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What comes next

What comes next

A week of camp is a start. This page is the answer to the question every parent asks at pickup on the last day, which is the most important question anyone asks us all week.

A camp that ends and leads nowhere is a nice week. What decides whether a child actually plays hockey is what is available the week after, whether it costs anything, and whether anyone told the family it existed.

A coach leaning in to help a camper in a blue jersey grip his stick

Why this page exists

Four routes, and we make the introduction

These are the four routes we can point you to. We are not paid by any of them and we do not take a cut. Ask us and we will make the introduction ourselves.

Ask us about next steps

The routes

Four ways to keep playing

Campers in a long line stretching across the width of the rink

01AssociationLeaside Hockey AssociationRunning minor hockey out of Leaside Arena since 1952. Forty five house league teams and forty eight competitive teams. If your child came to a camp at Leaside, this is the association whose ice they were already standing on.Find out more Their website (opens in a new tab)

A first-time skater sitting on the ice while a volunteer talks them through standing up

02AssociationToronto Leaside WildcatsOne of the largest girls and women’s hockey associations in Ontario. More than sixteen hundred players from three year olds through to adults, and a woman in a leadership role on every single team. Girls come to every camp we run.Find out more Their website (opens in a new tab)

A coach in a cream hoodie working with a camper in a red helmet

03Open IceHorizons Saturday sessionsOur own weekly sessions at Upper Canada College for camp alumni who want to keep skating. By referral, and free, like everything else we do.Find out more

The full camp group with coaches and volunteers at the end of the week

04Open IceAnother Open Ice campFree camps at every school break: Christmas, March Break and summer. Returning campers are welcome and they are placed in the tier they have earned, not the one they started in.Find out more

If cost is still the barrier

It usually is. Here is what actually exists, stated plainly.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart

Funds registration and equipment for families who qualify, and both Leaside and the Wildcats accept it.

KidSport Ontario

Offers grants toward registration fees.

Association subsidies

Most associations have a quiet hardship fund. Ask the registrar directly; they will not advertise it.

Your gear is already yours

Every camper leaves with a full set under Keep Your Gear, so the equipment cost has already been removed.

If you are not sure where to start, email us. We have done this before and we will do the phoning.

Ask us about next steps Keep Your Gear

Families who came back

A coach bent down to demonstrate a stick grip to a camper in blue

It was his first time playing hockey, and we were so impressed by how much he learned in just five days. By the end of the week, he was already saying he wants to become a coach one day.
Lin ZParent, Google review

Campers in green and blue standing together during a break

The week-long hockey training with Open Ice Initiative was an outstanding experience for my two children. We are already looking forward to joining again during March Break and the summer.
Messi FassilParent, Christmas Camp 2025, Google review

A young skater making their way across open ice on their own

On the first day I was kind of scared because I didn’t know how to play, but the coaches helped me a lot and I only fell a few times. I made new friends and wanted to come back every day.
Jayden T, age 8Camper, Google review

Where we are

Four arenas, one city

Free camps at every school break: Christmas, March Break and summer. Summer Camp 2026 ran at Leaside Arena, and we also funded places for families at a camp week at Ted Reeve. Christmas Camp 2026 is planned at four arenas. Saturday sessions at Upper Canada College are for camp alumni, by referral.

The arenas

The arenas
Arena	Where	Rink	What runs there
Leaside Arena	1073 Millwood Road, Toronto	Pashby Rink A	Summer Camp 2026; Christmas 2026 planned
Ted Reeve Community Arena	175 Main Street, Toronto	not applicable	Partner camp places, summer 2026; Christmas 2026 planned
North Toronto Memorial Arena	174 Orchard View Boulevard, Toronto	not applicable	Christmas 2026 planned
Upper Canada College	200 Lonsdale Road, Toronto	The rink at UCC	Horizons Saturday sessions for camp alumni, by referral; Christmas 2026 planned at the Wilder rink