A staple of winter activities in Calgary will be a no-go this season. Skating at the iconic Olympic Plaza will be off the table due to construction.
The City of Calgary said in a news release on Wednesday that the plaza will look a bit different this winter, with no skating or Christmas tree, due to its upcoming closure at the beginning of January 2025 as part of the Arts Commons Transformation (ACT) project.
If you were eager to lace up your skates, not all hope is lost — the city says skaters can enjoy other downtown skating options, including Barb Scott Park, Prince’s Island Park lagoon — and a new pop-up rink at Lot 6, located at 311 8th Street SW.
The stunning and Instagram-worthy Christmas tree that is usually at Olympic Plaza will also be finding a new home this year, settling in at Barb Scott Park.
Olympic Plaza’s redevelopment is set to last into 2028. The area is being revamped as part of a broader downtown revitalization project, and construction is being managed by the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC).
The project was recently in the news due to photos circulating online, apparently revealing that people in Calgary were coming to the iconic walkway to carve out their bricks, which are linked to the city’s Olympic legacy.