Residents will now enjoy winter skating on the Halifax Common for years to come! Halifax Regional Council approved a recommendation that a permanent skating oval be installed on the North Common in the same location as the hugely popular Canada Games Oval.
Have any questions about the permanent Oval? Check out out our FAQ's!
Video representation of oval placement on the Common
2011 Construction Photos
September 2011
Background
Throughout the history of the Halifax Common it has been used for a wide variety of recreational and cultural pursuits - from horse and car racing to military encampments, native powwow’s, concerts, circuses and fairs. Traditionally, these activities have taken place in the May to October time frame, however hosting the Canada Winter Games in 2011 facilitated a unique opportunity for winter activities to be held in this public common area. In winter 2010/11 the Common was home to the Canada Games Long Track Speed Skating Oval, and provided residents with the chance not only watch high calibre racing but also to lace up their skates and try speed skating first hand.
Long track speed skating has been part of the Canada Winter Games since the first Canada Winter Games in 1967 in Quebec City (with the exception of the 1987 and 1991). This venue was the first artificially refrigerated long track speed skating oval built in Eastern Canada! Located on the North Common, near the corner of Cogswell and North Park Streets, the track measured 400 metre long, the curves had a radius of about 25 m in the inner lane, and each lane was 3 - 4 m wide. The ice surface was the equivalent of three NHL Hockey surfaces.
facilitated a unique opportunity for winter activities to be held in this public common area. In winter 2010/11 the Common was home to the Canada Games Long Track Speed Skating Oval, and provided residents with the chance not only watch high calibre racing but also to lace up their skates and try speed skating first hand. 
