Christopher Dick, Centretown News
This year’s deep freeze helped the Rideau Canal break its record for days open.A bitterly cold winter in Ottawa has had one silver lining – a record-setting season for skating on the Rideau Canal.
By late February, the world’s largest outdoor skate rink had surpassed the all-time record for consecutive “skateable” days in a single season.
The first part of the 7.8-kilometre icy stretch of Rideau Canal opened on Jan. 10. The entire length opened shortly after and didn’t shut down through the rest of January and February.
The canal closed on March 9, after a record 59 days of consecutive skating.
It’s a record officials are happy with at the National Capital Commission, says spokesperson Jasmine Leduc.
Thanks to the cold winter, the old 2003-2004 record – 46 consecutive days – was broken on Feb. 25 this year. During that stretch of time, there had been a total of 31 days when temperatures were -20 C or lower, the most since 1934. A new coldest-ever February was recorded, with an average of -16.8 C, surpassing the old 1979 record.
But the weather that ensured the record and the frequent frostbite warnings have brought down the number of visitors on the skateway. This year’s daily average is 17,000 visitors, compared with the last five seasons’ average of 20,000 visitors.
“It has been frigid out there and that has had a bit of an impact on our number of visits, but 17,000 is still amazing,” says Leduc. “Minus 30 is not exactly conducive to being outside, but people are brave in the capital region.”
The 24/7 skateway operation job involves some hard work. But he team of operators is more than happy to welcome future skaters, says Leduc.“When you see a smile on a skater’s face it’s definitely positive. That’s all they need. You see skaters congratulating the skateway team, it’s very gratifying for them.”