Rideau Canal Skateway season officially ends after 52 skating days

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

With above-average temperatures in the forecast this week, including some double-digit highs, the National Capital Commission has officially ended the 2024-25 Rideau Canal Skateway season.

The season began Jan. 11 when a four-kilometre stretch of the world’s largest skating rink opened. By the next week, the entire length of the Skateway was available for the first time since 2022.

“Over the course of 52 days, the NCC registered more than 1.1 million visits to the Skateway, making it a truly memorable season,” the NCC said in a news release Monday. “The NCC wishes to thank all of this year’s skaters and walkers for joining us in making this 55th season of the Skateway come alive.”

Residents and tourists flocked to the popular attraction in droves after two disappointing years. The 2023-24 skating season only had 10 skating days in total and only a small portion of ice was available. In 2022-23, the Skateway did not open at all.

At 52 days, this was the longest Skateway season since the 49th season, which began Dec. 30, 2018 and went until March 10, 2019. It was also only the fourth skating season in the last 10 years that extended into March. The other March closing dates were March 5, 2022 and March 9, 2015.

“Highlights of the season included the unfurling of a giant Canadian flag on the 60th anniversary of our beloved maple leaf as part of the National Flag Day celebrations and the addition of dedicated walking lanes that allowed even more people to enjoy this truly Canadian winter experience,” the NCC said.

The deep cold of the winter this year helped keep the ice solid for skaters, but there were a couple of thaws that wrinkled an otherwise perfect skating season. A warm spell at the end of February closed the ice surface for skating, but people were still allowed to walk on it. A portion of the Skateway reopened for skating March 2, but closed again two days later with rain in the forecast.

“Through our ongoing partnership with Carleton University, the National Capital Commission is gaining valuable tools and data to navigate the challenges of climate change on the Rideau Canal Skateway. This work will enhance our ability to predict and adapt to changing conditions, helping the Skateway to remain more resilient for future generations,” said the NCC.