Overview
- This marks the first early opening in seven years for the world’s largest skating rink, according to the National Capital Commission.
- Additional sections will open as ice conditions allow, with walking lanes available from Waverly to Bank and from Lakeview to Dow’s Lake, and rest areas at Concord and Fifth Avenue.
- The Patterson Creek skating area is closed this season for bridge rehabilitation, with a temporary staircase installed near Monkland Avenue.
- Parks Canada drained the canal in mid-October and raised water levels by mid-November, enabling the National Capital Commission to install change rooms, washrooms, stairs and ramps.
- Crews are thickening and maintaining the ice by pumping water to the surface, resurfacing around the clock and removing about 125,000 kilograms of snow per centimetre of snowfall, with the season typically running into early March depending on weather; an interactive map provides live updates on conditions and access.