Volunteers in the Town of Souris have been busy building an outdoor skating area in Victoria Park, and in just over a week they’ve had many come out and enjoy the mild weather while strapping on the skates to follow the winding trail through the trees!

Murray Cameron is one of a dozen volunteers who has been part of the outdoor skate area from the beginning.  “We’ve been working on making some ice on the road that goes through the Victoria Park Campground.  It’s just another place for people to skate; those who aren’t really into the hockey and don’t want to go to the hockey rink where the pucks are flying around, this is just a place to go and skate!”

To create the frozen winding path that’s approximately 300 metres through the campground takes a fair amount of work that takes participation from quite a number of people with varying machinery.

Cameron says so far, there hasn’t been much of an issue with hockey sticks and pucks on the Victoria Park skate path.  Many are taking to building home made rinks on the frozen Souris River.  “There must be 7 or 8 rinks on the river where they can play hockey.  I think there are more rinks down there than when I was skating down there in the 70’s,” he laughs. “They’re also working on the outdoor rink here as well, it’s not up and running yet,” he adds.

Many communities are waiting to see how COVID-19 restrictions will affect the use of local arenas, but until that is decided these outdoor rinks and skating areas are a great way to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, even after the local arenas open up to the public once again.

If you're looking for an enjoyable evening skate and you’ve got an extra string of lights and would like to help salute local health care workers, you’re welcome to join residents in the town of Souris to brighten up this new winter wonderland through Victoria Park Campground.