National

Surrey's first-ever free outdoor skating rink opens at Civic Plaza

Darpan News Desk , 20 Nov, 2025 01:30 PM

Surrey’s first free outdoor skating rink debuts at Surrey Civic Plaza this weekend as part of the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival, with the full Skating at Civic Plaza program officially launching Dec. 1.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a festive outdoor experience, with free skating at the new 4,000-square-foot rink and other family-friendly activities through Family Day, Feb. 16, 2026.

“Skating at Civic Plaza is about creating a lively, vibrant space where people can connect and enjoy the season together,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “This exciting pilot project delivers a free, inclusive venue that everyone can enjoy. Projects like these are an important step toward building a vibrant downtown in Surrey.”

During the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival, the rink is expected to be a popular feature with free skate and helmet rentals and will have limited capacity at one time. To help manage capacity, wristbands with timeslots will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, with a maximum of one timeslot per person.

After the festival, the outdoor rink and tent will be closed from Nov. 24–28 as staff prepare the full Skating at Civic Plaza program on Dec. 1. Visitors will find seasonal activities, a café, and cozy seating areas, making the rink a welcoming space for families, students, and seniors to enjoy skating and holiday fun. Skate rentals will be available for $5 per pair starting Dec. 1. School groups can reserve rink times on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings starting Dec. 2. Private groups will also be able to reserve times on Saturday mornings starting Dec. 6.

From Dec. 1, the skating rink and other activities under the tent at Civic Plaza will be open daily from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., with adjusted hours of 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 24, 25, 26, 31 and Jan. 1. A limited number of skates and helmets will be available to rent, and visitors are encouraged to bring their own equipment. Weekends and evenings are expected to be busy, so skaters are encouraged to arrive early.

For the latest details about the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival, visit surreytreelighting.ca.For updates on Skating at Civic Plaza, including hours, rentals, group bookings and upcoming activities, visit surrey.ca/plazaskating.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Poilievre says Canadian counter-tariffs should go to fund tax cuts

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Canada needs to retaliate against American tariffs by targeting U.S. goods Canada can make, does not need or can obtain elsewhere. Poilievre says Canada needs to cut taxes to counteract the domestic impact of tariffs and points to the carbon price, the capital gains tax and income tax.

Poilievre says Canadian counter-tariffs should go to fund tax cuts

Canadians say they will stop buying U.S. products as Trump’s tariffs take effect

Canadians say they are ready to use their wallets to fight the trade war with the United States, which began today as President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. Haligonians interviewed today said they are focused on buying Canadian whenever possible, and many said they had already stopped purchasing American products, as Trump had been threatening tariffs for months.

Canadians say they will stop buying U.S. products as Trump’s tariffs take effect

How Canadians are reacting to Donald Trump's tariffs

Canada is immediately imposing 25 per cent retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion worth of American products, and will expand that to cover another $125 billion in U.S. goods in 21 days. Here’s how political, business and union leaders reacted Tuesday.

How Canadians are reacting to Donald Trump's tariffs

The trade war is on between Canada and the U.S. Here's what you need to know

A trade war between Canada and its largest trading partner has begun, with tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump now in effect and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responding with a package of retaliatory tariffs. Stocks are tumbling, businesses are warning of impending layoffs and further measures from both countries are likely in the coming days.

The trade war is on between Canada and the U.S. Here's what you need to know

Key dates in the Canada-U.S. trade dispute as Trump launches trade war

Canada has responded with retaliatory tariffs, and markets are falling as investors brace for the economic impact that the duties will have on economies on both sides of the border. Canadians confused about Trump's plans aren't alone, with the U.S. president at times contradicting himself about his own tariff plans.

Key dates in the Canada-U.S. trade dispute as Trump launches trade war

As Trump's trade war begins, his team links his tariff agenda to drug trafficking

As market turbulence rattled some Washington lawmakers, U.S. President Donald Trump's closest advisers fanned out to TV news programs Tuesday to claim a link between economywide tariffs on Canada and Mexico and fentanyl trafficking. The president's executive order hitting Canada and Mexico with 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs, with a lower 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy, took effect Tuesday.