BY PAUL MITCHELLNorth Country This Week

CANTON – The ice season is underway at a freshly-painted Canton Pavilion.

Canton Recreation Director Meghan Richardson, in her monthly report to the Canton Town Board, said the installation of this season’s ice was completed on Sept. 24 but the department delayed opening the rink until Oct. 5 to focus on training new part-time staff.

New this year, noted Richardson, will be the posting of the public ice schedule at the beginning of each month. A schedule of holidays, school breaks and snow days will be posted separately.

The October ice schedule is as follows:

Tuesdays and Thursdays: free adult skate from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., free open skate from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., 18+ open hockey from 11:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.

Saturdays: Open skate from 7 to 8:20 p.m.

Sundays: Free open skate from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., courtesy of Grasse River Real Estate.

The cost of admission is $2, unless designated as a free session. Skate rentals are available for $3.

The report also points out that the Recreation Committee has increased the rates by $5 this season.

“Changes this year include charging Holidays and School Breaks the same rate as Prime and we will be offering ‘last-minute’ available ice slots at a rate of $50 per hour,” Richardson noted.

Pavilion ice rates are $75 per hour for early morning/late night; $85 for day; $105 for Prime; $105 for Holidays and School Breaks; and $120 for Private Ice Party Special.

There is an eNotification signup under the “Parks and Recreation” portion of the website [cantonny.gov] where people can sign up to receive notifications about the discounted ice time.

The exterior of the Canton Pavilion received a fresh coat of paint thanks to the efforts of members the Canton Minor Hockey Association and the St. Lawrence Figure Skating Club, along with Greg Howe.