The Notre Dame Campus is a little more winter-friendly this week, with the opening of its first-ever outdoor skating rink.

Developed by the Red River College Students Association — with support from the College and Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation —  the rink provides students and staff with a great reason to get outside, and enhances recreation options for the surrounding neighbourhood.

“We pitched this as a community project, and something that will help improve connections with people who live in the area,” explains Alex Haas, President of the RRCSA. “It’s also a good way to encourage more physical fitness and participation on campus.”

Haas and fellow students Nick Hook and Marc Babaluk built the 75′ by 150′ rink themselves, including clearing snow, constructing a frame, and flooding the ice.

The rink is located near the south-east corner of the campus, by the “Iron Man” statue, and is available for use by all students, staff and members of the public.