Section of Rideau Canal opening for the season

The full stretch of the Rideau Canal Skateway was open for the launch of Winterlude on Feb. 3, 2012

Just a few days after launching this year's skating season on the Rideau Canal, the NCC has announced another section of the skateway will open Tuesday morning.

As of 8 a.m. on January 23, skaters will be able to skate a 5.8 kilometre stretch of the Canal between the Pretoria Bridge and Dows Lake.

A 2.2 kilometre section of the Canal between the Pretoria Bridge and the Bank Street Bridge has been open to skaters since January 18.

The NCC plans on opening the remaining downtown sections of the Canal as soon as ice conditions are safe enough.

At 7.8 kilometres long, the Rideau Canal skateway is the world’s largest skating rink.

The Canal will be an official Winterlude site later this season. Winterlude will be held from February 1st to the 18th.