Ottawa Winterlude!

Winterlude is held in Ottawa Canada every February

Winterlude was created in 1979 to celebrate Canada's unique northern culture and climate

Organizers were inspired by our ancestors who would gather to enjoy each other’s company during the long winter months

On average, 600,000 visitors take part in the festivities

on the Rideau Canal. The “world’s largest skating rink”

Winterlude runs smoothly thanks to 800 volunteers

Loving winter outdoors AND staying toasty warm inside… THIS is Winterlude!
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Each winter, the historic Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, becomes the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest skating rink.

The Rideau Canal Skateway was first opened during the 1970–1971 season. The idea to turn the Rideau Canal into a skateway came from then-newly appointed NCC chair Doug Fullerton. In January 1971, a team of NCC employees armed with brooms and shovels turned his idea into a reality. They cleared a small section of ice between the Mackenzie King and Laurier bridges near the National Arts Centre.

It was then extended as a six-metre-wide skating track on the canal ice surface to Dows Lake, a distance of about 5 km. At the area between the bridges, lighting and music were added to increase the enjoyment of skating in the evening. Despite the heavy snow and many hours of overtime, the NCC crews managed to keep the skating area cleared.

That season, hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors made their way onto the ice to start a new winter tradition. Our knowledge and expertise in the science of ice have come a long way since then!

Today, the Rideau Canal Skateway winds over 7.8 km through the heart of the Capital, and is a key site for Winterlude celebrations in February. The average skating season is 50 days, but the record is 95 days (1971–1972 season).