Wallace Emerson Jan 28th Sunday Open House

Here are some comments about the newly rebuilt rink, from various skaters at the rink during the Open House. Everybody had an opinion!

Mario (Westmoreland Ave.): there have to be two railings for going in and out of the rink house. Right now people fall or they slide down the mats and crash into the doors.

Also: I like the new shape of the rink but I wish there was an island in the middle -- that way people wouldn't skate in so many different directions and get scrambled up. If you even put some benches in the middle, people would skate around them and stay in one direction.

Rick: I use lots of different rinks and I wish the ice maintenance would be better. Right now there's way too much snow on the hockey side. [After he is told that there are some shovels for taking the snow off the ice, if rink users will help staff] -- I always heard that rink users are not allowed to help shovel the snow off the ice, because of liability. For sure I know that they don't let people do it at High Park.

When I've seen that the hockey boards are in bad shape, nails sticking out, I don't tell the rink staff because they're just a bunch of kids and they're not going to take care of anything.

Jason (rink staff): I think we should have schedules from the other close-by rinks here at Wallace so if we're doing 13 and under, we can tell people they could try Campbell, of Dufferin, or Christie.

Alex, Jenna and Megan: we really like this rink, but we wish there was a campfire and a hot dog party here again. That was our favorite thing here. Also the hot chocolate with marshmallows, at the fire.

Their mothers, Grace and Liz, say that Grace comes all the way in from Mississauga with her husband and young son and daughter. Grace and Liz grew up on Campbell Ave right by the rink there, and their parents still live across the street. They like to get all the cousins together, and when they heard about the Wallace opening party they came to it. They had such a good time that they've come back every Sunday since.

Hannah and Andrea (both 14) say they love Wallace Rink, everything about it since it's been rebuilt.

Chantal says: (3 girls)

three good friends who helped Alice

I think that its dangerous to come down this hill into the change room because you know I fell and it hurt. It was so dramatic and then i got wacked in the head by another person cause they were also coming down to the change room at the same time.

Chantal the second says that the cookies are really good. These girls +2 made up two posters about the Sunday cafe - see pictures

Skater at Wallace - they need to give the kids their time and the older people their own time on the shinny pad. Otherwise the way its set up - someone is going to be hurt - and I guarantee it'll be the little kids that get hurt. (During the all ages - esp. the weekends).

Jeffrey - would like to thank the recreation staff for cleaning the snow on Friday night for the youth program. And would like to thank the Dufferin staff for bringing food today and giving it to the people. And i hope one day it will happen at Wallace rink during the week.

BRING BACK THE HOCKEY BENCH!!!

He also brings up the crowded pad on the shinny side - saying that all ages on Sunday should change. Its far too dangerous. In the evening should be for the older people and during the day for kids.

Phil - Great atmosphere, great environment, just prefer there being an age schedule for the hockey side of the ice rink. Overall looking good.

a good rink for families

Sandra, think its great. Think that its very good esp. for people who can't go to varsity arena. Not everybody is informed of the services at low costs. Put up a poster with near by rec centers at schools. Difficult to make family that not used to community center or to doing sports stuff to get involved. Says that very water is good to have on hand at a rink. Selling apples and bananas at low cost and healthy. They're easy to keep apples.

Michael says that the bathroom should have mats. Knows that they will redoing the washrooms. Until them put temporary mats in there.

Likes the rink pad - new design more interesting. And the change rooms are brighter now - On Sunday could use more benches.

Thinks having a railing is a good idea for entrance to change rooms. Make sure to clear the snow of all the mats so its not slippery. Like the benches near the rink.

Chantal thinks we should rent skates.

Windows are better in the change rooms - natural sunlight. Keeps whatever is happening inside rink as a separate thing - this way still have hockey game and can come right off to pleasure side. Great idea to have a snack bar - when you have kids you need it. As a parent you would like that - and would welcome it. Structure entrance better - its very slippery. Do something about ground - definitely need railing. Try to get other side of door to open - or make one for in and one for out.