This Popular Canmore Pond Won’t Open for Skating This Season, and All Other Rinks Remain Closed

What’s Happening? One of Canmore’s most beloved outdoor skating spots, “The Pond” on 7th Avenue, will not open this winter. The site drained far earlier than normal, leaving staff without the natural frozen base they rely on to build a safe and consistent ice surface.

Why The Pond Is Dry. The Pond usually holds enough water to freeze into a natural foundation before crews begin layering and maintaining the ice surface. This year, it emptied roughly six weeks ahead of schedule. Without that natural start point, the Town of Canmore says constructing a stable surface simply is not feasible. In other words, no base, no blades.

Town Says: Try Another Rink… Eventually. The closure notice suggests residents “try one of our other wonderful outdoor rinks instead.” The only problem: as of December 18, every single Town-maintained ice surface is also closed.

Here is the current status lineup:

• Cougar Creek Boarded Ice Rink – Closed

• Rundle Crescent Ice Surface – Closed

• Peaks Park Ice Surface – Closed

• Larch Boarded Ice Rink – Closed

• Three Sisters Sports Complex Ice Surface – Closed

• Spring Creek Pond Ice Surface – Closed

No timelines have been announced for openings.

Bigger Picture. Outdoor rinks across the Bow Valley depend on predictable freeze-thaw cycles, water retention, and multi-day cold snaps. When those shift, even well-established skating spots become harder to maintain. The early draining at The Pond highlights how sensitive these surfaces are to small changes in conditions.