New public ice skating rink opens in Saint John

A photo of an ice resurfacer on the new outdoor skating rink at ‘Ihtohli-maqahamok - The Gathering Space’ in Saint John, N.B. (Courtesy: City of Saint John)

The new public outdoor skating rink at ‘Ihtohli-maqahamok - The Gathering Space’ in Saint John, N.B. is finally open.

Barriers around the surface were quietly removed for skaters this weekend, with the city issuing an advisory about the rink’s opening on Sunday morning.

A statement from the city says the rink will be flooded daily, and open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weather permitting. The city’s statement says helmets are encouraged, but not mandatory, adding that anybody on the ice surface must wear skates. Items not allowed on the ice surface includes hockey sticks, hockey pucks, glass containers, pets, strollers, and sleds.

The rink was first announced as an add-on to the waterfront’s re-development in October 2022, with federal funding of $300,000. It was supposed to open last winter, but the timeline was pushed back due to construction delays. The official opening for ‘Ihtohli-maqahamok - The Gathering Space’ was held in July 2024.

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