Fred Alvarado is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

In this episode, RPTV reporter Kedar Ahmed brings you coverage of a heartwarming community event: the annual Family Day Skating celebration by Friends of Regent Park. Friends of Regent Park is a beloved grassroots organization deeply rooted in our neighborhood. The event took place at the Regent Park Ice Rink, located at 480 Shuter St., on Saturday February 17th from 1 to 3PM. The Family Day skating event was a celebration of togetherness and winter fun where attendees enjoyed a lively atmosphere with a DJ spinning tunes, hot beverages to keep warm, engaging activities, and a cozy bonfire where marshmallows could be roasted and stories shared.

Thanks to the City of Toronto's Skate Lending Library, residents had access to free skates, helmets, and skating aids, ensuring that everyone could join in the fun.  It was a delightful opportunity for Regent Park families and friends to come together, enjoy the winter weather, and create cherished memories.

Kedar spoke to community members in Regent Park and captured the essence and heartwarming moments shared at the Friends of Regent Park Family Day Skating event.

"We'd like to thank everyone for coming out, especially Kedar from Regent Park Television," said Leonard Swartz, the Friends of the Regent Park coordinator. "All the people [are] having a lot of fun: the kids, the older people, people who've never skated before, people who are brand new to Canada. ... Canada is a pretty cold country, so it's good to be active, even when the weather isn't so agreeable, although today it's actually a beautiful, sunny day. It's cold, but sunny, and we're having a blast on the ice rink."