Roller skating glides back to Ottawa on a wave of nostalgia and also bids for new fans

“People have been waiting since 1982 to skate in their own city.”

Published Jun 24, 2023 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 3 minute read

Ottawa’s new roller skating rink, 4 Wheelies, officially opened its doors on Baxter Road on Saturday. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

The last time Ottawa had a permanent roller rink, the year was 1982, disco had just been unceremoniously dethroned and roller skating went with it.

Advertisement 2

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Fast forward four decades and Ottawa again has an indoor roller rink. But, instead of teens, the 4 Wheelies Ottawa Roller Skating Center is aiming at attracting families for day skating and adults for date nights.

Owner Joe Mampihaona said he got the idea to open a roller rink during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the cavernous front offices of the Ottawa Citizen/Sun building on Baxter Road was in the perfect spot. 4 Wheelies had its grand opening on Saturday.

“If you look at the map, it’s right in the middle of Ottawa. It has easy access to the highway. And the building is unique. One of the challenges is the pillars. We want people to be able to skate without having any obstruction,” Mampihaona said.

The 4 Wheelies roller skating rink officially opened its doors on Baxter Road on Saturday. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

The rink itself is 7,500 square feet. Most roller rinks have concrete floors with epoxy coating. This one has a maple floor. There’s an arcade, private party rooms and a skate shop. The newspapers’ former conference centre, still under renovation, will be home to a bar and restaurant.

Article content

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

“People have been waiting since 1982 to skate in their own city,” Mampihaona said. “People have been renting gyms. Some people go to the United States, or to Toronto. They’re seeing it on social media. Also, it’s retro. We just wanted to revive something we had before.”

At one time, Ottawa had two roller rinks: the Skateway on Morrison Drive, just a few blocks from Baxter Road, and the Skadium on Lancaster Road. There was another rink in Gatineau.

The key to success will be attracting those who want to learn to dance and do tricks on roller skates, Mampihaona said.

“That’s what the culture is all about. We want to bring the culture back here because we used to have it before.”

Former Ottawa Citizen photographer Paul Latour was back in the building that was formerly part of the Citizen/Sun office space to check out the new roller rink with his family. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

The Skateway was the last of the former rinks to close, in 1982. But some people never hung up their skates.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Randy Doy-Yat was a DJ at the Skateway and was involved in freestyle competitions and shows at shopping malls. After the roller rinks closed in Ottawa, he got a job with the city and has been DJ-ing off and on since then. He’s now a DJ at 4 Wheelies.

“I knew that it would bring back a lot of the old school, and new people as well. When I travel, I bright my skates along. I go to Florida quite a bit. They have some phenomenal roller skating rinks. But this is the only one in Canada with a wooden floor.”

Back in the day, Randy Bradbury worked at Ottawa’s roller rinks as a “cruiser” — a kind of wrangler who ensured people were skating safely.

When Bradbury heard about.4 Wheelies, he dug his skates out of the closet and demonstrated some dance moves for his sons on the living room floor.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

“I don’t think it was well-promoted back then. It was like all the fads. To promote it, you have to keep people dancing. If you know how to dance in a club, put on some skates and try it here,” he said.

Saturday marked the official opening of 4 Wheelies. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

Maya Mousa and Aiya Youssef, both 16, were at the rink to celebrate Youssef’s birthday.

“I like skating, so I wanted to try it,” Youssef said. “I’ve seen it in movies, and it looks really cool.”

Erika Marion and her daughter Indie Myles, 9, are roller skating fans, but until now they have only been able to skate outdoors and at occasional indoor sessions at Carleton University and Lansdowne Park.

“We just go and jam and dance and groove together,” said Marion, who started roller skating last year.

“When I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. I wear my skates in the house, I cook in them. I skate with the dog and I skate with the baby in the stroller. There’s something so freeing about gliding everywhere you go.”

The key to success will be attracting those who want to learn to dance and do tricks on roller skates, 4 Wheelers owner Joe Mampihaona said Saturday. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia