Alberta's 1st fully accessible community rink to have grand opening on Saturday

After five years of development, Alberta's first fully accessible outdoor community rink is slated to have its grand opening Saturday in northwest Calgary.

The Parkdale Community Association (PCA) began exploring options to replace its community rink when the facility reached the end of its 30-year lifespan a few years ago.

But when association members asked if accessibility was an issue for seniors, persons with disabilities and sledge hockey players, the vision for the rink changed, director John Butterwick told the Calgary Eyeopener in October 2020.

The question became a catalyst for the inclusive design that's set to fully open this weekend, association president Amanda Affonso said Friday.

"[It] really triggered us going down this path of, 'Well, of course it's going to be accessible,'" Affonso said.

"It is a public community space that's free for anyone to enjoy. And that's what we're really hoping: that we have people that want to try to skate for the first time."

After years of work, its unveiling will be a big moment for the the Parkdale Community Association, Butterwick said.

"Hockey is for everybody," Butterwick said. "To have that available in our community, for everybody, is a pretty proud moment for the community association."

The association got to work on the rink by connecting with Level Playing Field, which provides accessibility consulting services, and the Calgary Sledge Hockey Association (CSHA).

"This is a pretty unique opportunity, especially for an outdoor facility," said CSHA president Alan Halbert. "It was super great that they could look at [accessibility] as a feature."

The CSHA directed the community association to the Dakota Community Centre in Winnipeg, which is home to the first accessible