The City of Moose Jaw’s Skate Vault is officially open at the Kinsmen Sportsplex — the vault contains gently used skates and helmets that residents can use for free to stay fit and have fun through the long months of winter.
“We closed the sports vault that was on Fairford Street, and we were looking for a new location for that,” explained Scott Osmachenko, the city’s recreation services manager. “Our number one need was bikes, and then skates and helmets.
“Ninety per cent of our indoor skating programs happen at the Kinsmen arena, so we decided to bring the program there. ... It’s much smaller, we can’t do all the sports, we just focused on skates and helmets. It’s right at the arena, it’s a little bit easier to access, and again, it’s in better condition.”
Indoor skating programs by the City of Moose Jaw include:
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Toddler Skate
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Public Skate
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Sticks & Pucks
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Morning Shinny and Saturday Night Shinny
Osmachenko said City Hall hopes the skate vault and skating programs help residents stay active through the winter months.
To view schedules, register for indoor skating programs, or make an appointment to visit the Skate Vault, residents can visit the registration page at www.moosejaw.ca or download the free City of Moose Jaw App.
Donations of skates and helmets for the Skate Vault will continue to be accepted at the Kinsmen Sportsplex.
“We’ve had donation bins at the arenas for quite a few years. People clean up at the end of the year, go through their garages, they figure they have some skates that are still usable, but they’ve just outgrown them.
“So, they donate them to us and then we provide them to the public for free. They can use them and then either they give them to another home or bring them back to the Skate Vault for someone else or another family to use.”