The unrelenting winter of 2015 has meant a banner year for the Rideau Canal Skateway, which on Wednesday set a record with its 47th consecutive day of skating.
And with Environment Canada forecasting continuing cold, there’s no reason to expect the skating to end any time soon. Canada Day on skates anyone?
Wednesday’s record beat the previous run of 46 straight days set from Jan. 14 to Feb. 28 in 2004. On Wednesday, The Citizen donned blades to meet some of the skaters on the record-setting day.
The Expert
Bruce Devine is Manager of Skateway Operations for the NCC.
Bruce Devine is manager of skateway operations for the National Capital Commission. He spent much of Wednesday answering reporters’ questions about the skateway’s record-setting run.
“We’ve been open now for 47 days and we’re pretty excited by that. The whole crew, they’ve been working non-stop. They’re getting pretty tired, but you could see the smiles on their faces this morning, saying, ‘Yeah! We broke that record and now every day we’re going to add on to it.'”
“It’s been great skating conditions. Some people have told me it’s been too cold, but it sure did help the ice quality. The ice thickness is excellent. The average thickness is 65 centimetres … and the quality of the ice is just perfect. Almost no air bubbles. It’s clear ice. It was naturally frozen. The consistent cold makes for the nice ice quality. Is it easier? I wouldn’t say that. It’s hard on the crew. Imagine the guy at 2 a.m. watering and flooding the ice. It’s pretty cold for them.
The commuter
Ariane Dind commuted to her translating job on skates on Wednesday.
Ariane Dind laced up a pair of vintage tube skates that she bought for $15 at Value Village on Wednesday and skated from Fifth Avenue to her job as a translator at a downtown hotel.
“It’s just lovely to see the older people who come into the warm-up places and everybody is all ready and cheery. I love that part of it.
“I thought I was too old for this, but I had a young friend who got me into it … I only just started last week, but since last week I’ve skated six times. I’m hoping it’ll stay open a lot longer. I’m hoping it’s going to be a really long record.
The Mother
Irene Gallagher-Jones bundled up her seven-month-old daughter Fiona and brought her to the canal in her stroller.
Irene Gallagher-Jones of Ottawa was at Dow’s Lake with her seven-month-old daughter, Fiona, well bundled up in a carriage.
“It’s pretty special to live in a city with the longest skating rink in the world. It’s unique and it’s a fun way to get exercise and spend time with your family.
“It’s a pretty special experience. The last time I was out skating with my daughter in the stroller and it was a beautiful sunny day. I heard someone skate by me — it was a couple skating together — and I heard them say, ‘Can you imagine anything better than this?’ And I thought to myself, ‘Yeah it is pretty special to be skating along on a sunny winter day.'”
The Romantics
Natalia Proensa and Rob Edge photographed at the Fifth Avenue change hut.
Rob Edge and Natalia Proensa were enjoying hot chocolate at the Fifth Avenue change chalet.
“We got up this morning and it was either go swimming or go skating,” Rob said. “It makes me appreciate Ottawa. The city has such great venues like this.”
“For us it’s very romantic. It’s a great place to hold hands and skate. It’s the momentum of two people moving as one — it brings great joy.”
“We met a woman and (Natalia) was wondering why she was smiling so much. It was probably because she saw us holding hands.”
The visitor
Pat Jilesen of Port Elgin, Ont., was in Ottawa for a conference when he nipped out for a skate on the canal.
Pat Jilesen of Port Elgin, Ont., on Lake Huron, was lacing up near the Pretoria Bridge. Jilesen, director of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, nipped out of meetings for his first skate on the canal.
“It’s the Rideau Canal! When you’re in Ottawa, what do you do? You go out on the canal and skate. You know: When in Rome …
“It feels balmy — minus 10. I never thought minus 10 would feel so warm, but after yesterday when it was minus 24, minus 10 feels pretty good. I couldn’t wait to get out here.”
The tourists
Jason and Isabella Sweeney, 9, are visiting Ottawa from Kitchener.
Jason Sweeney and his daughter Isabella, 9, were skating upwind toward the NAC near the University of Ottawa. The Sweeneys are from Kitchener.
Jason: “We visited Ottawa in the summer for a soccer tournament and just fell in love with the city. There’s so many things to see and so much history. We decided we wanted to come back and booked a trip specifically to skate on the canal. It’s been amazing. Awesome. We’ve skated every day for five days. I’m glad you guys have had a good season and we’ll certainly be back.”
Isabella: “When we go skating at city hall (in Kitchener) it’s kind of hard to skate because you have to turn corners. Here you can just go straight.”
The retirees
Roberta and John Vice of Orléans photographed on the canal at Hartwell Locks.
Roberta and John Vice of Orléans are canal regulars. They park near Immaculata High School and make sure they skate the canal end-to-end-to-end.
John: “This is my idea of Canadiana. To be out on the canal in bright sunshine, not too cold — it’s not minus 45 — and everyone is smiling. It’s wonderful. I love to see the little kids. You see kids who look like they’re three years old and they’re not just skating, they’re s-k-a-t-i-n-g. You can hardly keep up with them.
Roberta: “And it’s not a real skate unless you have a Beaver Tail, too!”
