William and Molly Gray

The memory of the Crystal Park rink, better known as Gray’s rink, stands as a tribute to the efforts of an individual family in making their city a better place.

The Grays built the rink in 1930 on a vacant lot. With help from neighbours and businessmen, the facility was provided with heated change rooms, lights, and music. Minor hockey programs owe much to the existence of the rink – midget, juvenile, junior, and intermediate levels have been started there. Pleasure skating for hundreds of people was also made available.

Eight of the Gray children helped their parents operate the facility throughout the thirties – making the ice, cleaning it, and caring for the rink as a whole.

By 1940 the rink was turned over to the city – but not until William and Molly Gray had left their mark on a generation of youngsters and athletes.