NCC Opens The Rideau Canal Skateway For the 41st Season of Skating

Jan. 10, 2011 - PRLog -- Canada's Capital Region — The National Capital Commission (NCC) opened a section of the Rideau Canal Skateway this morning when the green flag was raised near the Canal Ritz Terrace. The Winterlude mascot, Papa Ice Hog, Michelle Comeau, NCC Vice-President, Environment, Capital Lands and Parks, as well as members and partners of the
Rideau Canal Skateway (RCS) team were also on hand to welcome skaters as the NCC launched the 41st season of skating in the heart of Canada’s Capital.

“The NCC invites residents and visitors to lace up their skates and take advantage of the world’s largest skating rink,” said Michelle Comeau, Vice-President, Environment, Capital Lands and Parks at the NCC. “As we embark on the 41st skating season, we are reminded that skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway is a longstanding Canadian winter tradition right here in Canada’s Capital Region.”

The NCC performed intense flooding on the ice surface this past week, and ice tests were conducted along the entire length of the Rideau Canal Skateway. The NCC Ice Safety Committee deemed that the 2.4 kilometres of ice between the Bank Street Bridge and the Pretoria Bridge has reached the required thickness and is of good quality. Skaters can access this section of the Skateway by using various access points between the Bank Street Bridge and the Pretoria Bridge.

The RCS team will work relentlessly to provide a safe and pleasant skating experience to all. The NCC is working towards opening other sections of the world’s largest skating rink as soon as ice conditions are safe and weather permits. Pedestrians and skaters are asked not to venture onto the closed sections of the Skateway where ice is considered
unsafe.

Managed by the NCC since the 1970-1971 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 Canada’s winter celebration, Winterlude, which will take place from February 4th to 21st, 2011.

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.

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