4 km section of Ottawa's Rideau Canal Skateway open for skating

Lace up for the Rideau Canal There's hope for better skating on the Rideau Canal this winter as the Skateway gets set to open on Saturday. CTV's Tyler Fleming reports.

The green flag is flying on the Rideau Canal Skateway on Saturday, the earliest opening of the world's largest skating rink since December 2018.

A four-kilometre section of the Rideau Canal Skateway opened between Laurier Avenue and Bank Street, starting at 8 a.m.

The National Capital (NCC) initially announced on Thursday that a 3.6-kilometre section of the Rideau Canal Skateway, between Somerset Street and Bank Street, will open.  On Friday, the NCC said an extra 0.4 km of the skateway between Laurier and Somerset Street will be open.

"Last night's cold and our team's hard work worked in our favour," the NCC said on X.

The cold temperatures to start 2025 have allowed NCC crews to prepare the skateway to open for its 55^th season.

"After a mild start, winter kicked into high gear over the last week. This provided NCC teams optimal conditions to prepare the ice surface," the NCC said in a statement. "Temperatures are expected to remain cold over the next several days, which will help open more sections of the skateway as soon as ice conditions allow."

The NCC says BeaverTails huts and rest areas are open starting this weekend, and skate rentals are available at Fifth Avenue.

"We’re thrilled to welcome residents and visitors to the Rideau Canal Skateway, Canada’s beloved winter classic," Tobi Nussbaum, NCC CEO, said in a statement.

"A combination of cold temperatures and innovative ways to prepare and accelerate ice formation have helped us get the Rideau Canal ready for skating. Come out for a skate and enjoy the best that winter in our beautiful nation’s capital has to offer."

The 2023-24 skating season began on Jan. 21, with only 10 days of skating between the opening and Feb. 25. The Rideau Canal Skateway did not open for skating during the 2022-23 season due to the mild temperatures.

The 2018-19 skating season began on December 30, 2018, with the canal open until March 10.

In 2022, the full 7.8 kilometres of the Rideau Canal Skateway opened on the opening day of the skating season. It was the first time in over 20 years that skaters were able to enjoy the full length of the canal on the first day.

Jerome Miousse, director of public affairs at Ottawa Tourism, told CTV News Friday this year's skating season is expected to be successful, noting the early opening of the canal.

"It is a signature in Ottawa, to skate on the canal, and it's very exciting for the whole city and the whole community," Miousse said. "It's highly attended. In fact in 2019, the NCC reported that they had 1.5 million people skate on the canal that year, that was a record year. So, yes we are hoping for a season as successful and we're very happy it's opening this early this year."

Miousse adds the time is now to visit the capital and enjoy skating on its iconic canal.

"And it will surely be good for the economy. It is a central part of having Winterlude as well. It is good for us when we can, promote the canal as part of the whole offering of Winterlude on top of all the indoors and outdoors activities that you can do, regardless of the weather,"  Miousse added.