Meewasin skating rink, voted the "best outdoor skating spot in Canada" by Readers Digest in 2006, is about to get better. As Canadians we know that skating on an outdoor rink is a big part of what it means to be Canadian. With this in mind it only made sense that one of the first projects by Meewasin in the 1980's was the creation of a free outdoor skating rink on the bank of the South Saskatchewan River in downtown Saskatoon. In operation for nearly 30 years, the rink hosts over 10,000 local residents yearly and numerous visitors from all over the world. Some of the more notable visitors have included personalities such as Elvis Stojko, Tracey Wilson, Kurt Browning, Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed. Just this past week the "Great One" Wayne Gretsky and Prime Minister Stephen Harper paid the rink a visit and spent time with some local school students.

During its thirty years of operation, the Meewasin Rink has been very well used and the time had come to breathe some new life into it and the surrounding Kiwanis Memorial Park. Through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, and, with financial support from the Government of Canada, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the City of Saskatoon, Meewasin will do just that.

In October, 2010 Meewasin announced its intention to build a new facility at the popular Saskatoon winter attraction. A partnership with three levels of government plus the corporate community has made the new facilities possible. Thanks to the generous support from Cameco, the lodge will now be known as the Cameco Meewasin Skaters' Lodge.

Project Outline

Cameco - Meewasin Skaters' Lodge
The new Meewasin Skaters' Lodge will provide indoor skate change, warm-up and waiting areas with built-in bench seating. A WETT certified wood stove, a small office area for the rink attendant plus and area for loaner skate storage and skate sharpening equipment rounds out the program. This new design will make the annual set up and take down simpler and far less expensive

Potash Corp Plaza

Site Develompent
An accessible ramp, the only one south of the Hnatyshyn stature, will be constructed between the skating rink and the Meewasin Trail. this development will also include related outdoor signs, lighting, and seasonal and permanent connections for utilities and will improve safety and security for users. Final construction onthe ramp will be concluede in spring, 2011.

Year Round Washrooms
A year round permanent washroom building will have space for heating water to provide a hot water flood for the rink as well as suitable equipment storage.

As sustainability and heritage conservation are both important to Meewasin, the City of Saskatoon will be providing the project with tempered glass that was salvaged from the old 19th Street Saskatoon Arena. This glass will be used in the windows for the permanent washroom facilities. As well, slate salvaged from the Buena Vista School and the Gathercole Building will be used for the donor recognition program.

This is a very exciting project for Meewasin, the City of Saskatoon and the thousands of Saskatoon residents who use the rink every year. The project will provide an accessible site and facility that will continue the tradition of free outdoor skating in downtown Saskatoon for many years to come.