The end of an era
Galaxy Skateland closes its doors
ERYN THOREY MACKENZIE STAFF
PHOTO: HILORI FAITH GLANFIELD
A nostalgiac buzz is in the air; people smile familiarly as their legs remember the feel of moving with wheels attached, or self-conciously with the fun of trying for the first time; a girl asks for specific skates, because she knows those ones work best; the staff is not neccessarily on their best behaviour, but certainly not out of contempt. They are having fun with each other and the patrons of Galaxy Skateland on the last all-night skate before its imminent closure.
The days of yet another Winnipeg landmark has become numbered. From June 1 to 3, Galaxy Skateland was open for roller-skating for the last time. Though it has gone through a few name changes and renovations over the decades, it could always been seen peeking up behind the used-car lot, previously the site of the Furby Theatre, on Portage and Langside for almost a century.
The building itself has been around since the 1890s, and was originally used for storage. In the 1920s, it was renovated into an ice-skating rink, and the maple hardwood floor was installed in 1933. It is the largest and one of the last remaining hardwood rinks in Western Canada. The current owner, Andre Atkinson, has sold the building, after losing his year-to-year approval from the city, to the University of Winnipeg to build the Richardson Centre for the Environment.
The rink holds many memories for people. This author probably owes it her very existence, as her grandfather spied a woman from across the ice in the 1920s and said to his friend, “That’s the woman I’m going to marry!” (True story; they lasted 50 years!) Hilori Glanfield can probably say the same, but it was her parents who met there “a lonnnng time ago . . . the story goes that mom fell . . . dad picked her up and she slipped again and punched him in the jaw. Knocked all the sense out of him.” Her dad, Harold Glanfield, was also a member of the Rollercades back in the day - similar to Ice-Capades, but on wheels!
Roller-skating probably reached the height of its popularity between the latter half of the 1970s to the mid-’80s. John Sam, who skated in shows all over Manitoba and made a trip to Venice, California as well, was brought to the rink in 1975 or ’76. In describing the past popularity of Galaxy, he said the line-up would sometimes be all the way to Portage Avenue, and the rental skates would often run out.
One of the most striking things at the last all-night skate is the number of kids. Not only is the rink of historical importance to our city, but it has also been a safe haven for local kids in a neighbourhood with a reputation for its crime and violence. When speaking to people at the last all-nighter, I noticed that everyone expressed concern for the kids and where they were going to be spending time. The kids themselves were a little hesitant to talk, eyeing me suspiciously. When asked if they were going to miss the rink, their eyes would light up and a definite “yes” was given.
Joe Lockhart, a former DJ and manager, expressed concern for the kids, and said that if anyone bothered to pay attention to statistics, they would probably notice a significant rise in crime in the area in the years to come. Lockhart eloquently refers to the rink as “a sanctuary from the hard life of living in inner-city Winnipeg. A sanctuary from gangs, vandalism and violence; a place to be safe, a place to have fun, and a place to be a kid. All of this is gone now, all that remains are the memories.”
A Facebook group has popped up in dedication to the rink. It is filled with reminiscences and photographs covering the 80-year history of one of the last of its kind. The closure of Galaxy Skateland, also known as DJ’s Roller City and Winnipeg Skateland, will definitely be leaving a gap in the landscape and memories of the people of Winnipeg.
