Canada’s Rideau Canal Skateway reopens after almost 2-year closure: “What a beautiful day”

After almost two years, and a few extra hours of waiting, Ottawa’s iconic Rideau Canal officially reopened to skaters on Sunday. The skateway’s return comes after last year’s unseasonal warmth kept it closed for the entire winter for the first time in its history. “What a beautiful day today, it’s a blue sky and the ice is quite good. And it’s nice to be outside with the family,” local skater Martine Gagnon said. “Last year, we missed it a lot and we were unable to come. But this year, it’s wonderful.” Shortly before the reopening, the National Capital Commission (NCC) delayed the official start of the skateway’s 54th season, because it said the ice needed more time to fully freeze after overnight flooding. The NCC says the skateway is open for a roughly one-kilometre stretch between Bank Street and Fifth Avenue, adding that as ice conditions become safer, it will open more sections of the skateway, which winds through 7.8 kilometres of the capital when fully frozen. For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/10240698/ottawa-rideau-canal-skateway-opens/ Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ Follow Global News on Twitter HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB #GlobalNews #Ottawa #Skating