Skaters are lacing up across the Ottawa area as a growing number of refrigerated outdoor rinks open for the season. It is a chance to get back on the ice, without having to wait for nature to fully cooperate. “I think it’s fantastic. I’ve been waiting for it to open,” said Gary Vandermeer. While the Rideau Canal Skateway remains closed, skaters like Vandermeer are finding their winter fix at refrigerated outdoor rinks like the Rink of Dreams at City Hall. “The ice is perfect. They maintain it well. It’s really cold today, but there’s a heated place to sit, so it’s excellent,” he said. For many, these rinks offer a reliable option when traditional outdoor ice is not ready. “Yeah, that’s exactly it, right? I’m on lunch, so, you know, everyone eats at their desk anyway, so I might as well come here,” said Kirk Schlichting. These rinks use cooling systems that keep the ice frozen, even when temperatures hover just above the freezing mark. “I’m from the GTA, so I remember their skateways. Richmond Hill north of the city that are the same technology that’s been around for 15, 20 years,” Schlichting said. The City of Ottawa also has refrigerated rinks at Lansdowne Park, Ben Franklin Place in Nepean, and at the Canterbury Recreation Complex in the Elmvale area. A new refrigerated skating rink also recently opened at Rideau Hall. Across the river in Gatineau, skaters say the investment of a refrigerated rink at the Robert Middlemiss Pavilion is paying off. “It’s a really good investment. We needed that in Gatineau, especially in that part of Gatineau,” said Edith. For some, these rinks mean more time on the ice, even when spring starts to arrive. “That’s the idea. They want people to enjoy winter as long as it lasts and maybe a little bit more, you know, this rink will be open until March 15th,” she said. “Last year I was on it as late as you could go, and, it felt like spring in the air, but it was winter on my feet,” Vandermeer said. Meanwhile, the National Capital Commission is urging patience as crews prepare the Rideau Canal Skateway. “The National Capital Commission is proud to maintain the Rideau Canal Skateway, and we look forward to welcoming everyone for another memorable season. The consistently cold temperatures of the past several days have given us a good head start. If the cold remains, our team should be able to begin ice-building operations on the Skateway soon,” a statement said. The NCC is reminding residents to stay off the ice until the Rideau Canal Skateway officially opens. “At this time, the surface of the Rideau Canal Skateway is still thin and we ask people not to go on the ice. This also helps our teams in their operations,” the NCC said. “Before the NCC opens the Rideau Canal Skateway, ice samples must show that there is a good quantity of quality clear ice for safe public skating.”
