Rideau Canal Skateway: Section of the canal opens for the first time this year [Video]

A section of the Rideau Canal Skateway has opened for the first time this winter.

A four-kilometre section of the canal between Laurier Avenue and Bank Street opened at 8 a.m. on Saturday, the earliest opening since December 2018.

Other sections of the canal are expected to open soon, as the cold temperatures continue to grip the capital, Bruce Devine from the National Capital Commission (NCC) told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s CFRA Live with Andrew Pinsent Saturday.

“There are some areas where it’s not open, as the ice is still thin,” Devine said. “But the forecast with the cold that we’re getting will help a lot, and we’re expecting to open other sections fairly soon.”

Devine adds that the NCC has an interactive map where you can both check which sections are open and ice conditions. The latter is updated twice daily.

“Mother nature is with us this year. I’m looking forward to a regular season. I’m very optimistic. I’m thinking maybe 35, 30 …