Colder weather brings optimism for opening of Rideau Canal Skateway [Video]

As the first cold snap of 2025 settles in across Ottawa, there is optimism that the Rideau Canal Skateway will be able to open soon.

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The world-famous skateway was open for just 10 days last winter due to short and inconsistent winter temperatures.

This January, Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips says the cold appears to be sticking around.

“If you look at this week in Ottawa, I see five days where the temperature in the afternoon, the daytime high is going to be below -10 C. All last winter we only had three of those days,” he said in an interview with CTV News.

“Our models are showing for the next two weeks, the next month, we call for colder than normal temperatures in the Ottawa area.”

That has all eyes turned towards an …