The city is looking for volunteers to operate and maintain 14 rinks scattered across the city. The rinks will not open this season if no one steps forward.

A lack of volunteers is threatening 14 community skating rinks this year.

The city is looking for volunteers to operate and maintain outdoor rinks scattered across Ottawa that have no one to run them. City staff expects community rinks to be up and running by January 7, but the 14 rinks will not open if no one steps up.

"The majority of the sites are ready to go. We just need a body to come forward," said Katy Prusakowski, the recreation supervisor for the city's seasonal recreation unit.

Prusakowski said something many people do not realize is that community rinks are run by volunteers and not by paid city staff.

She said even if volunteers do not materialize for the 14 rinks at risk, the city is still set to open more than 250 rinks across the city. She added the Cumberland area has the biggest need for volunteers.

"We're really hoping someone will come through at the last minute," said Prusakowski.

For more information, or to become a community outdoor rink operator or volunteer, please call 613-580-2590 or email seasonalrecreation@ottawa.ca.

The rinks that need volunteers are: