Skating on the Canal – requiem for a cold world

For the first time in 52 years, the Rideau Canal will not open for skating this year. We’ve been expecting it for some time, as we watched the temperature rise and the snow melt as quickly as it came. The NCC was of course relentlessly optimistic, not admitting to even the possibility that it may not happen this year – but we all knew in our sad hearts that it was a lost cause.

Let’s take a moment to acknowledge, and fully register, how much skating on the Canal has meant to us. During the pandemic, it was almost the only thing we could do – it was outdoors, healthy exercise, not crowded with germy people, free of charge, available any time night or day, could be done alone or with friends, and for us, only a short walk away. What more could we ask?

And in pre-pandemic times, skating on the Canal was not just a boon to Glebe residents, it was also a gift to Carleton and uOttawa students (especially international students new to skating), people from all over the city, businesses like BeaverTails and skate rentals. The whole of Ottawa benefitted economically from its enormous drawing power for winter tourism.

Because it’s been part of our lives all these years, anyone younger than 52 has never known a world without it. Many of us have long-held memories – skating as a child with mom and dad; as teenagers, challenging each other to skate the full length of the Canal; skating parties on Dow’s Lake; frozen toes and fingers; backpacks stashed in the snowbank by the stairs or boots tied together and slung over the shoulder.

What’s that phrase? You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.

—Liz McKeen

Share this