Where I live it is hot and humid for much of the year, so even though we get cold winters, it isn't enough to have outdoor ice rinks everywhere like in the Northern US, Canada, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia. I'm jealous of the skating culture where you're at!
One of my Canadian friends was explaining that pretty much everyone chooses to do either hockey or figure skating from a young age with a small minority doing speed skating. She says every neighborhood has its own ice rink too. Also, apparently the women's league for hockey is becoming pretty popular in certain places, so that is cool. I'm guessing it's similar to that where you live?
I live in a suburb of Stockholm and it is like that, every neighborhood having its own ice rink, some are inhouse and some are opened, mostly free for use and divided for hours with and without hockey clubs.
That sounds so freaking cool. I cannot imagine such a world. I bet it also does a lot to bring the community together.
In my area there was practically nothing, but recently a bunch of things got built like walking paths connecting the neighborhoods, a school, sports centers, a park not too far away...etc. I think it had an overwhelmingly positive impact on the community and only some of it came from tax dollars too.
Sports in general is a big thing here in Sweden and the same way it comes only partially from tax payers' money, a lot of those activities are supported by the community and participants
One of my Canadian friends was explaining that pretty much everyone chooses to do either hockey or figure skating from a young age with a small minority doing speed skating. She says every neighborhood has its own ice rink too. Also, apparently the women's league for hockey is becoming pretty popular in certain places, so that is cool. I'm guessing it's similar to that where you live?