Children still head in for a climb on the snow beside the rink on Ridgeview Drive

Prince George, B.C. –  It was a warm and sunny afternoon, but, unfortunately, that was the problem…

Yesterday’s rain, combined with the warm weather, forced the Hart Community Association to cancel the planned ‘Skate with Santa’ celebrations at both the Ridgeview rink and the rink in Bravery Park on Dagg Road this afternoon.

Association rep, Yvonne Parkinson, says the ice was too unstable to skate on, so, instead, the group was throwing a pit of a tail-gate cancellation party, advising area residents of the unfortunate turn of events when they showed up, and offering up the hot chocolates and Timbits that Tim Hortons had provided for the festivities.

The community association has hosted the pre-holiday skate for a few years now.  Last year, approximately 50 people came out to the rink on Ridgeview, while 20 or so took to the ice in Bravery Park. 

The rinks are maintained by volunteers and the ice looks like glass.  It may be a few days before it’s ready for skating on though, Environment Canada is forecasting the temperature to hold at the freezing mark overnight and rise to plus-3 tomorrow.  It will hold steady at zero through Tuesday and with Wednesday’s day time high a colder minus-5.