The rink has been buzzing with activity since early December. Hats off to all the local business that sponsored the free skating sessions throughout the school holidays and to the dedicated staff of the Similkameen Recreation Centre for keeping the ice beautiful and the rink a welcoming place for everyone who wants to enjoy skating in this community.
Friends of the Keremeos Skating Rink is a registered charity that plays a role in lowering financial barriers by subsidizing all the children’s programs at the rink. We pay a percentages of the fees for each child, in children’s skating lessons, mites hockey (five to eight year olds), and sticks and pucks hockey (nine - 14 year olds).
Friends of the Keremeos Skating Rink also provides volunteer time and skating and hockey equipment that can be borrowed by participants. They distribute the free skating passes that children receive at school, paying $2.85 for each pass that is used at the rink.
This year the Friends of the Rink received financial support from Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Areas “B” and “G”, the Village of Keremeos, the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen, and Kars Under the “K”.
The society is also very grateful to receive financial support from individuals who donate their refundable beverage containers and from people who buy tickets on our annual raffle.
Friends of the rink appreciates all the volunteers that come out to help at the hockey programs for kids. They would particularly like to recognize the youth volunteers that help at skating lessons: Micah and Elijah Vesprey and Ashley Whelpton, for all their energy and patience helping the instructor, Bonny Dickinson, teach so many of the local kids how to skate.
The rink is open (although this week’s schedule has been affected by the unseasonably warm weather) until the end of January, so get out and enjoy it while it lasts. Any kids wanting to try out hockey this year, can drop in to any of the sessions of mites (five to eight year olds) or sticks and pucks (nine – 14 year olds). No experience required and there is lots of protective equipment available to borrow. Schedules are available at the rink.