New skating rink opens in downtown Fredericton’s Officers’ Square

The new artificial rink is part of a multi-million dollar redevelopment of Officers' Square and will operate from December to March each year.

The new skating rink at Officers’ Square in downtown Fredericton opened on Friday morning.

Councillor Bruce Grandy was the first person on the new ice surface.

“It’s very good ice, it’s very smooth, it’s going to be a great venue for people to come and recreate and skate and gather,” he said.

The project was first pitched in 2018 as part of a $10.4 million redevelopment of Officers’ Square, which will now include a stage for public events. The redevelopment had been met with some opposition over the loss of a number of mature trees and a wrought iron fence around part of the property.

The new rink received top marks from six year-old Raylan Smith, who just began learning how to skate this fall.

“It’s fun and I really like because it makes me confident,” he said.

Smith’s mother Karine Larivee says it’s great to have an easily accessible rink in the middle of downtown to bring her kids.

“I love to be able to go outdoors and spend some time with my kids and do something together,” she said.