A magnificent refrigerated skating rink coming soon to North Hatley

Featured photo is the skating rink at Parc Haendel in Candiac.
Photo credit: Nordic Structure.

For me, the refrigerated skating rink with a roof in North Hatley is an incredible architectural project that will add “panache” to North Hatley. Especially in winter, the area is somewhat lacking in activities! What’s more, our winters are very variable with climate change, and the traditional skating rink is used less and less. It’s always sad to see the rink flooded during the holiday season.

Building a refrigerated rink is a dream project for many municipalities. In fact, more and more municipalities are opting for a refrigerated rink. To everyone’s delight, North Hatley is about to get its very own! WOW! A community of just 675 inhabitants with its own refrigerated skating rink!

I don’t know what the rink will look like, but here are a few examples of refrigerated rinks in Quebec. It’s enough to make you dream! As they say, it’s really WOW!
Photo credit: Nordic Structure.

Parc Haendel, Candiac
Designed by Nordic Structure

Photo credit : Nordic Structure

Parc Victoria, Ville de Québec

Photo credit : Ville de Québec

Pac Dawson, Dorval

Photo credit : Ville de Dorval

Saphirs, Boischatel, 
Designed by ABCP architecture

Photo Credit: Stéphane Groleau

Can we afford such a rink?
Obviously, does the municipality of North Hatley have the means to maintain such a refrigerated rink? To put it another way, getting a Ferrari is all well and good, but you have to have the means to run it.

The municipality of North Hatley has a population of only 675, and we’re still struggling with our debts. Despite rumors that they’ll be ending soon!

Even if you’re given a Ferrari refrigerated skating rink, you have to assess whether you can afford to run it tomorrow and for years to come. A simple oil change on a Ferrari costs between $800 and $3000. So when the transmission breaks, imagine the price! When you can afford it, you don’t worry about the budget. When you can’t afford it, or when your budget explodes, the Ferrari can quickly become a nightmare!

Of course, I’m confident that the Municipality of North Hatley has properly planned for all implementation and operating costs, using a proper budget with reliable sources of operating costs for rinks comparable to the one it intends to implement.

But we must remain cautious. Even the city of Sherbrooke admits to having made a mistake in its initial calculation of projected operating costs for its bleu blanc rouge refrigerated rink. Sherbrooke had initially forecast operating costs of $45,000 per year. In 2018, it was $130,610., three times more than expected. Imagine today with post-pandemic inflation! That’s over $150,000 a year. And, people in Sherbrooke aren’t any crazier or brighter than people in North Hatley.

By the way, here are some basic questions about the refrigerated rink:

• What is the warranty on such an infrastructure?
• Does it break often?
• Do we need a specialized mechanic like on the Ferrari?
• Are the parts exclusive? If so, the price will follow.
• What is the lifespan of such a rink and its roof?
• Do I need to keep an eye on the rink at all times?
• How often should the zamboni be changed?
• The same questions apply to the zamboni…

Example of the Sherbrooke refrigerated rink budget

Even the blue-white-red foundation is working to better equip cities to plan operating budgets so that the municipal dream doesn’t turn into a nightmare.

On that note, I think the refrigerated rink is a great project. I only hope that it will benefit not only the people of North Hatley, but also people elsewhere. It’s not clear in the case of the new Pleasant View Beach building whether the citizens of Hatley Township will be able to benefit from it. I wonder, then, if other “strangers” want to use the skating rink, will they have to pay?

Reference : https://www.northhatley.org/fr/comite-du-plan-directeur/

I asked Chatgpt if a refrigerated rink is expensive to maintain and if it breaks often. Here’s his answer:

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Yes, a refrigerated rink is expensive to maintain – and it can break relatively often if it’s not well designed, maintained or adapted to the climate.

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Maintenance costs for a refrigerated rink

1. Electricity: The refrigeration system (often glycol or ammonia) must run almost continuously to maintain the ice, especially in warmer weather.
   • Can cost $5,000 to $15,000 per month, depending on size and weather.
     
2. Manpower: Personnel are needed for ice maintenance (resurfacing, watering), mechanical system monitoring and safety.
   • Tens of thousands of dollars per season.
     
3. Mechanical maintenance :
   • Check and replace compressors, piping, sensors, etc.
   • Expensive annual maintenance required.
     • $5,000 to $30,000 per year, depending on wear and repairs.

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Frequent or possible faults

Refrigerated rinks are more reliable than natural rinks, but not without faults. Here’s what breaks most often:

• Pipe leaks (glycol or refrigerant)
• Compressor or pump fault
• Faulty temperature sensors
• Premature wear if poorly insulated or overloaded

Breakage can cause rapid glass loss, sometimes within hours.

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In a nutshell

Component	Cost/Risk
Annual maintenance costs	40 000 $ à 150 000 $ or more
Frequent breakages?	Not often so well maintained, but possible
Typical service life	15 to 25 years (with periodic replacements)

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I asked Chatgpt the price of an oil change for a Ferrari. Here’s his answer:

Average cost by model :

• Ferrari 360 / F430 / 458: $600 to $1,200
• Ferrari California / Portofino : $800 to $1,500
• Ferrari 488 / F8 Tributo : $1,200 to $2,000
• Ferrari SF90 / 812 Superfast / other V12 : often $1,500 to $3,000

Why is it so expensive?

1. Specialized labor: Mechanics often have to dismantle several parts (underframe, panels, etc.).
   
2. Time required: A simple change can take 3 to 5 hours on some Ferraris.
   
3. Specific oil: Ferrari requires a top-of-the-range synthetic motor oil (often Motul, Shell Helix Ultra or equivalent).
   
4. Ferrari filters and gaskets: parts are proprietary and often expensive.

On that note, a refrigerated ice rink is a real gem, but even if you get it, you have to be able to maintain it!