Rink of Dreams: Nope.

Excited to take the kids skating on the Rink of Dreams at Ottawa’s City Hall, we reserved our spot online no problem and arrived at our check in time promptly. 

It’s just me who skates, my husband doesn’t. Our daughter who is 4 is learning, and our son, 7, has a pretty good form but also needs help from time to time. As I wait for a total hip replacement and foot fusion, in spite of my constant pain, I do my best to stay active. 

We gear up and get on the ice with our new chariot stroller. We go right to the middle so as to not be in anyones way. When my husband arrives to drop off my daughters gloves (he was parking), we make our way over to the boards to grab them from him. 

This is when I was approached by someone tending the rink. He informs me that I am not allowed on the ice with my stroller. I explained that it is for my youngest (who mostly is not skating; she was in it at the time) and I also use it as a mobility aid to which he says wheelchairs are permitted. I explained that while signing up, I read the rules and they indicated that strollers are permitted so long as the wheels are clean. 

This stroller is brand new. I bought it for this purpose: to skate with the kids.

I agree to leave. We had been on the “Rink of Dreams” for less than five minutes.

While taking off our skates, the rink attendant again approaches me and apologizes. He says he was mistaken and that we are allowed on the rink.

By this point, I am exhausted and fatigued. I am mentally checked out. We are done. My son is crying. It is a stressful time (for many reasons) and tonight was a Rink of Shit.