Effective as of February, anyone in skating lessons at one of the park boards eight rinks must wear a Canadian Standards Association-certified hockey helmet or a snowboarding helmet. In accordance with these new safety measures, which reflect a recent change in Skate Canada policy, cycling helmets are no longer permitted. A limited number of hockey helmets are available free of charge to borrow for those taking lessons at a park board rink. There are approximately 18,000 skate lesson registrants annually in Vancouver. CSA-certified helmets are also recommended for public skate participants.
