Ottawa 
Canada’s signature winter festival is returning for a grand in-person celebration after two years of COVID-19-related cancellations, but warm winter weather is playing spoilsport as one of the major event venues, the iconic skateway on Rideau Canal might remain closed when the festival kicks off on February 3rd.
Winterlude
During winter, the National Capital Commission, transforms Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site into a 7.8-kilometre skateway stretching from downtown Ottawa to Hartwells Locks. The total ice surface is equivalent to more than 140 National Hockey League rinks, or more than 122 Olympic-sized hockey rinks (223,400 square metres).
The National Capital Commission requires a robust ice thickness of at least 30 cm, which necessitates a stretch of 10-14 days with temperatures ranging from -10°C to -20°C.
The unseasonable warm winter and heavy snowfall are not helping the ice become strong enough for the NCC to open the skateway to the public.
Unlike the skateway right now, you need to chillll. 🧊
In terms of our opening date, we’re not off track. In recent years, our average opening date has been in mid-January.
Check out the average opening dates for the #RideauCanal Skateway: https://t.co/IaQx8heoAq | #ottawa pic.twitter.com/z5gnAE12iY
— Rideau Canal Skateway (@NCC_Skateway) January 6, 2023
This has caused the cancellation of 2023 BeaverTails Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival races that were planned for February 3 and 4 on the Rideau Canal Skateway at Dow’s Lake.
The latest date for Rideau Canal Skateway opening was Feb. 2 in 2002. Last year, the entire skateway opened on January 14, 2022.
Credit: National Capital Commission
Irrespective of whether the skateway opens, all other mainstay activities of the capital city’s signature winter festival such as Ice-Carving Championships, and Snowflake Kingdom with zip lines and super slides will be back this year.
Ottawa/Credit: Environment Canada
With the weather forecast in negative double digits for a few days this week, here is to hoping that the Skateway will open early next week.
Winterlude runs until February 20th.
