Rideau Canal Skateway will not open for start of Winterlude, NCC says
The Rideau Canal Skateway will not be open for the first weekend of Winterlude, the National Capital Commission says.
Mild January temperatures and heavy snow have kept the world's largest skateway closed for skating this winter.
While crews have resumed operations in an attempt to open the Rideau Canal Skateway for its 53rd season, an NCC spokesperson tells CTV News Ottawa the canal will not open in time for the first weekend of Winterlude on Friday.
“The colder temperatures expected this week and over the weekend are good news for the Rideau Canal Skateway,” the NCC said in a statement.
“While the Skateway will not be open for the first weekend of February, our teams are working relentlessly to safely open a section of the Skateway, flooding the ice surface every evening.“
The Rideau Canal Skateway is a popular draw for Winterlude and winter tourist activities in Ottawa.
If the Rideau Canal Skateway does open this winter, it would be the latest opening date in the history of the skateway. The latest opening date is Feb. 2, 2002.
The NCC is reminding people to stay off the Rideau Canal Skateway until it's open for skating.
"The ice is still unstable on many sections of the canal, so it’s important to remind the public not to not venture on it," the NCC said.
The opening date for the Rideau Canal Skateway has been getting later over the years.
In the canal's first 26 seasons, the median opening date was Dec. 27. In the 26 years since the 1995-96 season, the median opening date has been Jan. 10. Across all 52 skating seasons, the median opening date is Jan. 1.
Skaters at the nearby Rink of Dreams at Ottawa city hall said they are hoping the canal will open soon.
“Hopefully it will open soon,” said Sophia Reimer, lacing up for her first skate of the season.
“We were hoping it would be on the canal but sadly we're just here on this little patch of ice,” added her sister Leah.
“I actually had hope it was opening next week, but now I kind of lost that hope,” said Andrea Suarez.
Winterlude organizers point out that although the canal won't be open, there's still a full slate of activities for the winter festival's opening weekend.
“We have the Canadian Ice Carving Championships underway Friday,” said Winterlude spokesperson Melanie Brault. “They'll have 20 hours and 15 large blocks of ice. The theme is underwater creatures.”
This week's colder temperatures brings promise the canal will open this season. But for now, those hoping to hit the ice will have to find another alternative.
“I'm happy there's options but the canal is way better: less crowded, more fun, a more authentic experience,” said Leah.
With files from CTV News Ottawa's Ted Raymond and Jackie Perez
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Ontario reveals highest public sector salaries in sunshine list
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.