Applied Human Sciences student Krzysztof Kmiecik at the outdoor Loyola rink: “I knew we couldn’t move forward unless I was there, putting in the time.” | All photos courtesy of Kmiecik
Building a large outdoor skating rink is no easy endeavour. In addition to a very flat surface, it requires boards and, of course, a lot of ice.
Enter Facilities Management in the form of Gerry Barrette, the Loyola Campus property and operations manager. Barrette and the team at Loyola — Patrick Sullivan from Carpentry and Mike O’Hanley from Grounds — got the ball rolling.
In temperatures of -30 C, they cleared snow and built and installed boards before finally flooding the 60-by-120-foot rink.
Kmiecik did some of the heavy lifting himself, too. “I knew we couldn’t move forward unless I was there, putting in the time,” he says. “We couldn’t flood the rink until the surface was flat. I knew the team from Facilities would be back the next morning, so I had to make sure the work was done before I went home at night.”
Rounding out the crew were Applied Human Science professors Robert Hopp and Steven Henle who lent a hand as well as their unwavering support and guidance throughout the process.
The Concordia Student Union (CSU), the Arts and Science Federation of Associations (ASFA) and the Applied Human Sciences Student Association were also integral in funding and developing to the project. The Department of Recreation and Athletics is helping with maintainance and daily operations.
With the hard labour complete and an official opening planned for Friday, February 7, Barrette can reflect on the success of Kmiecik’s icy undertaking.
“This project really involved the community and the university,” says the property and operations manager. “It’s been great.”
The outdoor rink on the Loyola Campus (7141 Sherbrooke St. W.) is opening with a free-skate event on Friday, February 7 at 2:30 p.m. CJLO will provide music, and snacks will be served.
The rink’s operating hours will be determined by the number of volunteer supervisors able to work from Monday to Saturday between 1 and 5 p.m. In addition to supervision, volunteers from the Concordia community are needed to help with free skates, lessons and program coordination. If you’re interested, please email Krzysztof Kmiecik.
Read about Kmieck’s collaboration with other student groups in The Link newspaper.