‘People are excited’: Portion of Rideau Canal Skateway opens for the first time this year

Skaters enjoy the opening day on the Rideau Canal Skateway. A four-kilometre stretch of the Skateway is open between Laurier and Bank. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa) 

A section of the Rideau Canal Skateway has opened for the first time this winter.

A four-kilometre section of the canal between Laurier Avenue and Bank Street opened at 8 a.m. on Saturday, the earliest opening since December 2018.

Other sections of the canal are expected to open soon, as the cold temperatures continue to grip the capital, Bruce Devine from the National Capital Commission (NCC) told Newstalk 580 CFRA's CFRA Live with Andrew Pinsent Saturday.

“There are some areas where it's not open, as the ice is still thin,” Devine said. “But the forecast with the cold that we're getting will help a lot, and we're expecting to open other sections fairly soon.”

Devine adds that the NCC has an interactive map where you can both check which sections are open and ice conditions. The latter is updated twice daily.

“Mother nature is with us this year. I'm looking forward to a regular season. I'm very optimistic. I'm thinking maybe 35, 30 plus days of skating maybe this season," Devine told CTV News.

The opening of the capital’s canal sparked excitement among residents and officials.

“People are excited!” Ottawa councillor, Tim Tierney, said in a post on X. “And where’s that Beavertails booth?”

An Ottawa resident told CTV News Ottawa’s Tyler Fleming Friday he’s “definitely” lacing up his skates, especially after not being able to skate on the capital's iconic rink in the last two years.

“It’s an amazing sport,” said another resident.

In a post on X, Carleton University Students said skating on the canal is one of their “favorite activities to stay active and take a break.”

BeaverTails huts and rest areas are also open this weekend. Skate rentals will be available at Fifth Avenue.

"We’re thrilled to welcome residents and visitors to the Rideau Canal Skateway, Canada’s beloved winter classic," said Tobi Nussbaum, CEO of the NCC, 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 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, thanks to the colder temperatures.

With files from CTV News Ottawa's Josh Pringle and Josh Marano