient volunteers are available, there will be no community rink in 2018-2019.

Save the Date! June 9th will be our annual Great Glabar Park Garage Sale. In addition to setting up at your home, we would like to invite residents to bring their items for sale to the Kingsmere Park. Any resident interested in this option will be allocated a spot at the park where they can set up their goods as they please. This option will offer a one-stop-shop for buyers to check out housewares and perhaps socialize with their neighbours while their kids play in the park.
Would be lovely if you could let us know in advance if you plan on setting up at the park so we can have an idea about numbers, but it is not necessary.

Mark your calendars for the Glabarhood Easter Egg hunt!

Here’s how to participate:

– Pre-fill 10 plastic eggs PER CHILD PARTICIPANT with PEANUT-FREE candies/chocolates
– A parent shows up at 9:30 on March 31st to hide their eggs at the park.
– Everyone shows up by 10:30 for the egg hunt
– The hunt will start at 10:30 sharp
– The hunt begins!
– Kids fill their baskets brought from home to find 10 eggs each.

PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL CANDY/CHOCOLATE IS PEANUT FREE!

The rink is in great shape for skating! Thanks to the volunteers that created the ice and flooded it to get to its current state.

We are still looking for volunteers to supervise the fieldhouse for 3 hour shifts (once a week or biweekly). Please contact glabarparkca@gmail.com if you are able to volunteer. Keeping the fieldhouse open is a must for the City of Ottawa to supply us with hockey boards, lights, hoses, etc. Don’t let the rink fail because of apathy!

In a previous post, we put out a request for volunteers to supervise the rink on weeknights and weekends. As a supplement to that information, here is a section from the City of Ottawa’s “Outdoor Rink Manual” that describes the responsibilities of this role:

SECTION 4 – The Rink Attendant

A. Job Guidelines
As an employee of the Program Sponsor, the Rink Attendant is directed by the Program Sponsor to follow the guidelines stated in the Grant Agreement. The following is a list of guidelines, which each Program Sponsor may want to use as an outline for developing “official” Rink Attendant responsibilities specific to their site.
1. Cleaning of ice surfaces daily: both before and after operating hours.
2. A daily “walking tour” of the site to include inspection of ice surfaces, boards, building and equipment.
3. Notify the City’s Program Coordinator of any necessary repairs found as a result of the site inspection.
4. Care of equipment that has been loaned by the City (ex: hockey frames and mesh, hose, hose reel, storage box and field house/trailer, etc.).
5. Statistic sheets filled out hourly with accurate records of attendance. These sheets must be submitted weekly to the Program Coordinator, and must be kept on site at all times.
6. Cleaning the inside of the building, or trailer, including washrooms. Ensure that garbage is placed at the road entrance the night before the area’s official garbage pick-up day.
7. Keeping all entrance doors clear of snow and ice.
8. Know how to complete forms in case of injuries. Understand and be able to perform emergency procedures.
9. Ice must be flooded a minimum of four times weekly, weather permitting. Flooding once a day will maintain the rink at an acceptable level.
10. Supervision of activities on the ice and in the building (Where applicable).
11. Ensure the ice time is reserved for permit holders, and that posters for rink permits are posted to inform the public. Attendance of permit group members must be recorded on daily attendance sheets.
12. Rink Attendants are encouraged to assist in programming; ex: special events, lessons, hockey tournaments, recreational skating, etc.
13. Rink Attendants – It’s highly recommended they be certified in Emergency First Aid / CPR. Call or email our front desk staff for course information. We have two courses scheduled for rink staff in December and January. 613-580-2590 or seasonalrecreation@ottawa.ca
14. Ensure the following are posted in both official languages, for public notice, both inside and outside the facility:
a) Hours of Operation.
b) Rules and Regulations.
c) Any daily programming schedule, if necessary.
d) Name of Program Sponsor and contact person, with phone number.

B. Supervision (Where Applicable)
During scheduled operational hours, at least one Rink Attendant must be on site actively supervising at all times. Active supervision includes programming activities and participating in games which enhance community involvement. “Active” supervision will allow the Attendant’s shift to pass much more quickly and more pleasantly. This direct style of supervision will provide an opportunity for rink patrons to meet the Rink Attendant.
The Rink Attendant should ensure that the Program Sponsor’s schedule is followed and that ice time is available for both hockey and free skating.
The Rink Attendant should enforce the rink rules and make sure the “No Pucks on Secondary Surface” rule is followed.
Rink Attendants should take pride in the ice surface.
For example, never flood the ice until it has been scraped, no matter how smooth it may look. Also, if there is a light snowfall, rather than sitting in the building waiting for the snow to stop, start scraping the ice. (The snow must be removed in any case). Rink Attendants will find skaters/players eager to assist, if they themselves actively shovel snow resulting in a more efficient operation.