Residents of LaSalle now have a spectacular new way to embrace the winter season. The town officially opened its first-ever outdoor skating trail, The Loop at LaSalle Landing, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the evening of Friday, November 28, 2025.
A Community Celebration on Ice
Mayor Crystal Meloche, joined by members of town council, welcomed a crowd of eager skaters to the new facility on Front Road. "Tonight, it’s about coming together," Mayor Meloche declared. "It’s about celebrating what we’ve built and enjoying a space that will bring families joy all season long." She emphasized that the project showcases the community's collaborative spirit and commitment to creating unique local experiences.
Following the official ceremony, a flood of skaters of all ages took to the freshly opened ice. The event drew representatives from across the community, including the LaSalle Fire Service, the LaSalle Vipers junior hockey team, Skate LaSalle, minor hockey and soccer clubs, the Rotary Club, and local police, highlighting the broad-based support for the project.
Engineering a Winter Wonderland
The ambitious $9 million project has transformed the waterfront space. The refrigerated ice path stretches approximately 250 metres in a scenic loop. The scale of construction was significant, requiring around 400 cubic metres of concrete and roughly 21 kilometres of refrigeration piping beneath the surface to maintain the ice.
The Loop is designed as a true four-season asset. When the warmer months arrive, the refrigerated system will be shut off, and the path will convert into a multi-use trail for walking and cycling, complete with a planned water feature.
Practical Details for Skaters
Located at 970 Front Road, The Loop will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the winter season. For those without their own gear, the town offers a skate loaning service. The loan hut, situated near a warming tent, will operate on Fridays from 6 to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 3 to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"LaSalle succeeds because of partnerships like these," Mayor Meloche noted, praising the local organizations and residents who helped realize the vision. The opening of The Loop provides a vibrant, new public destination for Windsor-Essex County, promising outdoor recreation and community connection during the coldest months of the year.
