Toronto’s Harbourfront skating rink to close permanently

The Harbourfront’s iconic skating rink in Toronto’s Queens Quay will be closed permanently and be replaced by a plaza, management confirms.

On its website, Harbourfront says the rink has been closed this winter season for construction to “update and refresh this area.” The skating portion of the website is also completely bare.

“We look forward to welcoming you back to the reimagined space once construction is completed in the summer of 2023,” it wrote.

CityNews has learned that the “reimagined space” is being updated into what a spokesperson confirmed would be a “revitalized into a new plaza that will be a wonderful space for the public all year round.”

“While it will not be a permanent rink as it was in the past, there will be opportunities for temporary winter skating activations within the new space in the future,” said Harbourfront Centre spokesperson Natasha Laird.

The rink’s fate was reportedly announced in a Tuesday presentation to the York Quay Neighbourhood Association, with a lack of funds cited as the reason for closing it.

Laird says the plan is to have the new facility’s construction completed by the summer’s end.

“This is part of a larger update and revitalization happening at our Harbourfront Centre campus, which includes updates to our main building (currently underway) and updates that have already been made to our wonderful outdoor concert stage,” Laid added.

“Our goal is always to be a place that helps Canadians engage in arts and culture while being a key part of the community and supporting Canada’s creative future. These updates help us to be an accessible space for the public to continue to enjoy arts, culture, and community, and we’re excited to see them come to life year-round.”