CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at activities to do in Ottawa, eastern Ontario and western Quebec during the final weekend of January. It's also the final weekend for Ontario’s modified Step 2 restrictions.
Ontario Provincial Police and Ottawa police are urging people to avoid Hwy. 416 and Hwy. 417 and travel in downtown Ottawa this weekend due to the freedom convoy rally on Parliament Hill.
Check the COVID-19 restrictions in effect in each province before heading out this weekend.
A full list of Quebec restrictions can be found here. A full list of Ontario restrictions can be found here.
RIDEAU CANAL SKATEWAY
Enjoy a skate on the world's largest skating rink this weekend.
The green flag is flying on the full 7.8 kilometres of the Rideau Canal Skateway between the National Arts Centre and Hartswell Locks.
The NCC is recommending people wear a mask or face covering while on the skateway, while masks will be mandatory in washrooms and in lines at concession stands.
All changing facilities and fire pits will remain closed this winter due to the COVID-19 public health measures.
The Rideau Canal Skateway opened for its 52nd season on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa)
SKATING
Ottawa's outdoor refrigerated rinks are open for skating this weekend.
Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall
Lansdowne Park Skating Court
Ben Franklin Place Skating Rink
Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink
Residents must book reservations at ottawa.ca/skating to skate at the four rinks during peak periods.
For a list of outdoor rinks in the city of Ottawa, visit https://ottawa.ca/en/recreation-and-parks/skating/outdoor-rinks.
People ice skate on the Rink of Dreams at City Hall in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (Justin Tang/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
OUTDOOR RINKS ACROSS THE REGION
Gatineau has 82 outdoor rinks available. For more information, visit Gatineau's website
The city of Kingston's Springer Market Square Rink is open. For information on other rinks in Kingston, visit the city's website
RIDEAU HALL SKATING RINK
Enjoy a skate at the Rideau Hall Skating Rink.
Reservations are required to enjoy public skating on Saturdays and Sundays.
For more information on reservations, visit https://www.gg.ca/en/visit-us/rideau-hall/what-see-and-do/skating-rink.
ICELYND SKATING TRAILS
Ottawa's newest skating rink is open in the west end, hosted by former Senators forward Chris Neil and his friends.
Icelynd Skating Trails and Outdoor Skating Rink is located on Fernbank Road, just minutes outside of Stittsville.
Skate through the trails in the forest this weekend. Passes must be purchased in advance.
For more information, visit icelynd.com.
RIVEROAK – NATURE'S PLAYGROUND
RiverOak Winter Trails on York's Corners Road in Ottawa invites you to skate through an orchard, forest and meadows.
If you don't want to skate, RiverOak also provides snowshoe and hiking trails.
For more information, visit https://www.riveroak.ca/skating.
THE LITTLE PENGUIN TRAIL
Discover the Little Penguin Trail, an outdoor skating rink built on the Touraine Golf Club.
Located just 25 minutes from downtown Ottawa on Chemin Tache in Gatineau, enjoy skating on over 5 kilometres of icy path in the middle of nature.
A daily pass starts at $15.
For more information, visit https://thelittlepenguintrail.com/
The map at the Little Penguin Trail in Gatineau, Que., showing the different loops and paths skaters can take. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)
COUNTRYSIDE ADVENTURES
Countryside Adventures offers you a three kilometre skate through the woods.
There's also three kilometres of snowshoe and cross-country ski trails, along with a tubing hill.
Countryside Adventures is located at 16495 Sixth Rd. in Moose Creek, 45 minutes north of downtown Ottawa.
For more information, visit https://www.countrysideadventures.ca/.
Scott Anderson heads onto the three-kilometre skating trail at Countryside Adventures in Moose Creek, Ont. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
PATINAGE EN FORET
Skate through the forest 45 minutes from downtown Ottawa.
Discover the enchanting site of skating in the forest at Patinage en Foret in Lac-Des-Loups, Que.
Proof of vaccination and photo ID is required to access Patinage en Foret. The cost is $18 for adults and $14 for kids.
For more information, visit https://www.patinageenforet.com/en/.
Monica Bourque, left, skates with daughter Katherine Rupay, 5, and sister Lisa Bourque at Patinage en Foret, or Skating Through the Forest, in Lac des Loups, Quebec, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ON THE PARKWAY
Queen Elizabeth Driveway will be open for active transportation this weekend.
The NCC is closing a section of Queen Elizabeth Driveway from Fifth Avenue to Pretoria Street to vehicles Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The NCC says Queen Elizabeth Driveway from Pretoria to Laurier Avenue is closed to all users due to the protest.
For more information, visit the National Capital Commission's website.
GATINEAU PARK
A winter wonderland awaits you in Gatineau Park this weekend.
You can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow biking and winter hiking.
For more information and winter passes to access the park, visit https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/gatineau-parkhttps://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/gatineau-park
David Hetherington cross-country skis on the morning of Christmas Eve at Gatineau Park near Chelsea, Quebec, on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Despite the sun, a -31 C wind chill was expected in the region Tuesday morning and a frostbite advisory was issued by Ottawa Pulic Health. (Justin Tang/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
WINTER TRAILS IN OTTAWA
Over 100 kilometres of trails are groomed in Ottawa for winter recreational activities.
The National Capital Commission invites you to get out cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking and walking. Access is free.
Locations include the Mer Bleue conservation area and the Rideau Winter Trail along the Rideau River.
For information on winter trails in Ottawa, visit https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/groomed-multi-use-winter-trails
MOONEY'S BAY SKI CENTRE
The Mooney's Bay Ski Centre at Terry Fox Athletic Facility features 5 kilometres of groomed trails for cross-country skiing, including lit trails for night skiing.
For more information, visit https://ottawa.ca/en/recreation-and-parks/sports#mooneys-bay-ski-centre
PINHEY FOREST TRAILS
You can go for a winter hike on two trails in the Pinhey Forest in the city of Ottawa.
Year-round parking access available behind the Nepean Sportsplex.
For more information, visit https://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/index.php?url=trails/view/pinhey-forest-trails
SKIING
Ski resorts are open across eastern Ontario and western Quebec. Visit each resort's website for details.
FRIDAYS AT THE FOURTH
The National Arts Centre presents Fridays at the Fourth with Kelly Bado.
Enjoy a free Facebook live concert Friday at 8:30 p.m.
For more information, visit https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/30281.
OTTAWA FARMERS' MARKET
The Ottawa Farmers Market Winter Market is open every Sunday at Lansdowne Park.
The market is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Aberdeen Pavilion.
MUSEUMS
Museums in Ottawa are closed while Ontario is in a modified Stage Two. The Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau is also currently closed.
Visit each museum's website for information.
The Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of History will reopen on Feb. 2.
THE AUTHOR'S PATH AT RICHELIEU VANIER FOREST
The Museoparc presents The Author's Path in Richelieu Vanier Forest.
Let yourself be seduced by the pens of authors – builders of the Franco-Ontarian identity.
"Our trail is dedicated to the men and women authors of novels, poetry, theater and folklore who have shaped the cultural heritage of French Ontario," Museoparc said, noting there are no less than 30 authors hiding in the forest.
Admission is free, while a guided tour costs $5.
For more information, visit https://museoparc.ca/the-museum/the-authors-path/.
OTTAWA FIRE VIRTUAL TOURS
The Ottawa Fire Service is inviting you to tour two fire stations virtually.
The service has teamed up with a local videographer to create two high-quality virtual station tours of Fire Station 53 in Orleans and Fire Station 73 in Vars.
The virtual station tours are in English with French subtitles.
For Station 53, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx6dyMNVkLE
For Station 73, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3hqBTnW29k
RECONCILING HISTORY WALKING TOUR
The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada invites you to take a self-guided Reconciling History Walking Tour.
"Each point of interest is an opportunity to learn about the role of non-Indigenous peoples and the federal government in residential schools, and the lessons we can glean from history to address contemporary injustices experienced by Indigenous peoples," said the society.
For more information, visit https://fncaringsociety.com/reconciliation-walking-tours.
PARC OMEGA
Parc Omega is open in Montebello, Que.
For more information, visit https://www.parcomega.ca/en/.
FEED THE CHICKADEES
While out for a family winter hike, feed the chickadees.
You can find chickadees at Stony Swamp Conservation, Mud Lake Conservation and Mer Bleue.
For more information, visit https://ottawariverlifestyle.com/blogs/news/where-to-feed-chickadees-in-ottawa
