Despite a Zamboni driver shortage, Torontonians find refuge at the rink during COVID-19

Outdoor ice rinks across Toronto are seeing an influx of skaters, and the city is trying to keep up.

Thestar.com
Jan. 19, 2022
Joshua Chong

Not even Monday’s massive snowstorm could shutter the community ice rink at Sorauren Avenue Park.

Joseph Jeremy, along with dozens of other volunteers, helped dig out the community-operated natural rink near Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighbourhood Monday afternoon. It was a team effort, with children and adults alike pitching in to ensure the ice pads were cleared in time for an evening game of shinny.

“Seeing that many people come over with their shovels to help clear the rink after the big dump of snow was pretty heartwarming,” said Joseph, who helps flood the rink on the weekends. “It just had a real festive atmosphere -- makes it all worthwhile.”

For many Torontonians, outdoor skating rinks like Sorauren’s are one of the few recreational facilities where friends and families can gather and exercise safely. On Jan. 5, the city’s approximately 50 indoor arenas, along with other indoor recreational facilities, were closed due to provincial public health restrictions.

“We get a lot of local kids that spend hours every day there,” said Joël Campbell, chair of Friends of Sorauren Park, a volunteer-run organization that manages the community rink and other park programs. “People take a lot of pride in the rink.”

Across the city, outdoor ice rinks have seen an influx of skaters throughout the pandemic. But city-operated rinks are straining to keep up with the demand, as it deals with a shortage of Zamboni drivers due to COVID-19.

For skaters, that could spell some rough ice ahead.

“Staff absences can and have affected the frequency of ice maintenance at some locations, however rinks have remained open and maintained,” said a spokesperson for the city’s parks, forestry and recreation division.

Though the city could not provide the number of Zamboni operators who were off work, the spokesperson said the city experienced an unplanned absence rate of 10.8 per cent across all divisions, as of Monday.

Toronto employs about 95 Zamboni drivers to maintain the city’s 52 outdoor ice rinks, all of which were closed Monday due to the snowstorm. The rinks are supposed to be maintained seven days a week, but staffing shortages have disrupted resurfacing schedules at some locations.

The shortage in Zamboni drivers comes after the city of Toronto fired more than 400 workers at the start of the month for not receiving at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of the 461 terminated employees, 127 worked in parks, forestry and recreation -- the city division with the most number of terminations due to workers not being double vaccinated.

Coun. Michael Thompson (Ward 21, Scarborough Centre), chair of the city’s economic and community development committee, says the staffing issues are due in part to workers who are isolating after contracting COVID-19. The issue is also compounded by vacancies from last year that have yet to be filled.

“We don’t have an emergency situation or any safety concerns in terms of how our outdoor rinks are operating, but it may take a little bit longer in some instances for the (Zamboni) machine to get out and clear the ice,” he said.

Thompson stressed that although more city workers are calling in sick during this latest wave of the pandemic compared to previous ones, the city has adjusted staffing needs and scheduling -- including adding “some overtime” for city workers -- to ensure that services continue to be provided.

“All the services that are required to be provided to the citizens of Toronto are being done in a safe and efficient manner,” he noted.

For skater Jose Melo, the rough ice doesn’t phase him. “I personally like it because it provides more grip,” he said.

Melo, 21, started skating five years ago after his brother introduced him to the activity. He’s now a member of the Toronto Ice Skate Group -- a performance troupe that combines breakdancing and ice skating. He hits the ice up to three times a week, sometimes skating for more than five hours at a time.

Throughout the pandemic, like for so many others, the rink has been his refuge.

“I find that skating has always been my escape,” said Jose Melo. “Especially with the pandemic right now ... it helps us physically and mentally stabilize ourselves.”