What you need to know

Every Open Ice camp is free. There is nothing to pay, ever, and nothing to buy.

Our camps are for children aged five to ten.

Your child is given a full set of equipment to keep, fitted in person before they skate.

The next camp is Christmas Camp 2026, planned at four arenas across Toronto.

Your child does not need to know how to skate. Every child who joins Open Ice is new to hockey, and we teach skating from the very first step.

Bring your child, water and warm socks. We provide everything else, including lunch.

To apply, fill in the form on the Apply page, or send us an email. We reply to every family.

If English is difficult for you, write to us in your own language. We will find someone to translate.

Email openiceinitiative@gmail.com.

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Partners
Upper Canada College

Program Partner

Upper Canada College

Independent school in Toronto, founded 1829

Visit ucc.on.ca (opens in a new tab)Donate to Open Ice (opens GoFundMe in a new tab)

A coach bent low holding the hands of a small camper in a blue jersey as they skate together

Who they are

Upper Canada College

Upper Canada College is an independent boys' school in Toronto, founded in 1829. It is also where many of the students who run Open Ice Initiative go to school, and where this organization started as an idea in Grade 10.

The school has an arena. That fact, and the school's willingness to open it, is the reason our alumni program exists at all.

What they do for Open Ice

Program Partner

What Upper Canada College does for Open Ice

Upper Canada College is a Program Partner. They provide the facility and the program support behind Horizons, our Saturday sessions for camp alumni who want to keep playing. A week of camp is a start. Somewhere to go every Saturday afterwards is the difference between a start and a beginning.

What that looks like

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A coach in a cream hoodie working with a camper in a red helmet

Campers with sticks raised in the air during a drill

A camper in green skating slowly toward the far boards

Campers gathered close around a volunteer for the day briefing

Thank you

Thank you, Upper Canada College

Thank you. Money buys ice and gear. It does not buy a rink that says yes, a coach who knows what to do with a child who has never skated, or somewhere for that child to keep playing in September. You gave us those, and those are the parts that turn a good week into a way in.

Andrew AdairFounder and President, Open Ice Initiative

Next program partnerStronger Together Hockey

Become a partner

Put your name on the ice

Levels priced in children's places. Every level is the difference between a child playing and a child watching.

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