Winter activities
- Introduction
- Pond skating
- Toboganning
- Snowshoeing
- Skating carnivals
- Skating parties
Skating Carnivals
The construction of the Sackville's first indoor skating rink, the Tantramar Skating Rink, in 1876 allowed for predictably pleasant skating conditions. The rink’s early purpose was to secure physical health for its patrons and to enhance their morals. The rink, which was circular in shape, was meant for recreation, not competition.
Music supplied by a band often accompanied the skaters, and dress carnivals and skating masquerades were staged at the rink by 1884. Carnivals such as these had first been staged in Montreal at the famed Victoria Skating Rink since the 1860s. In Sackville, women were not allowed to attend the masquerades at first. In 1885, however, they were, but only under certain conditions. University student William Seaman, in a letter to his mother on 12 February 1885, wrote:
"There is to be tomorrow night a carnival at the rink -- a 'Methodist carnival' so called, at which the girls of the Sem. are all allowed. No costumes are allowable."
The next day, William Seaman wrote a letter to his sister Jennie, describing the same event:
"I attended the Rink last Friday night in company all the rest of the boys except six or seven. The band from Dorchester was there and furnished very good music. I guess all the Academy girls were there. Those that did not skate promenaded. It was not a masquerader."
Season Ticket, Tantramar Skating Rink, 1878-79
Season Ticket, Tantramar Skating Rink, 1879-80
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