The National Capital Commission won’t say it, but some skaters on the Rideau Canal feel it’s time to call it quits.
“You have a lot of snow and slush on the ice and it’s really hard to skate,” says Mathieu Delisle.
The NCC is working hard to keep the winter favourite open. Currently, the ice is still thick enough for skating but some huts and other features had to be removed in troubled spots.
Maintenance crews will be working hard overnight to try to repair the ice to keep it open as long as possible.
Guylene Nantel has operated her food chalet on the canal for 10 years. From experience, she says the season is almost done.
“Even with the forecast – with the coldest at minus-4 or 5 – I would say it’s just about it,” says Nantel.
In fact, the world’s largest outdoor skating rink looked more like a running track.
The slushy ice surface attracted droves of runners who easily outnumbered those brave enough to try and skate.
“It’s perfect. The traction is fantastic it’s better than being on the pavement where it’s hard on the knees,” says runner Karl Mattice.
The skateway has been open for 37 days so far, this year.
The season already surpassing last year's total of 28 days, which was one of the shortest on record.
With a report from CTV’s John Hua
