David Weiss was a little boy when he decided that all he ever wanted was to have a rink in his backyard where he could play during the winter months.

Years later, when he was able to, he created a space that his wife Elise and many visitors call The Rink of Dreams.

The entrepreneur and philanthropist who lives in the Armour Heights neighborhood of Toronto is a loving husband and father of three who loves the game of hockey and wanted to bring his love for the game to his family and the community, ultimately making his dream come true. David describes that after a move to a house that had a large backyard that backed onto a ravine, he decided to begin undertaking an idea.

At the time, he didn’t realize this idea would take up so much time or energy, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Initially, it became a backyard rink that his children and some of their friends utilized. The Weiss’ had no ulterior motives, not wanting any publicity or recognition.

However, one day Elise took some photos of the space that were innocently sent to a media outlet, where afterwards life would change for the better.

It became apparent that the space they have was something of an anomaly. It was something that was rarely seen before. They discovered that when you post something online, it has the ability to travel fast and that many different eyeballs are watching.

People from all over Canada, the USA, and Internationally reached out to David and Elise to inquire about their rink. Molson Coors exclaimed, “What you’re doing for the community is phenomenal!”

Pizza Pizza, Hockey Canada, Heinz, and Kraft soon followed, wanting to become affiliated with the rink. Larger media companies got word of the Rink of Dreams and began to contact them to see what the fuss was about. The National Hockey League and their executives flew from Manhattan to see the rink to determine whether there was a possibility of collaboration.

David is cognizant of how the Rink of Dreams makes people feel, and for him, he can relate. He says, “The Rink of Dreams is magical.”

David describes the outdoor skating experience as being perceived as the Canadian experience. He feels as if the surroundings are picturesque, with the combination of the trees, the ice, and the people who have come together.

When they invite people to the Rink of Dreams, they make sure their experience is top-notch. David expresses that the regular, everyday folks are much more satisfying to share the space with.

David adds that if this is their small contribution to society, they’re blessed. He explains that the outdoor hockey space unifies so many people, from Pride to the disabled, from a six-year-old girl to a sixty-year-old man.

The commonality is that they all love the game of hockey and the experience. The “sport of hockey unifies us all.”