Residents warned not to venture onto the Rideau Canal

By Anna Sophia Vollmerhausen

Local residents who venture out onto the Rideau Canal may find themselves on thin ice — literally.

According to the National Capital Commission, the ice layer on the top of the canal has thinned due to warm weather, making it unsafe to walk on.

The NCC announced the end of the canal’s 47th season on Feb. 22 after it had been open for 36 days— 25 of which were suitable for skating.

Mild weather at the end of February caused a deterioration of the ice, to the point where it wasn’t possible to keep the skateway open, the NCC said on its website.

The shortest skating season on record was in 2015-16, which only lasted 18 days.

Water levels below the ice vary along the canal, from one to four metres deep between Dows Lake and downtown, according to the NCC.

The commission is warning the public to respect all signs and barricades at access points to the canal.

According to the NCC, just over 619,000 visitors laced up their skates to glide along the canal this season, with an average of nearly 25,000 visitors per day.