By Kyle Rooks
Warm weather may have delayed the opening of the Rideau Canal, but it has not melted Ottawa’s desire to be active.
“I think people were disappointed (with the Canal’s late opening), but they were able to make alternative plans,” says Somerset Coun. Elisabeth Arnold
Those plans involved jogging, which has brought unexpected business to some Ottawa retailers.
Doug Kay, a sales clerk at the Running Room on Bank Street, says business has increased compared to this time last year.
“With the Canal not open in January, everybody seemed to be coming in looking for something else,” says Kay.
Phil Marsh, area manager for the Running Room, says due to the influx in sales , ten more employees have been hired throughout the four Ottawa-area locations.
The enrollment at their running clinics has also increased by 20 per cent, to about 600 participants, over this time last year.
According to Marsh, the Rideau Canal pathways offer good footing, encouraging
people to get an early start on their recreational jogging or training when the weather conditions permit.
“I think people are saying ‘Hey, we don’t have to get bundled up to go running. We might as well get a head start on our running,’” says Marsh.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Play it Again Sports at Bank Street and Alta-Vista has noticed a dramatic decline in skate sales.
“It’s like night and day from last year,” says employee Rob Lavoie.
Lavoie attributes the decrease in sales directly to the Canal’s late opening.
Prior to this year, the latest the Canal has ever opened was
January 18.
According to the National
Capital Commission the
temperature had to remain around -20 degrees Celsius for one full week before the Canal could be safely skated on.
The NCC was relieved to get this weather. According to a 2000 NCC survey, about 650,000 people participate in Winterlude, many of those
skating on the Canal.
The Canal is an integral part of Winterlude, but even before its recent opening, plans were made to run the event without it.
Laurie Peters, NCC spokesperson, says Winterlude continued as planned despite
unseasonably mild temperatures last month.
“One of the biggest lessons is not to rely on the Rideau Canal skateway as your sole stage or venue for Winterlude activities,” says Peters.