What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: Jan 14-16
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at activities to do in Ottawa, eastern Ontario and western Quebec during Ontario’s modified Step 2 restrictions.
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
The Rideau Canal Skateway is open for the season.
You can skate the full 7.8 km stretch 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.
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ON THE PARKWAY
The Queen Elizabeth Driveway is open for active transportation this weekend.
The NCC is closing a section of Queen Elizabeth Driveway from Fifth Avenue to Somerset Street to vehicles Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
For more information, visit the National Capital Commission's website.
SKATING
You can go for a skate at one of Ottawa's outdoor refrigerated rinks.
Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall
- Daily: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Lansdowne Park Skating Court
- Daily: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Ben Franklin Place Skating Rink
- Daily: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink
- For skating times, visit https://ottawa.ca/en/jim-tubman-chevrolet-rink#schedule
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.
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
ICELYND SKATING TRAILS
Ottawa's newest winter wonderland opens this weekend.
Icelynd Skating Trails and Outdoor Skating Rink is located on Fernbank Road, just minutes outside of Stittsville.
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 offers you the chance 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/
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/.
COUNTRYSIDE ADVENTURES
Enjoy a three kilometre skate through the woods at Countryside Adventures.
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/.
GATINEAU PARK
Enjoy this week's fresh snow in Gatineau Park.
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
WINTER TRAILS IN OTTAWA
In Ottawa, over 100 kilometres of trails are groomed for winter recreational activities in Ottawa.
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.
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.
- Camp Fortune
- Calabogie Peaks
- Mont Cascades
- Mont Pakenham
- Mont Ste. Marie
- Ski Vorlage
- Sommet Edelweiss
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.
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.
- Museum of Nature
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
- Canada Science and Technology Museum
- Canada Aviation and Space Museum
- Canadian War Museum
- Canadian Museum of History
- National Gallery of Canada
- The Diefenbunker
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
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.