Skiing at Mount Pakenham:
Went skiing for the firs time at Mount Pakenham. What a wild ride! Had a blast. Being physically disabled (and a total newbie at this), I had some concerns… but their staff and the entire atmosphere put those to rest. Highly recommend!
It’s our second winter season living near Mount Pakenham. Since my foot was “in repair” last year, I am happy to finally be able to experience downhill skiing. I’ve only ever gone once during a class trip either with Lourdes or Bishop (elementary v. high school; can’t remember).
Click here to visit Mount Pakenham’s website. As a complete beginner living with a physical disability, plus the added challenge of bringing my 8 year old (who’s never been downhill skiing before), I wasn’t sure what we were in for. From start to finish; the greeting and walk through from Front Desk staff, to the hands on help in the Equipment Rental shack, to all the kind, smiling faces and words of encouragement from employees and other skiers/boarders (of all skill levels); it was an awesome night.
In fact… the whole family just purchased skis, boots, helmets over the weekend (thx Play it Again Sports - Kanata)! It was a wonderful experience and we can’t wait to get back out there.
More than happy to answer any Qs you may have about mobility challenges or other health concerns that may be a perceived barrier to outdoor adventure. Just message me but note, I can only share what my experience was. Yours may vary!
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.
