Be sure to get your skates sharpened — the National Capital Commission has kicked off the 40th canal skating season.
A 4.3-kilometre stretch of the Rideau Canal Skateway between the National Arts Centre and Bank Street Bridg is now open to the public.
Maintenance crews have worked since last Friday to clear snow from the canal and flood the ice surface in order to maximize the ice growth.
The partial opening of the canal is despite an Environment Canada forecast of a 2 C high on Friday.
“The weather is always going to be a concern,” said NCC spokesman Jean Wolff. “But the ice safety committee has made the determination that there is the proper thickness to allow for an opening tomorrow morning.”
He says the safety of skaters is the commission’s “paramount priority” and the ice safety committee “will be watching the weather, as always.”
The committee inspects the ice conditions and authorizes opening or closing of the skateway.
There was no word on when the full 7.8 kilometres will open. The NCC requires the ice to be at least 30 centimetres thick, which is the safety standard.
The Jan. 13 opening marks the start of the 40th season for the skateway. Last year, the canal opened for skating on Jan. 1.
The latest opening day for the canal was Feb. 2, 2002, while the earliest opening was Dec. 18, 1981.
For more information, see www.canadascapital.gc.ca/skateway. Recorded information about skating conditions can be obtained by calling 613-239-5234.