What you need to know

Every Open Ice camp is free. There is nothing to pay, ever, and nothing to buy.

Our camps are for children aged five to ten.

Your child is given a full set of equipment to keep, fitted in person before they skate.

The next camp is Christmas Camp 2026, planned at four arenas across Toronto.

Your child does not need to know how to skate. Every child who joins Open Ice is new to hockey, and we teach skating from the very first step.

Bring your child, water and warm socks. We provide everything else, including lunch.

To apply, fill in the form on the Apply page, or send us an email. We reply to every family.

If English is difficult for you, write to us in your own language. We will find someone to translate.

Email openiceinitiative@gmail.com.

Camp Stories

The pilot: St. Paul Catholic School

Open Ice ran its first camp over the 2025 winter break at Ted Reeve Community Arena.

Open Ice InitiativeJan 20262 min read

A young camper in a green jersey learning to skate with a volunteer alongside

The inaugural Open Ice camp ran from 29 December 2025 to 2 January 2026 at Ted Reeve Community Arena. Children from St. Paul Catholic School in Regent Park attended. Every one of them was new to hockey, and many were stepping onto the ice for the first time.

The pilot established the model that every camp since has followed: full equipment provided and kept, professional coaching, free to the family, and recruitment aimed at the neighbourhoods with the highest need.

Back to the newsroom Media room

The pilot: St. Paul Catholic School

Why every camper keeps their equipment

Camp alumni continue at Horizons weekly sessions

Open Ice is opening two more rinks for the Christmas camp

Who Gets to Play: the first season is recorded

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