For Erika Johnston, a first-year recreation and leisure student from Milton, having a rink at Algonquin reminds her of home and family.
“My dad’s always made an outdoor rink at home,” said Johnston with a smile. “So it feels great to be back on skates.”
Not only has the new rink at Algonquin prompted students to feel more at home but it’s also given students another means of entertainment.
“It’s pretty sweet to have a rink here,” said Ryan Verhoek, a first-year Aboriginal studies student. “It’s something fun to do over your breaks instead of sitting on your ass drinking a beer at the Ob.”
President Cheryl Jensen agreed that the rink is an amusing addition to the campus.
“It’s somewhere where our students and staff can take a relaxing skate in the quiet of winter,” said Jensen. “I encourage us all to use it for the next weeks of winter.”
Although the rink has been open since January, Algonquin had a ceremonial puck celebration Feb. 11 where students and staff could skate and enjoy hot chocolate and homemade Beavertails called “ThorTails.”
Among participants at the celebration was Student’s Association president Christina Miller, who, although she wasn’t a great skater, seemed to be having a blast.
“It’s the real Canadian spirit,” said Miller while skating. “We have a lot of international students who get to come here and see our culture through hockey, the cold and skating.”
The Canadian spirit is something which came up a lot during the celebration, many participants believe that the rink is a great way to bring people together.
“It shows how we can come together as a college,” said foundation officer Tracey Martin. “It’s in my DNA to skate.”