Rideau Canal Skateway closed for the season
Skateway closed March 4, but NCC had left a glimmer of hope for a return
The Rideau Canal Skateway is closed for the season, the National Capital Commission (NCC) announced Monday.
The NCC closed the skateway as a precaution last Tuesday night ahead of a warm, wet forecast, but there were hopes it would reopen.
Temperatures stayed below freezing toward the end of last week, but the forecasted high is 5 C Monday and 10 C Tuesday, and next weekend could be even warmer.
Tobi Nussbaum, CEO of the NCC, said the skateway attracted nearly 1.2 million visitors over 52 skating days this season, with the opening day seeing nearly 42,000 visits.
"I think there was really pent up demand among residents and visitors from throughout Canada to be able to, this year, enjoy a great skate," he told CBC News.
The canal opened for skating on Jan. 11 and remained open for more than seven weeks, a welcome change after the two shortest seasons in the skateway's 54-year history.
Grant Hooker, one of the co-founders of the iconic pastry chain BeaverTails, said that after two challenging years, he didn't think this skating season would happen. He said he was blown away by the turnout on opening weekend.
"I went wow, you just we'd forgotten how beautiful it is... I saw up close these people having fun, talking to each other, laughing, trying to skate... I actually choked up," he said.
Nussbaum said another highlight was Flag Day, where skaters glided down the canal with a giant Canadian flag.
"To see a giant flag unfurled thanks to a number of youth from throughout the region... it was a real symbol."
This winter saw new vendors and a new pedestrian path added to the popular tourist attraction and UNESCO world heritage site.
Nussbaum said the NCC is continuing to look at ways it can maximize the amount of time the skateway is open in future years.
In recent years, the commission partnered with researchers from Carleton University to look at ways to manage the skateway within the context of climate change. That includes the use of slush cannons to improve the buildup of ice.
"We can't control everything, we certainly can't control the weather, but the things that we can control, we want to try and improve to ensure that we have as long a skating season as possible," he said.
with files from Nathan Fung