Ottawa residents are finding ways to beat the cold as frigid temperatures persist

The capital is experiencing an especially frigid stretch of weather but as CTV’s Camille Wilson reports, people are finding ways to beat the cold.

It was the coldest December in Ottawa since 2017, and temperatures continue to reach overnight lows below -20 C. Despite the frigid weather, Ottawa residents say they’re finding ways to stave off the chill.

“It’s a great time to be bundling up. Still safe to go outside and do your regular activities but make sure to take breaks to thaw yourself,” says Trudy Kidd, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.

On Friday, people could be spotted embracing the cold for a skate on the recently opened Rideau Canal.

“You got to be dressed for it,” says Natalie Gooding. “Staying moving, especially in the winter. It’s easy to just plant yourself.”

Skaters Julie and Matthew Vlahovich, who were on the ice with their family Friday, say keeping warm means plenty of movement, and plenty of layers.

“Lots of layers. We have two pairs of pants, two shirts,” Julie said. “We all have our hats on and our mitts on.”

“You got to keep moving,” Matthew said.

“It’s all about puffers and thermals. Lots of layers.”

The cold snap is expected to last through the first weekend of 2026 before warmer temperatures arrive around Jan. 6.

“This weekend our daytime highs are more like what our overnight lows should be this time of year,” says Kidd.

This time of year, Ottawa’s daytime highs are typically around -6 C and overnight lows are usually around -15 C.

The Ottawa Mission says it has been seeing an influx of people amid the cold snap.

Peter Tilley, the Ottawa Mission’s CEO, says frontline staff have increased their rounds in the community, aiming to bring people into the shelter from the cold.

“Our waiting area is packed, and we see that at night, we have 25 to 30 people a night in the waiting area trying to stay out of the cold. We have mats down every night in the chapel room floor,” Tilley says.

“We have people coming in to get out of the cold more than usual on nights like this and that’s good. We’re always a place of refuge, always a place of welcome for anyone to come in and get out of the cold.”

Tilley says the Mission will continue to find ways to make space for those in need.

“We will always make room to take someone in rather than be outside. If that means sitting in a plastic chair at night or waiting on the floor, we’d rather they be here,” Tilley said. “This is Canada, this is Ottawa and it’s nasty cold out there right now”

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