Gatineau, Quebec — After three winters spent maintaining the ice at Parc Desnoyers, rink attendant Stéphane Villeneuve is questioning whether his beloved community rink has reached its breaking point.
Villeneuve, who volunteers with Vision Multisports Outaouais, decorates the small skate shack beside the rink with posters of athletes and advertisements from local sponsors. The sponsorships help him cover costs for rink upkeep — and even fund hot chocolate and snacks for neighbourhood skaters.
“It’s for the children that I do this,” Villeneuve told Radio-Canada. “Everyone appreciates it a lot.”
Last week, however, city officials informed him that the posters violated municipal policy and ordered their removal within a week. The directive left Villeneuve disheartened, saying he might “pull the plug” if the city insists.
Federal MP Steven MacKinnon voiced public support for Villeneuve, calling the rink “the rink of dreams.”
“People come from all over — famous hockey players, up-and-coming juniors — they love to play on this rink,” MacKinnon said. “It deserves to be celebrated, not discouraged.”
Coun. Daniel Champagne of Gatineau’s Versant district echoed that sentiment, saying everyone wants a compromise that keeps the rink open.
In a statement, the City of Gatineau said it appreciates the work of local volunteers maintaining 27 rinks but noted all municipal facilities must meet branding and fire-safety standards, which prohibit sponsorships and require written permission for alterations.
Recognizing the short timeline, the city has now allowed Villeneuve until winter 2026-27 to bring the shack into compliance.
Even with that reprieve, Villeneuve says he remains uncertain. For him, it was never about the posters — it was about pride, community, and keeping the ice alive.
