Corydon Community Centre, River Heights, 1370 Grosvenor Avenue, Winnipeg
AND Sargent Park Arena, 1111 Wall Street
In the summer of 2024, the Winnipeg Central Speed Skating Club and the Winnipeg Speed Skating Club amalgamated to form one club for the city and became the Winnipeg Speed Skating Club.
The Winnipeg Central Speed Skating Club amalgamated the River Heights Speed Skating Club and the St James Speed Skating Club in 2017.
WSSC welcomes skaters from all areas of the city and all age groups – from beginner skaters to advanced!
We currently use the Corydon Community Centre, River Heights rink, and the Sargent Park Arena for most of our programs (and the Rink, Oak Bluff for our advanced skaters once a week.)
We want to make speed skating accessible for everyone and we provide speed skates for an annual rental fee ($125). All skaters require a helmet, safety glasses, leather gloves or mitts, neck protection, and shin guards. For details on the required equipment, click here.
Speed skates are not mandatory for new skaters – we encourage skaters to wear what they are comfortable in to start and only when they feel ready they can switch to speed skates.
WSSC Mission, Vision and Values
Mission: To foster healthy sport and recreation development of children and youth through the sport of speed skating.
Vision: To be a strong child and youth-oriented speed skating community that contributes to the development of the skaters, the sport of speed skating, and the wider community as a whole.
Values
Fair Play: Ethical behavior and honorable conduct will centre all our actions and take precedence over any other goals.
Respect: All members of the organization have the right to be empowered and to have their beliefs, abilities, and ways of thinking and doing things respected.
Community: We are a welcoming organization that includes all members of the organization in a way that meets their needs and believes that diversity makes our community stronger.
Supporting Achievement: We support all our skaters to achieve their personal speed skating goals, whether that be recreational or competitive in nature.
History of Our Clubs
The River Heights Speed Skating Club (now the Winnipeg Speed Skating Club) was formed in 1965 with 130 skaters in its first year. Membership was $6 and skaters fundraised by selling light bulbs. Speed skating sessions were held at the Corydon Community Centre on Mondays and Tuesdays at 4:30 pm with races every Saturday at 6:00 pm. Mrs. Blanche McCallum was president and coach for the first 4 years of the program.
The River Heights Speed Skating Club hosted the Manitoba Indoor Championships in 1967 and 1969 and in 1968, they hosted the Canadian Indoor Championships!
1969 was quite a year for the club – River Heights placed second in the Silver Skate! And second in team points for the Canadian Outdoor Championship in Saskatoon. River Heights had 20 skaters at that event with 3 Canadian Champions and 22 medals!
In 1968 and 69, an eight hundred meter lap outdoor track was built on community club grounds and in the winter of 1970, a 400 meter track was built.
In 2019, the River Heights Speed Skating Club changed its name to the Winnipeg Central Speed Skating Club and joined forces with the St. James Speed Skating Club. Skaters continue to skate twice a week at the Corydon Community Centre from October to March each year and include children as young as 6 years old all the way to 18 years old.
The St James Speed Skating Club (now part of the Winnipeg Speed Skating Club) was organized in 1934 at Mason’s Rink (south Portage Ave). The first president was Mr. Mason (owner of the rink) and the coach was Art Raven.
In 1935, the club moved to the Boarder Rink (Kensington St) with around 16 skaters.
In 1962, the club re-organized with 56 skaters practicing twice a week with races every Saturday afternoon.
In 1964, the club had over 150 skaters. The club hosted the MB outdoor Championship in 1966 and 7 skaters represented the club at the Canadian Outdoor Champions in Dawson Creek in 1966.
The Winnipeg Speed Skating Club (WSSC) is the oldest speed skating club in Manitoba. It was officially formed in 1919, and kept that name until 1929 when its name was changed to The Wesley Speed Skating Club. It operated out of the Wesley Park on an 8-lap track. In 1934, the Wesley club reverted to its original name; The Winnipeg Speed Skating Club and skated on an oval behind the United College until 1951. In 1952 the club was allowed to set up a 6-lap track at the Cresentwood Community Club; the ice was maintained by the parents. The club operated at this location until 1961.
In 1962, the club moved to the Sargent Park Oval. WSSC used the outdoor swimming pool buildings as our clubrooms, set up a canteen that was run by the parents, but this time the ice was maintained by Parks and Recreation.
In 1979, the city of Winnipeg built the new facility which all the clubs use today.
WSSC has had many skaters reach the Provincial Speed Skating Team and some have gone on to make the Olympic Oval teams, National Teams, and represented Canada at the Olympics.
To find out about all our specific programs, click here
For details on how to register for our programs, click here
Click here to see the WCSSC Bylaws
Winnipeg Speed Skating Club 