Fans flock to canal as Skateway kicks off 46th season

It’s finally ready! Well, partially, anyway.

Winter enthusiasts will be thrilled to hear that part of the Rideau Canal Skateway — a 3.8-kilometre stretch from Somerset Street to the Bank Street Bridge — has opened for skating.

The 46th skating season kicked off with an official opening ceremony Saturday morning, in time for Winterlude, which kicks off next Friday.. 

Skaters enjoy the opening day of the Rideau Canal Skateway on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.

“Nothing says winter in Canada’s Capital like skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway,” said Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, in a statement.

And with a continued cold spell, the National Capital Commission says maintenance crews will be working around the clock to open the remainder of the skateway, but ask the public not to venture onto closed sections until ice conditions are safe.

The NCC is hopeful the parts of the skateway north of Somerset Street and south and west of the Bank Street Bridge should open early next week.

Sammy Cormier, 12, out skating with her buddies Laura and Jayne Taggart, said the best part of the experience are the refreshments, the traditional Beavertails and hot chocolate.

“Cause after a long day of skating you need something to eat that makes it all worth it. Sugar will do that.”

Laura Taggart, also 12, had been determinedly checking the status of the canal.

“We’ve been looking at it every single day. Indoor rinks are nice and smooth. This one’s, like, the biggest one in the world and it’s outside and I just like being outside and stuff.”

Dominique Mosco, out with her husband, John, and daughter, Elyse, said skating on the canal is a family tradition.

“It’s 35 years that we’ve been in Ottawa and we’ve come every year at least once.”

“My daughter’s visiting from Dublin, Ireland and we needed to take her out on the skateway and it just opened today and we were so excited. Sunny, beautiful, nice temperature, and she wanted to skate and we’re having a great day.”

John Mosco said he didn’t expect such great ice conditions.

“The ice is perfect this year. For being the first opening day we expected it to be worse but it was actually really nice.”

Meanwhile, weather conditions appear ideal for the rest of the weekend, according to Environment Canada’s weekend weather forecast for Ottawa. 

Saturday will be mainly sunny, with a high of -10 C.

Sunday is expected to be increasingly cloudy, with a 40-per-cent chance of flurries in the afternoon, and a high of -7 C.

Skaters enjoy the opening day of the Rideau Canal Skateway on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.

The news also bodes well for Winterlude, which is just around the corner, running from Jan. 29 until Feb. 15.

Before heading out, be sure to check updated ice conditions at rcs.ncc-ccn.ca

With files from Olivia Carey

Skaters hit the ice to enjoy a 3.8-kilometre section open from Somerset Street to the Bank Street Bridge.

Skaters hit the ice to enjoy a 3.8-kilometre section open from Somerset Street to the Bank Street Bridge.

Skaters hit the ice to enjoy a 3.8-kilometre section open from Somerset Street to the Bank Street Bridge.

Skaters hit the ice to enjoy a 3.8-kilometre section open from Somerset Street to the Bank Street Bridge.

Skaters hit the ice to enjoy a 3.8-kilometre section open from Somerset Street to the Bank Street Bridge.

Skaters hit the ice to enjoy a 3.8-kilometre section open from Somerset Street to the Bank Street Bridge.