The City of Brantford’s Community Skate Exchange program wrapped up another season of giving on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
The program has been operating for 11 years (since 2012) and has given away roughly 2000 ice-skates to date.
Jennifer Middleton, Community Events Coordinator for the City of Brantford spoke a little about why she got involved in helping to create the program many years ago.
“I love to give back to the community and I feel like my job in general gives back to the community through the free events and programs that we offer, and this was just another way to add to that – we love doing things like this and it’s a great resource to have.”
Community members could donate, exchange or pick-up a pair of gently used ice-skates from the Harmony Square main office between December 11 to 15, as well as January 11 to February 15.
While the Community Skate Exchange typically runs from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., the City is looking to possibly extend the program an hour earlier at 3:00 p.m. when school gets out in the future.
This season, the City received over 100 pairs of ice-skates donated by the public and gave away 79 pairs to adults and children alike.
The program makes ice-skates more accessible to obtain, and is often utilized by school programs, overseas visitors, older adults and children.
For kids involved in skating or hockey, the program is a convenient and sustainable way to save money for guardians in the long-run by exchanging sizes.
All skates are sharpened before being donated to community members.
Six drop-off locations were available around town including: Brantford Public Library, Doug Snooks Eagle Place Community Centre, Harmony Square main office, T.B Costain – SC Johnson Community Centre, Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre and Woodman Park Community Centre.
The Community Skate Exchange runs with no questions asked – it doesn’t matter if you can’t afford a new pair of skates, or if you can – the program is available for everyone.
