David Wilson and Jackie Eckholm dreamed of attending Winterlude and skating on the Rideau Canal after their final go to to Ottawa 9 years in the past.
When the Chicago couple noticed on the information in January that the town’s iconic Rideau Canal Skateway had been opened to the general public, they instantly booked their journey to Canada’s capital.
Eckholm stated she and Wilson — who have been strolling down Sparks Road on Friday morning wanting on the ice sculptures arrange for Ottawa’s annual winter competition — have cherished spending time in a “winter wonderland.”
She stated they skated, had drinks on the Château Laurier, rode the O-Practice and checked out the Royal Canadian Mint.
“We landed Wednesday night time, awoke for the massive storm and that was superior as a result of Midwestern winters are wimpy these previous few years,” stated Eckholm, who loves Canada and joked that she secretly hopes Canada annexes the U.S.
FILE PHOTO: The Chateau Laurier is seen behind skaters on the the Rideau Canal Skateway throughout the Winterlude Pageant in Ottawa on Jan. 30, 2016.
Justin Tang / The Canadian Press
Wimpy would have been the phrase to explain the final two winters in Ottawa too, when temperatures by no means plunged low sufficient, for lengthy sufficient, for winter actions to abound.
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The canal skating rink didn’t open in any respect in 2023, a historic first, and in 2024 was solely opened for a handful of days, with poor skating circumstances.
The ice sculptures weren’t insulated underneath tarps to maintain them from melting, and most didn’t make it by way of the whole Winterlude competition.
However Mom Nature in 2025 has delivered what the town wanted for its winter competition enjoyable.
Winterlude usually sees round 600,000 guests annually and a few third of them come from out of city, says the federal Division of Canadian Heritage.
The competition, which runs till Feb. 17, has two official websites — on Sparks St. and at “Snowflake Kingdom” in Gatineau — the place guests can attempt maple syrup taffy, see gentle exhibits and experience slides.
It takes over 600 volunteers to run the occasion and about 100 of them spend their shifts dressed as Ice Hog, the occasion’s mascot.
Ines Akué, a spokesperson for Canadian Heritage, stated 2025 has seen a return of the “buzz and pleasure” surrounding the competition.
“With the climate co-operating and the enduring Rideau Canal Skateway open, guests got here out en masse to our two official websites to get pleasure from occasions and actions that celebrated winter and showcased Canadian creative and cultural range,” Akué stated in an electronic mail.
The 7.8 kilometre lengthy Rideau Canal Skateway — a key part of an Ottawa winter — has been having fun with its busiest season since 2019, stated the Nationwide Capital Fee.
NCC spokesperson Maryam El- Akhrass stated the group has counted over 755,000 canal visits because the skateway partially opened to the general public on Jan. 11. and totally opened on Jan. 18.
“We anticipate our millionth go to to occur subsequent week,” El- Akhrass stated, including that persistently chilly temperatures have helped with ice circumstances.
In 2018-19, the skateway was open for 59 days and was visited virtually 1.5 million instances.
Jenny Zhao, who was on the canal Friday morning, stated she will get out to skate on the canal every time she will be able to.
“It’s simply so, a lot enjoyable and so gratifying,” stated Zhao. “Within the winter — when the solar is out, you see the individuals smiling.”
Jérôme Miousse, director of public affairs for Ottawa Tourism, stated Winterlude has been notably busy this yr.
“This yr, the primary two weekends of Winterlude mixed noticed increased resort demand in comparison with 2024, with the primary weekend practically matching the identical weekend in 2020,” which was a document yea stated Miousse. “As for the third weekend, we’re cautiously optimistic about reaching a excessive occupancy price, climate allowing.”
Geneviève Latulippe, CEO of Outaouais Tourism, stated Winterlude is a “magical” occasion.
“The workforce behind the occasion works very onerous to diversify this system, yr after yr, in order that there’s something for all tastes and temperatures,” Latulippe stated.
The final weekend of Winterlude coincides this yr with Flag Day celebrations.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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