Rideau Canal Skateway reopens for skating

The Rideau Canal Skateway reopened Sunday morning. March 2, 2025. (Brad Quinn/ CTV News Ottawa)

The green flag is flying on the Rideau Canal Skateway, the third time in 10 years the world’s largest skating rink has been open for skating in March.

The National Capital Commission reopened the Skateway for skating between Rideau and Bank streets Sunday morning.

“The public’s cooperation in preserving the ice surface, combined with cold overnight temperatures over the past week allowed our teams to extend the Skateway season,” the NCC said in a statement.

“The ice has been swept, flooded and smoothed to welcome the public back again.”

The Rideau Canal Skateway had been closed since last Monday due to the mild temperatures in Ottawa.

• Busiest season on the Rideau Canal Skateway in six winters

Nearly 1.1 million visits have been recorded on the Rideau Canal Skateway since its opening on January 11. This has been the busiest season on the Skateway since 2018-19, when it was open between Dec. 30, 2018, and March 10, 2019.

Since 2010, the skating season on the Rideau Canal has extended into March five times, with the season ending on March 10, 2018, and March 5, 2022.

The Rideau Canal Skateway opened the season on Jan. 11. The full 7.8 km of the Skateway opened for skaters on Jan. 18.