Last Minute Ice

Starting January 2, 2025, the City of Stratford will implement its updated policy for last minute ice.  The program will continue to offer ice at a discounted rate in periods when arenas experience lower use. In 2025, the rate will change to a flat fee of $60.00 per hour rather than the previous per person rate. 

Online, customers will see ice availability and be able to reserve up to 72 hours in advance.

Reserve Now

It is the policy and strategic priority of the Corporation of the City of Stratford to encourage active, social, meaningful lives to promote good health and wellbeing. 

The City, through its presentation of community facilities to the public, strives to administer and manage these resources in a fair and equitable manner, while optimizing use that reflects municipal directives, minimizes risk, and provides health and social benefits to the community. 

Administration of the Last Minute Ice Policy shall be the responsibility of the Director of Community Services or a designate. 

The primary purpose of this policy is to promote and encourage participation in ice sports to the overall benefit of the community. 

The secondary purpose of this policy is to establish, in periods when ice facilities (arenas) experience lower utilization, that ice is made available and can be rented at a discounted rate. 

The policy will: 

• Clearly define and communicate how Last Minute Ice will be made available for reservation;
• Serve as a guide on the administration of Last Minute Ice.

The objectives of this policy are to:

• Establish a fair, transparent, consistent and equitable process for Last Minute Ice distribution and management in a fiscally responsible manner;
• Ensure that the ice facilities are used for the benefit of the entire community;
• Recognize the need for flexibility to effectively respond to changing needs and demands for facilities.

• “Last Minute Ice” refers to ice being made available in periods of lower utilization and at a discounted rate.
• "Single Booking" means any event that is not considered a recurring booking or a regular user reservation.
• "Recurring Booking" means weekly event bookings made at a recreation facility that repeat for more than two consequential weeks.
• "Regular User" means any group booking a facility for the purpose of a regular use for a recurring period repeating for 3 weeks or more.
• "User" means any person, including an individual, organization whether incorporated, educational, sports, arts or community group, or other party, and their Responsible Person as applicable, who have been allocated the use of the Facility.

This policy applies to all users renting ice for the purpose of recreational, educational, athletic, and/or social activities. For the purpose of this policy, facilities to which Last Minute Ice is delivered are municipally-owned arenas.

The following rules and guidelines will support the administration of Last Minute Ice.

1. Last Minute Ice will be made available a maximum of 72 hours in advance.
2. Last Minute Ice will be sold at a minimum 1-hour blocks, that includes 10 minutes of ice maintenance.
3. Last Minute Ice will be made available on a first come first serve basis.
4. Last Minute Ice cannot be used to replace a single booking or recurring booking and will not be added to a re-occurring contract.
5. Last Minute Ice cannot cancel or replace previously scheduled bookings.
6. Last Minute Ice reservations will require the user to identify, at the time of registration, how many participants will attend the event. Only those indicated on the reservation will be permitted on the ice, and there will be no exceptions granted by facility staff.
7. Any user who intentionally challenges or circumvents the participant details in a Last Minute Ice reservation (i.e.: hosts more participants on the ice than indicated and paid for in the reservation) may have future reservation requests denied.
8. Last Minute Ice participants under the age of 12 must always be accompanied by an adult on the ice, and must wear at CSA-approved helmet.
9. Last Minute Ice Participants must follow current admission requirements.
10. It is strongly recommended that Last Minute Ice Participants over the age of 12 wear a CSA-approved helmet.
11. Last Minute Ice Participants must wear skates on the ice. No other footwear or strollers are permitted on the ice surface.
12. Last Minute Ice must be paid in full at the time of booking, and can be purchased online, or in office or by phone during regular business hours.
13. Participants must be able to show proof of purchase to the facility staff upon request. Proof of purchase is emailed to participants shortly after completion of the reservation and payment, whether it be online, in office, or over the phone.  
14. Last Minute Ice is non-refundable.
15. The City may, at its sole discretion, cancel and/or modify a Last Minute Ice reservation. The City will do so with as much advance notice to Renter as possible. 

1. Last Minute Ice availability will be presented via an online availability calendar. Those who do not have access to online services may inquire for availably in office during regular business hours at 353 McCarthy Road or by phone at 519-271-0250 extension 252. 
2. Last Minute Ice will be assessed at the current rates, established by the City.
3. Last Minute Ice must be paid in full at the time of booking. Last Minute Ice is non-refundable. 
4. Within the reservation process, registrants must identify the correct and exact number of participants who will attend the event (names are not required). Only the number paid for on the reservation will be allowed onto the ice. Once the purchase has happened, it cannot be modified.
5. Participants must be able to show proof of purchase to the facility staff upon request. Proof of purchase is emailed to participants shortly after completion of the reservation and payment transaction.
6. The City may, at its sole discretion, cancel and/or modify a Last Minute Ice reservation. The City will do so with as much advance notice to Renter as possible. 
7. Last Minute Ice will be assessed at the current rates, established by the City.

Reserve Now