Almost full length of the Rideau Canal opening on Tuesday
Posted Jan 13, 2025 03:42:13 PM.
Last Updated Jan 13, 2025 04:21:04 PM.
After an extremely successful opening weekend, the National Capital Commission (NCC) will be allowing more skaters onto the canal starting Tuesday.
In an email to CityNews, spokesperson for the NCC, Maryam El-Akhrass said that a total of 7.4 kilometres of the canal will open as of 8:00 a.m. on Jan. 14.
“Our crews are currently sweeping the ice after the recent snowfall,” she notes. “Work is actively underway to open new sections this week, as soon as ice conditions are safe. Conditions are monitored multiple times, daily.”
Over the weekend, a 4.0-kilometre stretch was able to welcome people, but after cool temperatures in the city, an additional 3.4-kilometre section is opening — from Bank Street to Library (including Dows Lake).
El-Akhrass said that teams have been working with Carleton University and experts have found ways to help the NCC adapt to the changing winter temperatures.
“So far, the weather has been on our side this year,” she said. “Taking full advantage of the cold snap before the holiday break, we worked diligently to prepare the ice surface. As we had hoped, we didn’t lose too much ice thickness or quality during the mild temperatures of the holidays.”
When the cold snap hit last week, teams were able to flood and build up the ice thickness quickly, allowing more of the canal to open tomorrow.
Opening day of the canal saw 20,000 people flock to Canada’s largest skating rink. The NCC said that by the end of the weekend, more than 85,000 people visited — more than half the visits seen over last year’s 10-day season.
