Rideau Canal Skateway not a main site for Winterlude activities

People skate on the Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The Rideau Canal Skateway is one of the popular winter attractions in Ottawa each winter, but the world’s largest skateway is being iced out of a prominent role for Winterlude activities during the three-week winter festival in February.

The Department of Canadian Heritage says the main sites for Winterlude this year will be Sparks Street, the ByWard Market, the Snowflake Kingdom in Gatineau’s Jacques-Cartier Park and “elsewhere in Ottawa-Gatineau” hosting several events.

While the Rideau Canal Skateway is listed as a daily activity for Winterlude, it will not host any events, as Canadian Heritage looks to modernize the popular winter festival.

“Since it began 47 years ago in 1978, Winterlude has always demonstrated innovation and creativity,” the Department of Canadian Heritage said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.

“Like similar large-scale events in Canada and throughout the world, Winterlude is modernizing its vision to meet visitor expectations and to stay current with the latest trends, while also adapting to changing environmental conditions.”

The National Capital Commission opened the Rideau Canal Skateway for the season on Jan. 11, with four kilometres open for skaters. The full 7.8 km stretch of the skateway opened last weekend.

The Rideau Canal Skateway did not open during the winter of 2023, forcing organizers to move several events planned for the skateway. Last year, the world’s largest skating rink was only open for 10 days through the winter.

“The partnership between Winterlude and the Rideau Canal Skateway spans decades, representing two iconic winter traditions that bring locals and visitors together,” Canadian Heritage, which organizes Winterlude events, said. “This collaboration endures, ensuring both remain symbols of our vibrant winter culture. We continue to celebrate the skateway as an international icon of winter recreation.”

Canadian Heritage says while the partnership between Winterlude and the Rideau Canal, representing “two iconic winter traditions,” continues, it will review Winterlude programming “as necessary and seeking new programming partnerships.”

“Thanks to those new partnerships, Winterlude’s programming showcases the cultural and artistic diversity of Canada’s Capital Region,” Canadian Heritage said.

“While maintaining its winter and outdoor family recreational activities, Winterlude now offers a more urban winter experience with new sites; these changes offer a more dynamic experience to visitors, as well as a wider variety of activities. Winterlude’s new programming partners, such as the Igloofest music festival, will enhance the event’s nighttime offering.”

Winterlude runs from Jan. 31 to Feb. 17.

Organizers cancelled the Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival on the Rideau Canal in February after the last two years were cancelled due to ice conditions on the skateway.

Here is a look at the Winterlude activities:

Sparks Street

Sparks Street in downtown Ottawa will be home to ice sculptures, outdoor art installations and performances.

Snowflake Kingdom

Located in Gatineau’s Jacques-Cartier Park, the Snowflake Kingdom features slides for tubing, a kiddie zone, a maze, obstacle courses, a zipline and more.

On Feb. 14-15, “Winterlude in the Stars” will feature hundreds of drones, “dancing elegantly to create a magical show.”

ByWard Market

The ByWard Market will host several events, including “Glow Skate Night,” wood carving demonstrations, skating on the synthetic ice rink and more.

Elsewhere in Ottawa-Gatineau

Other events planned for Winterlude include the Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival, events at the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian Museum of Nature, Lumen Eira at Confederation Park, Tales from Bytown, tours of Ottawa’s historic jail hostel, Snowphy Trophy, the Winterlude Triathlon and activities at the Bank of Canada Museum.

For more information, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/winterlude/sites.html.