Program Changes due to Covid-19

Covid-19 has affected all of us in many ways over this last number of months.  We hope that you and your families have been well and have weathered this storm in our lives as well as possible.  We know the challenges have been greater for those who had family and friends who were ill, or who were affected in their employment.  We hope that Nova Scotia continues to be one of the safer places to be, and are looking forward to another season of speed skating. 

There will be many changes to our programs as a result of the pandemic.  If you are thinking of participating this season, it's important to read the information on this page carefully before making decisions about registering.

The following information reflects the changes to our programs as of September 20, 2020.  We are working on making further adjustments to integrate the changes that come into effect on October 1st.  Some are reflected already below.  There are others on which we are still getting clarification.

Our Return to Sport plan must take into consideration a number of requirements:


Documents and information relating to these plans are linked above.

See the sections below for information on:
  • Section 1:  Covid-19 requirements that must be observed
  • Section 2:  Impacts on programs
  • Section 3:  Registration for 2020-2021 programs.

Section 1:  Covid-19 Requirements

Please review the Covid-19 requirements documents above.  These requirements have been put in place for the safety of participants, coaches, staff, and their families and friends.  Failure to adhere to these requirements can put people at risk, and could result in the loss of our ice time.

Following is a summary of some of the key requirements (please read the full text of the Speed Skate Nova Scotia (SSNS) and RBC Centre requirements linked above for additional information):

  • Participants must complete the Covid-19 specific confirmation and consent requirements in the SSNS document linked above, and agree to comply with all Covid-19 requirements.  This will be done as a part of the new online registration process.
  • There will be a Covid-19 screening process each time participants enter the facility.
  • Sharing of equipment will be restricted.
  • Masks must be worn at all times in the building, except when on the ice (with the specific exceptions allowed by the public health authorities).
  • There is no access permitted to the second floor of the RBC Centre.
  • Participants must arrive ready to go on the ice, except for their skates.  They can only enter the arena within 15 minutes before their ice time, and must leave the arena within 15 minutes of leaving the ice.
  • Numbers of participants on the ice are limited to a total of 50 including both coaches and athletes.
  • One adult spectator per skater is permitted, no children.  Spectators must sign in and pass Covid-19 screening.  They will be given access to the facility 5 minutes before the ice time and must exit by 10 minutes after, and must remain within Arena D, there will be no viewing from the corridor or second floor, so dress warm.  Spectators must maintain physical distancing and wear a mask while in the facility.
  • Skaters will be assigned to a cohort that will have a maximum of 10 members, including coaches.  They must remain in this cohort from week to week.  Physical distancing is not required within the cohort.
  • Physical distancing must be maintained between cohorts at all times.
  • Dressing rooms will only be available 15 minutes prior to each rental. No keys will be distributed for dressing rooms.  No showers are permitted.
  • Dressing rooms are limited to a total of 10 persons, and they must be from the same cohort of skaters.  Persons in the dressing rooms to assist skaters with skates and equipment must be counted in this total.
  • Participants must remain in the dressing room until called to go on the ice by their coaches.
  • Players benches are off limits.
  • Only coaches, skaters and staff are allowed to be in the arena during the programs.  Parents or caregivers may enter to tie skates, but must leave when their skater is ready to go on the ice.  No spectators are allowed.

Section 2:  Impacts on Programs

Financial Impacts

Some of the changes due to Covid-19 will have financial impacts.  We know that many families have been affected by layoffs and business closures. 
  • There are a number of areas where we have had to increase fees because of Covid-19 requirements.  If you have concerns about affordability, please contact the club at 902-443-8781 or registrar@dcspeedskate.ca to discuss what options may be available.
  • Funding programs like KidSport and Canadian Tire Jumpstart have made changes to their criteria for eligibility to take these impacts into account, so families may be eligible for assistance when they previously wouldn't have been.

Equipment Loan Program

We will not be able to continue our equipment loan program while the Covid-19 guidelines are in place.

Speed skates will only be available on a rental basis.  More information is available here.  Skaters will no longer pick up skates in the equipment room.  They will need to bring them to their ice sessions, and to learn how to care for them between sessions.  Access to the equipment room will be on a scheduled basis only.

Skaters are asked to acquire any equipment they may be missing.  As we will not be doing a learn to skate program at this time (see notes below), all skaters will require full speed skating safety equipment:
  • Helmet
  • Safety glasses
  • Bib-style neck protector
  • Cut-resistant gloves
  • Knee pads (volleyball or speed skating type)
  • Shin guards (soccer type are fine, but should not have stirrups attached)
  • Kevlar or Dyneema ankle protection.

Some high-performance level skaters will also require a cut resistant undersuit.  Full information about safety equipment requirements is available at this link.

Off to a Good Start Programs


We will not be offering any Off to Good Start programs during the fall session.  We will evaluate the situation through the fall to determine if it will be possible to restart these programs for the winter session.

This is due in part to the fact that parents and caregivers will not be allowed to remain in the arena during the programs, and also to the limitations on the numbers of skaters and coaches we can put on the ice.

Skaters who were in the Full Speed Ahead segment of the Off to Good Start program last season, or who were in the Skating on My Own segment and were ready to move up to Full Speed Ahead, may be able to join the Skills Development 1 speed skating core program (see below).

Speed Skating Core Programs

There will be two levels of Speed Skating Skills Development offered during the fall session.
  • Speed Skating Skills Development 1 will be offered on Thursdays only at 6:30 PM.  This program would be suitable for skaters with good skating skills, and possibly some basic speed skating skills.  Programs start on October 8, 2020 and run until March 11, 2021, with no ice sessions on November 26 and December 24 and 31, 2020 and January 7, 2021.
  • Speed Skating Skills Development 2 will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:10 PM.  This program would be suitable for skaters who participated in last year's Skills Development program, or skaters with strong skating skills and preferably some basic speed skating training.  Programs start on October 6, 2020 and run until March 11, 2021, with no ice sessions on November 26, and December 22, 24, 29 and 31, 2020 and January 7, 2021.

Masters 1 will be on the ice with the Speed Skating Skills Development 2 program on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Speed Skating Competitive Programs

 The Competitive program will be offered at 8:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Previous participants are eligible to return.  Entry to the program for new participants must be approved by the Head Coach.  Programs start on October 6, 2020 and run until March 11, 2021, with no ice sessions on November 26, and December 22, 24, 29 and 31, 2020 and January 7, 2021.

Masters 2 will be on the ice with the Competitive program on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Special Olympics Programs

The Special Olympics programs will be on an integrated basis, as in previous years, as follows:
  • Special Olympics 1 - There will be no learn to skate level program during the fall session.  This will be reevaluated through the fall to determine whether we will be able to offer learn to skate programs later this season.
  • Special Olympics 2 - Skaters who were on the ice with the Full Speed Ahead segment of the Off to Good Start program at 6:30 PM on Tuesdays or Thursdays last season will be on the ice with the Speed Skating Skills Development 1 program at 6:30 PM on Thursdays.  Programs start on October 8, 2020 and run until March 11, 2021, with no ice sessions on November 26 and December 24 and 31, 2020 and January 7, 2021.
  • Special Olympics 3 - Skaters who skated with the Skills Development program last season will be on the ice with Speed Skating Skills Development 2 at 7:10 on Tuesdays/7:10 on Thursdays.  Programs start on October 6, 2020 and run until March 11, 2021, with no ice sessions on November 26 and December 22, 24, 29 and 31, 2020 and January 7, 2021.

Section 3:  Registration for 2020-2021 Programs

Speed Skating Canada has introduced a new registration system, IceReg.  Participants must register online through this system, which is available at this link.  If you wish to register but are not able to complete the online registration, please contact the club at registrar@dcspeedskate.ca.