Part of Ottawa’s Rideau Canal skateway set to open on Dec. 31

OTTAWA — A section of Ottawa’s historic Rideau Canal skateway is set to open the morning of Dec. 31.

Beginning at 8 a.m., skaters will be able to make their way down a 3.4-kilometre section from the Somerset West access point to the Bank Street Bridge.

At 7.8 kilometres long, the Rideau Canal skateway is known as the world’s largest skating rink — though conditions haven’t always been favourable for skating in recent years.

The skateway — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — stayed closed in 2023 and barely opened at all in 2024 because it was too warm.