I totally agree, we are lucky here in Sweden to have free access to ice rinks, basic lessons are also rather cheap and usually operated but local not for profit organizations.
One of my Canadian friends was explaining that pretty much everyone chooses to do either hockey or figure skating from a young age with a small minority doing speed skating. She says every neighborhood has its own ice rink too. Also, apparently the women's league for hockey is becoming pretty popular in certain places, so that is cool. I'm guessing it's similar to that where you live?
In my area there was practically nothing, but recently a bunch of things got built like walking paths connecting the neighborhoods, a school, sports centers, a park not too far away...etc. I think it had an overwhelmingly positive impact on the community and only some of it came from tax dollars too.