Sports – Arena & Ball Diamond
The Westmeath Recreation Centre, operated by the WDRA, offers both a full Minor Ball program from May to July on our beautifully maintained grassed home field; and a full Minor Hockey program from October to March using the ice arena and well equipped dressing rooms.
These programs present sports action and participation for year round play and enjoyment. Come as a participant, a parent or a spectator; and plan to have a great time at our well-maintained facilities.
Ice Time Bookings and Availability
Ice Time Bookings: The ice surface is available for rent in 45-minute blocks, for uses such as shinny hockey, family or community skating events, ice rink sports like broomball, ringette, figure skating, and of course Hockey Games & Tournaments for all ages. Ice is available October through March.
Ice Time is Available – book your event today – it is so easy!
Step 1: For contact information and rates, please review
our current Rates Brochure.
Step 2: Check if the dates and times you want are available by
looking at the Sports Calendar for open hours.
Step 3: Use the Contact Us page to either email directly or phone
the number provided to complete your ice time booking.
Step 4: Read through the Rental Agreement (under construction) to review the current
rules and regulations of renting.
In the off-season the concrete rink pad surface can be rented for community events, auctions, reunions, dances, broomball games and other sporting events. Check the Rates Brochure for details.
Saturday Night Public Skating
Join Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber at the arena. The new sound system means you can skate to your favourite music each week. Bring your friends and have a fun night. Come and enjoy Public Skating with MUSIC every Saturday Night, October through March.
Tots & Seniors: 6:30-7:30 pm
General Public: 7:30-9:00 pm
15 yrs and under: $2.00
16 yrs and older: $3.00
Family Skating Pass: $65.00
Westmeath is incredibly fortunate to have The Sweet Shack! Dana Dupuis will not disappoint with her diverse and delicious menu!
Minor Hockey
The Muskrat Minor Hockey Association (MMHA) is part of the larger Upper Ottawa Valley, District 5 of the Ottawa District Minor Hockey (ODMHA) Association, which abides by the rules of the Ontario East Minor Hockey league.
Parents/Guardians: For full information on the Muskrat Minor Hockey Association, including MMHA Registration Information and Fees, please visit www.muskratminorhockey.com.
The MMHA consists of three participating minor hockey associations; located in Westmeath, Beachburg and Cobden. The players can play in a Competitive League or a House League. The MMHA holds it’s Annual Meeting in early May, and a representation from each of the three associations can attend and vote.
The MMHA annually provides $305 per House League player to each of the associations to help cover operating costs. Those funds are taken from each player’s MMHA registration fee.
Westmeath Based House League teams are called the Warriors .
This item appeared in the March 2007 WDRA Newsletter:
The arena lobby trophy case shows off the hard-won hardware of various
Westmeath Warrior teams and achievements. Proud moments not forgotten.
Westmeath Minor Ball
The ball season starts in May and it runs until July. The search is always on for more ball players and coaches.
Girls and boys play minor ball from the T-ball division to Bantam. The levels are: Bumble Bee starting age 5 to 7, Mite age 9 & 10, Atom age 11 and 12, PeeWee ages 13, 14, 15, and Bantam age 16 and 17. You should check the latest regulations each year for birth date restrictions which may apply to the child.
Player registration fees are very reasonable compared to other children’s’ sports programs. Our program is based on players and coaches having fun and developing skills. We use a family inclusive approach. All players regardless of original skill set are invited to join.
The Westmeath Minor Ball home teams play against teams from Beachburg, Cobden, Micksburg, and Forester’s Falls as part of the Upper Ottawa Valley Minor Fastball League. The league follows the Ontario Amateur Softball Association playing rules.
The Westmeath Ball Diamond is at the corner of Synton and Recreation Streets, adjacent to the Westmeath Community Centre. Installed in 1976 by the community, it is a beautiful ball diamond, with a full grass outfield, lights for evening games, and bleachers for the fans. There is plenty of parking on site.
Volunteers Needed: We are always looking for a volunteer who would be interested in preparing the field before each game. The field is carefully prepared in the spring, and regularly dragged. It is left up to each coach to line it. We could also use a currently trained umpire.
Minor Ball Registration takes place in April of each year – exact dates will be advertised on this site and in the WDRA Newsletter. The full Minor Ball Games Schedule will be posted on the Sports Calendar. To download the Minor Ball Registration form, click here.
For further information please call: Minor Ball Convener Beth Ethier at (613) 587-4294, or Contact Us.
Would your team like to book the Westmeath Ball Diamond?
The minor teams tend to take most of the weekdays and Saturday morning time slots. There is never minor ball on Friday or Sundays. If your adult ball team or other groups want to use the field – please check the Sports Calendar for open hours throughout the week.
Current rates are in the Ball Diamond Rental Poster. Diamond bookings can be made at Contact Us.
Whether you set up a serious game or just a “for laughs” game of rounder’s, the Westmeath ball diamond in the summer is a wonderful place to get some fresh air and exercise – a have a whole lot of FUN.
Westmeath Pump Track
The WDRA Director at Large, Bob Grylls – who has been working very hard on applying and securing grant monies for the the WDRA and our community applied for the KRAFT Celebration Tour in support of construction for a pump track for our local youth.
Here is an excerpt from the proposal letter:
“Last fall dirt was brought in for a pump track, initiated by Beth Ethier, the softball coordinator who had a soft spot for teens. The dirt was placed along one side of the arena, out of sight and away from traffic. Only it wasn’t the right composition – too many stones. It arrived only days before the snow fell.
This new venue captured the teenager’s attention and in the spring at least a dozen became regular users, some more so, not realizing or caring that the dirt was wrong. They proceeded to build a pump track to their liking, removing the stones and using whatever materials they could scrounge up. Without warning, the dirt was removed a few weeks ago. News of the disappearance spread like wildfire. The kids blamed the arena manager and the parents blamed the association. An ad hoc meeting was held to get an explanation. It was learned that proper soil would be sourced. Also, a parents-teenagers meeting would take place to set some guidelines when it did arrive. It was coming but when! No one was pleased.
If the WDRA were to receive $25,000 from the Kraft Celebration Tour, the funds would be used for a well-designed professional pump track. Our youth deserve this opportunity, not only for disappointment in losing their first track but by demonstrating such interest in this new activity. Important too, it would provide an outlet to help keep them busy in the summer months, much busier if they had all the undulations and berms of a top notch track. Our community, who spend countless hours volunteering to improve on facilities and sports each and every year, justifies the award on behalf of our teens that showed such initiative.”
Trust that the WDRA is working to ensure that our youth have a great pump track in the upcoming spring!