My child is 6 and has never skated before. Which program should I enroll them in?
Our CANSkate program is designed to teach basic skating skills to young skaters. Once they begin the program, our team of certified coaches will assess your child’s abilities to determine which level they are most suited for. Our coaches will continue to evaluate your child’s progress throughout the year, providing opportunities for testing every 4 weeks.
What skates should my child wear to their Canskate lessons?
For Canskate, your child can choose to wear hockey skates, figure skates, or recreational molded plastic skates. Please ensure that they are the correct size for your child, and are securely laced or attached.
Bob-skates (which are strapped to a child’s boots) are not permitted during our Canskate sessions.
What clothing should my child wear to skating?
Dressing your child in suitable clothing for their lessons will ensure that they are comfortable and able to participate for the duration of the session.
CANSkaters should wear:
a well-fitted CSA certified hockey helmet (mandatory)
light-weight snow pants or water repellent pants in case of falls
warm mittens (not mini gloves) a warm sweater or jacket with a few light layers underneath.
What can I expect on the first night of skating?
When you arrive at the arena for the first night, you will be greeted by a member of our Board of Directors who will answer your questions and direct you to the correct dressing room.
Your child will be given a colour coded name tag that should be returned to the bin at the end of each lesson. Please attach it to the coat or sweater that they will be wearing while skating.
You should use the assigned dressing room to tie your child’s skates and then take them out to line up beside the ice surface to wait for the session to begin.
Once the doors are opened, our certified coaches and program assistants will greet your child and help them onto the ice. Skaters will have a few minutes of warm-up time skating around the perimeter of the ice before joining a whole group warm-up session in the middle of the ice. After warm-up, skaters will proceed to their colour groups where they will progress through a variety of skill circuits and games. At the end of the lessons, skaters will again meet in the centre of the ice to begin a whole group cool down session.
After cool-down, skaters will be assisted off the ice by our coaches and volunteers and guided towards the dressing rooms. Please wait in the dressing room for your child rather than making your way back to the ice surface in order to reduce congestion in the hallway.
Before leaving the arena, please have your child deposit their name tag into one of the bins which are located at the table in the foyer or in the back hall near the dressing rooms.
How do the skaters move up to new levels?
By the second lesson, your child will be assigned to a colour group based on their ability level which will be indicated on their name tag to help our coaches and volunteers on the
Do you have a payment plan for registration fees?
Yes! In order to make life easier for your busy family, we offer the following payment schedule:
October 1st: $50% December 1st: 25% February 1st: 25%
We ask that payments be made by e-transfer to oronofscpayments@gmail.com
Can I watch my child’s lessons?
We encourage parents to watch their children’s skating lessons.
Parents are invited to watch from the stands inside the arena, or from the hallway inside the lobby. The waiting area adjacent to the main doors to the ice is restricted to Coaches and Club officials while lessons are in session.
Do I need to hire a coach for private lessons?
When our members progress into the Starskate program, the club schedules group lesson time for skaters in the Star 1 & 2 levels which introduce them to basic figure skating skills. At this time most of our skaters choose to hire a coach to deliver private lessons. It is not required, but recommended for skaters who intend to move forward into the higher levels of the Starskate program and / or participate in competitions.
If you are interested in hiring a coach to offer private lessons to your child, please contact the coach directly by email and inquire about their availability and rates. You will likely wish to arrange a time to speak to the coach in person at the arena before you determine which coach will be the best match for the needs and personality of your child.
You can find the email addresses for our club coaches on the Contact Us page
How do I register for Competitions?
There are competition opportunities available for skaters in our Starskate program which are listed on the Skate Ontario website. (see competitions page) Registration is completed online.
Preparing skaters for competition is the responsibility of a skater’s private coach. If your child is interested in competing during the upcoming season, please speak directly to their coach.