A new attraction opened in the ByWard Market Friday that holds the promise of winter recreation regardless of weather conditions. For the first time, a synthetic ice rink welcomed skaters to a public square in the historic downtown business district.
Located on a portion of William Street closed to vehicular traffic, the grand opening of the rink coincided with the official start of the inaugural Holiday Market festivities in downtown Ottawa.
Melanie Anderson, general manager of the ByWard Market District Authority, said the rink is intended to “expand the seasons for the market” and “build our capacity for outside activities.”
Because the synthetic surface accommodates skating in any weather, Anderson described the rink as “climate resilient.” It’s an attribute that is expected to become increasingly valuable as global temperatures — including those in one of the coldest capitals in the world — continue to climb in the age of climate change.
A report recently published by Carleton University provides insight into what to expect as the climate changes. Increased overland flooding, wildfire smoke and heat waves are among the risks for the Ottawa area. Rising temperatures pose a serious risk to tourism in downtown Ottawa, the report noted, with the Rideau Canal Skateway — which has traditionally drawn visitors from the across the National Capital Region and well beyond — kept closed for the entire winter in 2023 and almost all of 2024.
Because the ice must be reach a safe level of thickness for the canal to be open for skating, increasing temperatures may continue to bring shorter Skateway seasons — when the attraction billed as the world’s largest skating rink can open at all.
This won’t be a concern for the rink in ByWard Market. Although the rink “won’t replace the canal,” Anderson emphasized that the “synthetic rink doesn’t require refrigeration and maintenance” like natural ice does. And the all-weather capacity means the rink in the heart of the Market will be functional even when the canal is closed to skaters.
Lilly Cadieux is a market ambassador for the public square and an employee of Bytown Jos, which overlooks the rink. Cadieux said she believes the synthetic ice “will attract more people” to the Market. This is a welcome addition to the area given the “uncertainty that is the Rideau Canal.”
The BMDA’s Anderson said the rink is meant to “animate the area” as an attraction for the Winter Market.
The synthetic rink will be open for skating daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Regular skates can be used on the surface. Sharpening and repair services are available at an on-site kiosk operated by Final Pass.
