Rideau Canal Skateway

Canada’s Capital Region: Canadian, just like you.

Safety Advisory: Temporary Closure of the Rideau Canal Skateway

Submitted on February 16, 2012

Stay safe and keep off the ice

The National Capital Commission (NCC) wishes to advise the public that the Rideau Canal Skateway is temporarily closed because of the weather conditions and their negative impact on the ice.

As soon as weather permits, crews will resume maintenance operations to reopen the Skateway as quickly as possible.

WARNING: Snow, freezing rain or water on the ice surface may hide serious deterioration of the ice thickness. The NCC urges the public to refrain from venturing onto the Rideau Canal Skateway for personal safety reasons. Please, respect the barricades and the signs installed at access points.

Managed by the NCC since the 1970-71 season, the 7.8-kilometre Rideau Canal Skateway receives, on average, one million visits each year. The world-famous ice surface becomes one of the official sites for Winterlude, the Capital’s winter celebration, which takes place until February 20, 2012.

For more information about the Rideau Canal Skateway, please contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 613-239-5090 (TTY), 1-800-465-1867 (toll-free) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY), or visit the NCC’s website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca/skateway. Throughout the season, recorded information about skating conditions can be obtained by calling 613-239-5234.