The iconic Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa officially welcomed skaters for the first time this season on New Year's Eve, injecting a dose of classic Canadian winter joy into the capital. The early opening, the earliest since 2018, saw hundreds of eager residents and visitors bundle up and take to the ice, embracing a beloved tradition that makes the cold months bearable.
A Long-Awaited Return to the Ice
For many Ottawans, the Skateway's opening is a highlight of the winter calendar. The anticipation was palpable, with enthusiasts like local reporter Natasha Baldin describing a child-like excitement akin to Christmas Eve. Baldin, who skated an impressive over 100 kilometres on the canal last season, was among the first on the ice, eager to rediscover the unique sensation of gliding for uninterrupted kilometres.
The National Capital Commission opened a 3.4-kilometre section between Bank Street and Somerset Street West. Despite a biting wind chill that plunged temperatures below -20°C, the cold did little to deter the crowds. Skaters, adorned in toques, mittens, scarves, and even ski goggles, flocked to the ice, their spirits undampened by the frosty air.
Newcomers and Regulars Share the Experience
The Skateway serves as both a cherished routine for locals and a wondrous introduction to Canadian winter for newcomers. Regular skaters like Ottawa residents Toby Kirwan and Barbara Martin were quick to restart their winter tradition. Martin, dubbed a "chronic skater" by Kirwan, hits the canal five or six times each season and expressed pleasant surprise at the early opening this year.
The magic of the canal was also experienced for the very first time by newcomers like Lionel Eba, who moved to Canada from Cameroon just two months prior. For Eba, New Year's Eve marked not only his first visit to the Skateway but also his first time ever on ice skates, highlighting the site's role as a welcoming cultural touchstone.
An Essential Winter Lifeline
The opening of the Skateway is more than just a recreational event; it's a social lifeline during Ottawa's often harsh and isolating winters. The experience fosters a sense of community, with strangers exchanging smiles as they pass on the ice. It gets people outdoors, active, and connected, transforming a frozen waterway into a vibrant urban park.
This year's opening stands in contrast to the previous season, when partial operations began 12 days later on January 11. The timely start is a boon for the city's morale. Services like BeaverTail stands and rest areas at the Fifth and Concord locations were operational, completing the classic Skateway experience.
As skaters carved their paths on the historic canal, the scene underscored a simple truth for the capital: the Rideau Canal Skateway remains an irreplaceable heart of Ottawa's winter identity, turning the challenge of the cold into a celebrated, shared adventure.
