The Amherst Community Living and Recreation Department is hosting a free public skating event for youth ages 10 to 18 on April 9, 2026. The one-hour event will take place at the Amherst Stadium from 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM, with snacks provided for participants.
This event is part of an ongoing pilot project at the stadium designed to remove financial barriers to sport. Under this project, public skating sessions are offered free of charge, and ice rental fees are waived for youth programs like figure skating and Cumberland County Minor Hockey. The intent is for these savings to be passed on to local families, making recreational activities more accessible.
The local effort comes as many community recreation programs face new financial challenges. The provincial government recently announced $130 million in grant reductions in the 2026 budget, which has impacted hundreds of organizations across Nova Scotia. Recreation Nova Scotia reported that its core funding from the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage was cut by 20 percent. These provincial budget reductions also affected various grants that traditionally support local government programs.
Amherst, the largest town in Cumberland County, has continued to prioritize local youth initiatives. In 2025, the town opened the province’s first Integrated Youth Services site, which is operated by the YMCA of Cumberland and IWK Health to provide mental health and support services to young people.
