{"id":1431,"date":"2025-07-06T18:31:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T22:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northhatley.info\/2025\/07\/06\/la-patinoire-refrigeree-de-sherbrooke-coute-130-000-par-annee-a-entretenir\/"},"modified":"2025-07-07T09:16:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T13:16:53","slug":"sherbrookes-refrigerated-ice-rink-costs-130000-a-year-to-maintain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northhatley.info\/en\/2025\/07\/06\/sherbrookes-refrigerated-ice-rink-costs-130000-a-year-to-maintain\/","title":{"rendered":"Sherbrooke’s refrigerated ice rink costs $130,000 a year to maintain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many towns and cities have had the opportunity to install a refrigerated ice rink. Such a rink makes it possible to extend and promote the practice of skating and ice hockey for the entire surrounding population.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

North Hatley will also have this opportunity, thanks to a million-dollar donation from the Pollock family. What’s more, the government probably subsidizes part of this kind of project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, I wonder about the after-installation of this refrigerated rink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s one thing to build and install a refrigerated rink, but then you have to maintain it. What are the costs involved in operating such an ice rink?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the way, if I understand correctly, you need a zamboni! I don’t know if this is related, but I actually saw a blue zamboni in the parking lot of Parc des Rivi\u00e8res less than two years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In doing a bit of research, I found that the annual maintenance costs are significant. We’re talking $100,000 to $130,000 a year. The variation can be explained by whether or not a roof has been put on, and undoubtedly the level of use has an impact on the frequency of maintenance. In fact, if only a few people use it, there’s no need to use the zamboni every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Municipalities that have installed such a refrigerated rink are also seeing high visitor numbers. In fact, people come from all over to enjoy the rink. What’s more, most are illuminated, so they can be used until 9 p.m., 7 days a week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the blue-white-red foundation, which donates money to install refrigerated rinks across Quebec, is itself working to better equip cities and municipalities to forecast their operating budgets so as to avoid unpleasant surprises.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the City of Sherbrooke indicates that the operating budget today (2018) is $85,000 more than the initial budget (2015).<\/a> No doubt the cost in 2025 is even higher than $130,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If North Hatley’s population looks like this :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Population & Structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n