The Virgil community skating rink officially opened on Friday.

As project leader and former town coun. Paolo Miele cleared off the ice and opened the gates, the first skaters showed up right on time to get in the first official skate.

Lord Mayor Betty Disero and Niagara Falls riding MPP Wayne Gates also stopped by to see how the opening went.

Disero had one word to sum up her thoughts: “Yay!” she proclaimed.

She said having an outdoor rink is important right now, especially during lockdowns, so kids of all ages have a place to get some exercise out of the house.

“I know since I’ve started walking, like I walk an hour a day when I can and it just clears your mind. It makes you feel better, gets those good endorphins going and it’s a healthy thing to do to be outside and just clear your head,” Disero said.

Gates echoed her thoughts, saying it’s “wonderful” that people have a place to skate.

“I think with everything that’s going on right across Ontario but in all our communities, to have an ice skating rink outside where you can get out with the family enjoy it, I think it’s great,” Gates said.

Both of them thanked the volunteers like Miele who gave up their time to help run the rink.