A-Day at UCC, Saturday 26 September, from 8:30 am
What we are doing

Open Ice Initiative

We are a Toronto nonprofit that gives underprivileged youth free ice time, professional coaching, and a full set of equipment they keep for good, removing the financial barriers that keep kids off the ice.

The whole March break camp posed together on the ice at Ted Reeve Community Arena, the youngest campers kneeling at the front in green and blue jerseys and the coaches and student volunteers standing behind
Christmas Camp 2026 opens in
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Four arenas across Toronto, planned. Applications are open now. Free for every family.

Christmas Camp 2026  •  15 December 2026  •  Four arenas across Toronto, planned  •  Free for every familyChristmas Camp 2026  •  15 December 2026  •  Four arenas across Toronto, planned  •  Free for every familyChristmas Camp 2026  •  15 December 2026  •  Four arenas across Toronto, planned  •  Free for every familyChristmas Camp 2026  •  15 December 2026  •  Four arenas across Toronto, planned  •  Free for every familyChristmas Camp 2026  •  15 December 2026  •  Four arenas across Toronto, planned  •  Free for every familyChristmas Camp 2026  •  15 December 2026  •  Four arenas across Toronto, planned  •  Free for every familyChristmas Camp 2026  •  15 December 2026  •  Four arenas across Toronto, planned  •  Free for every familyChristmas Camp 2026  •  15 December 2026  •  Four arenas across Toronto, planned  •  Free for every family
The cost
$750

This is what one full set of equipment costs, all in, for one Toronto child. Before anyone touches the ice.

  • Skatesincluded
  • Helmet and cageincluded
  • Shoulder and elbow padsincluded
  • Glovesincluded
  • Shin pads and pantsincluded
  • Stickincluded
  • Jersey, bag, socks and base layerincluded
  • A full set, all in, one child$750
A first-time skater sitting on the ice while a volunteer talks them through standing up
A volunteer crouched at ice level, eye to eye with a first-time skater
A beginner in blue taking careful strides with a coach watching
A camper in green smiling widely, stick resting on the ice

For most families, that is where it ends

Not because the child did not want it.
Because nobody could pay for it.

The whole March break camp posed together on the ice at Ted Reeve Community Arena, the youngest campers kneeling at the front in green and blue jerseys and the coaches and student volunteers standing behind

We remove it

Free ice, free coaching, free lunch, and a full set of equipment that is theirs to keep. Families pay nothing.

The programme

Open Ice Camp

Camps run at Leaside Arena in midtown and Ted Reeve Community Arena in the east end, with Christmas Camp 2026 opening 15 December 2026, planned at four arenas across Toronto. Roughly three hours of ice per day plus dryland training, professional coaching, free lunch, and equipment campers keep for good.

01 / 03

Christmas Camp 2026

Opening 15 December 2026. Four arenas across Toronto, planned. Two ice sessions a day plus dryland, free lunch, and a full set of equipment to keep. Applications are open now.

02 / 03

How our camps work

The core curriculum. Four skill tiers from a learn to skate feeder group through to small area games, set after a day one assessment.

03 / 03

Keep Your Gear

Every camper leaves with a full set of equipment that is theirs permanently. $750 of gear per child.

100%est.
capacity growth at every camp we have run
pieces of equipment that went home and did not come back
1,400+est.
hours of free programming delivered to children
Three campers battling for the puck in a small area game, sticks down and skates dug in
Our impact

The barrier is cost, not interest

It costs us $1,060 to put one Toronto child through a camp, including $750 of equipment they keep. We received 100+ applications for a limited number of spots. Funding is the constraint, not demand.

Coverage

As seen in

Four outlets have reported on Open Ice Initiative as a news story. Their reporting is their own; where an outlet also supports the programme, that support is separate from its reporting.

What families
say

Five out of five on Google

Reviews from parents and guardians whose children came to a camp.

“My son attended the Open Ice Initiative several days and loved the experience. He was excited to go each day, enjoyed the drills, and spoke often about the coaches. The program helped him become much more confident on the ice, and he even asked to practice more outside of camp. All equipment was provided and was excellent quality, which would have cost our family around $1,000 on our own.”

Daniel Abdi
Camp family
Google review

“My child attended for multiple days and had a very positive experience. He was excited to attend each day and felt welcomed and supported by the staff. The program helped him learn how to skate and build confidence on the ice. As a parent, this experience would have cost our family well over $1,500 to $2,000 to provide on our own.”

Mariam Tesfaye
Camp family
Google review

“Our eldest daughter attended, along with her siblings, and the experience was incredible. All of her hockey gear was fully provided, so we didn't have to worry about anything. Her skating, confidence, and overall comfort on the ice grew so much.”

Malik Farah
Camp family
Google review

“An outstanding program that removes barriers and gives kids a real opportunity to play hockey. From providing equipment to creating a welcoming environment, the impact is amazing.”

Hassan Elmi
Camp family
Google review
The fabric of
who we are

Photographs say it better

Ninety five frames from inside our camps. The first time on the ice, the gear, the coaching, the friends, the families, and the whole group at the end of the week.

Partners and
sponsors

Put your brand on the ice

Sponsorship levels are priced in children's places. Every level puts children on the ice and puts your organisation in front of families, media audiences and a programme with national coverage.

Open Ice Initiative is an Ontario not-for-profit corporation. We applied to the Canada Revenue Agency for charitable registration in September 2026. Until registration is granted we cannot issue tax receipts, and gifts made before registration will not be receipted. About our charity status.

Because corporate support delivers logo placement, named programme rights and media association, it can typically be recorded as a marketing or advertising expense. Please confirm the treatment with your finance team. This is not tax advice.

Partners and sponsors

Trusted by the people who made it possible

12 organisations pay for the ice, the coaching, the equipment and the lunch, so that no family ever pays anything. Every one of them has a page. Have a look at who they are.

Our partners and sponsors

Volunteers working through boxes and helmets in the arena lobby
Get involved

Three ways to help

Volunteer at a camp, sponsor a camper, or apply to bring your child. Every route starts with one email.