TORONTO

12 more skating rinks to stay open thanks to corporate sponsors

CTV Toronto Published Friday, February 20, 2015 9:44AM EST Last Updated Friday, February 20, 2015 5:32PM EST

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Thanks to a couple of corporate sponsors, 12 more city hockey and skating rinks will stay open past this weekend.

Mayor John Tory thanked Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and Green For Life, a garbage and recycling company, on Friday afternoon after they offered $100,000 each to keep 12 rinks open until March 22.

"I am grateful to GFL and MLSE for their generous sponsorship of the outdoor ice rinks," said Tory.

“This is a big win for our city and the many children and families who enjoy the great Canadian tradition of a good outdoor skate."

The mayor’s office had previously said the city needed approximately $4,500 per rink to keep the rinks open for a week.

The cash-strapped city had planned to close 35 of the 52 outdoor skating rinks on Sunday, while keeping just 17 open until March 22.

Now it will close only 23 on Sunday, and 29 will remain open.

Last year, donations from Canadian Tire and Scotiabank helped the city keep 11 of the rinks open through most of March.

Mayor Tory said the city should look take a closer look at the timing of the closures after two of the coldest winters in recent memory.

Thanks to the corporate sponsorship, these 29 outdoor rinks will remain open until March 22:

• Broadlands Community Centre, 19 Castlegrove Blvd.
• Cedarvale Park, 443 Arlington Ave.
• Christie Pits, 779 Crawford Ave. W.
• Colonel Samuel Smith Park, 3145 Lake Shore Blvd. W.
• Dieppe Park, 455 Cosburn Ave.
• Dufferin Grove Park, 875 Dufferin St.
• Giovanni Caboto, 1369 St. Clair Ave. W.
• Glen Long Community Centre, 35 Glen Long Ave.
• Greenwood Park, 150 Greenwood Ave.
• Alexandra Park/Harry Gairey, 275 Bathurst St.
• High Park, 1873 Bloor St. W.
• Hodgson Public School Grounds, 282 Davisville Ave.
• Humber Valley, 50 Anglesey Blvd.
• Irving W. Chapley Community Centre, 205 Wilmington Ave.
• Kew Gardens, 2075 Queen St. E.
• Ledbury, 160 Ledbury St.
• Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St.
• Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St. W.
• Otter Creek, 140 Cheritan Ave.
• Ramsden, 1020 Yonge St.
• Regent Park South, 591 Dundas St. E.
• Rennie Park, 1 Rennie Ter.
• Scarborough Civic Centre/Albert Campbell Square, 150 Borough Dr.
• Sir Adam Beck, 10 Orianna Dr.
• Sunnydale Acres Rink, 50 Amoro Dr.
• Trinity Bellwoods, 790 Queen St. W.
• West Mall Rink, 370 The West Mall
• Withrow, 725 Logan Ave.
• Westway, 175 The Westway