Thank You for Your Incredible Support!
Monday, June 23 was a big night—and we couldn’t have done it without you.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to the West Vancouver Council meeting to support the Skate Forward initiative. Whether you wore your team jersey, brought your family, or simply showed up to listen, your presence made a meaningful impact.
We’re thrilled to share that Council unanimously approved the recommendation to establish a District-led Advisory Roundtable. This Roundtable will take the lead in developing a comprehensive project plan and budget for the planning process of a multi-sheet ice complex in West Vancouver.
This marks an exciting and essential step forward. While there’s still a lot of work ahead, Monday’s outcome shows that our voices are being heard—and that momentum is building.
We’re deeply grateful for the growing community of supporters who are helping push this vision forward. Stay tuned for next steps, and be sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive regular updates.
Let’s keep skating forward together!
Enhance West Van is advocating for the development of a new multi-sheet ice complex that meets the growing recreational needs of the community and addresses a critical shortfall in ice sports infrastructure in West Vancouver.
West Vancouver currently has the lowest ice sheet ratio per capita in all of Canada. The community’s only ice rink—now over 60 years old—can no longer meet demand. This has resulted in limited access for residents, especially children and youth, who are increasingly forced to seek ice time outside the community.
On Monday, June 23, 2025, Enhance West Van presented to West Vancouver Council recommending that they begin the journey towards a new ice complex for our community. This project, titled “Skate Forward – A New Multi-Sheet Ice Complex in West Van“, highlights the urgent need for increased ice capacity and modernized facilities.
With a large group of enthusiastic supporters present, Council unanimously approved the recommendation to establish a District-led Advisory Roundtable. This Roundtable will take the lead in developing a comprehensive project plan and budget for the planning process of a multi-sheet ice complex in West Vancouver.
Stakeholders
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All inquiries about this project can be submitted via email to enhancewestvan@westvancouver.ca
If you would like future updates on this project, please provide us with your name and email address.
What our Community is Saying
“A Local Figure skating venue…’
Upon moving to West Vancouver (Caulfeild), we were surprised to learn that our daughter’s passion for figure skating would prove difficult to fulfill. Not only is there no (public) skating club in West Vancouver, but the community centre ice does not provide adequate figure skating opportunities for her.
As a result, she joined the Vancouver Skating Club located in Seymour. Three times a week we drive her to Seymour (or PNE) for her coaching lessons. She could be doing more of this activity and increasing her success but we cannot drive her this distance more frequently- we have another child who has to do activities and the 3+ hour journey (driving, ice time & studio) is prohibitive.
The traffic is a nightmare and we, as participants of the sport, are in turn contributing to this highway traffic. The commute is just awful and creates anxiety to get her to skating practice.
We NEED to have more access to ice in West Vancouver and hope to see this new ice complex become a reality.
“North West Vancouver Ringette Association”
I’m writing on behalf of the North West Vancouver Ringette Association in full support of the project, titled “Skate Forward – A New Multi-Sheet Ice Complex in West Vancouver”.
“More opportunities for connection and sports skills development”
We moved to Canada and West Vancouver in 2022. This might be the best address in North America. From the Pacific Ocean and the sea wall to the mountains, Ambleside, Marine Drive and Horseshoe Bay – we have all of the physical properties that you could want. But our great people and sense of community would benefit from a modern ice rink.
As a hockey traditionalist and a historian, I would love to see the current arena remain. But we can use a three or four sheet ice complex to supplement that. Demand for ice on the North Shore far outweighs supply. That goes for North Van and West Van.
The world has changed. People are more isolated. There are less human connection opportunities. Sporting venues are the last frontier, with the hockey rink at the forefront of that. A comfortable new arena will create more opportunities for people in our community to feel welcome and included. More kids will try hockey. More adults will continue to enjoy their passion. More young players will be able to develop their skills at home in West Van. All in all – new Canadians will have more opportunities to meet people and participate in the world’s greatest sport, new residents will find comfortable and fun ways to acclimate and meet people, and long term West Van residents will simply have more reasons to get out of the house, set down the device, and connect. Public skating. Adult hockey. Minor hockey. Competitive hockey. Curling. Ringette. GIRL’S HOCKEY. (How about our own Junior team?) There is something for everyone. For our home and our health – let’s build more ice! Go West Van Go!
Background/History
In 2013, the Society launched a volunteer-led “Blue Sky Task Force” to explore future recreational and cultural needs for West Vancouver’s Civic Site and identify potential funding sources. Supported by District staff, the committee included experts in planning, architecture, and storytelling. After four years, their work culminated in the “Emerging Vision”, presented to Council in December 2017.
Following this, the Society engaged with Idea Space to lead a community consultation process to gather further feedback. Over 73.8% of respondents supported the plan. On July 9, 2018, a full report was presented, and Council unanimously approved the creation of a District-led steering committee to refine the vision and determine next steps.
After the July 9, 2018, Council meeting where the Emerging Vision gained support, the West Vancouver Ice Arena’s ice sheet failed, requiring immediate replacement. That fall’s municipal election brought in a new Council, which needed time to set strategic priorities. Although the Emerging Vision was eventually included, progress stalled when COVID-19 hit just as the Steering Committee’s Terms of Reference were drafted.
In 2025, with the current ice arena now over 60 years old and no longer meeting the community’s needs, the Society is prioritizing Phase One of the Emerging Vision: the replacement and expansion of the Ice Arena “Skate Forward – a new ice complex in West Van”.
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Additional Resources
- Letter to Stakeholders May 2025
- December 2017 Emerging Vision Presentation
- June 2018 Emerging Vision Engagement and Consultation Summary
- Skate Forward FAQs
