On Mon., Jan. 26, following a record snowfall in the City of Toronto, Leaside Memorial Community Gardens welcomed the most intrepid members of the community back to the Bert F. Grant Rink with a celebratory ribbon cutting, followed by a free public skate, refreshments, and tours of the newly renovated facility. Residents, local supporters, and arena partners gathered in the morning to mark the official reopening of “Rink B,” a space that has long been woven into the rhythm of community life at Leaside Gardens.
A photo of the ribbon cutting captured the moment: a proud milestone for Leaside and a sign that one of the community’s most cherished facilities is ready for its next chapter. We were grateful to have Bert A. Grant, son of the late Bert F. Grant, for whom the rink is named, in attendance to cut the ribbon alongside Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin and LMCG Board of Management Chair Matt Baker.
The Grant Rink, as it is affectionately known, had been closed since April 21, 2025, to undergo a major refurbishment led by the City of Toronto’s Capital Projects team. The work was extensive, and it shows. The reopened rink features refreshed dressing rooms, completely renovated men’s and women’s washrooms, a new universal washroom, and a full overhaul of the rink’s mechanical systems. Most notably, the upgrades now allow the original rink, first opened in 1952, to operate with ice 12 months of the year.
That capability represents a meaningful shift for both organized user groups and the broader community. From minor hockey and figure skating to adult leagues and community programming, year-round ice opens the door to more flexible scheduling, increased access, and new opportunities to use the facility beyond the traditional winter season.
The reopening also served to recognize the contributions helping shape the arena over time. The board of management expressed appreciation to the Bert F. Grant family for their generous donation toward the expansion of Leaside Gardens in 2012, a contribution that helped strengthen and grow the facility for future generations.
Thanks were also extended to the Dr. Tom Pashby Sport Safety Fund, whose directed donation supported the upgrade of the new rink boards on the Grant Rink. These are top-level boards designed to provide the highest degree of safety for players, and their installation places Leaside Memorial Gardens among a very small number of arenas in Toronto to feature them. In fact, Leaside is only the third arena in the city with these boards, alongside Coca-Cola Coliseum (home to the Toronto Sceptres and Marlies) and Scotiabank Arena (home to the Toronto Maple Leafs). It is a significant upgrade and one reflecting the arena’s commitment to player safety and facility excellence.
For many in attendance, the best part of the morning came after the speeches were finished and skates hit the ice. Families, neighbours, and longtime rink users took their first laps on the newly reopened surface, reminding everyone that Leaside Gardens is not just a facility, but a gathering place that brings people together.
With the Grant Rink now back in action, Leaside Memorial Community Gardens continues to evolve while staying true to its longstanding role at the heart of the community: creating space for sport, recreation, and connection, year-round.
This post was guest contributed by Matthew Baker.