Stéphane Villeneuve, who has dedicated over three years to maintaining the ice rink at Parc Desnoyers in Gatineau, Quebec, is contemplating giving up his efforts due to a disagreement with the city. Villeneuve, a member of the non-profit group Vision Multisports Outaouais, has put in countless hours last season alone to upkeep the rink. He has personalized a skate shack near the rink with athlete posters and sponsor advertisements that fund his maintenance work, including providing treats like hot chocolate for skaters.
During a recent meeting with city officials, Villeneuve claimed that they accused him of breaching city regulations and instructed him to restore the shack to its original state within a week. Feeling disheartened, Villeneuve expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that his motivation stems from benefiting the children in the community.
Villeneuve criticized the initial deadline set by the city for October 10 as unreasonable and warned that he may cease his efforts if the city remains steadfast in its demands. MP Steven MacKinnon has publicly supported Villeneuve, urging the city to find a resolution and preserve the essence of community spirit embodied by the rink.
Councilor Daniel Champagne echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the collective desire to prevent the closure of the rink. The City of Gatineau responded by acknowledging the contributions of non-profit organizations in maintaining the city’s 27 rinks but stressed the importance of adhering to safety standards and municipal branding guidelines.
The city revealed that it had requested Villeneuve to remove the posters and cease unauthorized modifications to the buildings. However, they acknowledged the challenges Villeneuve faces in complying with the demands by the given deadline and proposed a gradual transition period for the necessary changes until the winter of 2026-27.