ByWard Market's new skating rink still nice without the ice
Synthetic surface makes William Street rink 'a sure bet' despite warmer winters
A new rink in Ottawa's ByWard Market aims to give people a place to skate this winter, even as the warming climate takes its toll on outdoor activities.
"We still are very much a winter city, but we might not be getting the temperatures for that real ice," said Zachary Dayler, executive director of the ByWard Market District Authority.
The new rink on William Street, which opens to the public on Friday, has a synthetic surface, so it doesn't depend on the weather.
Melanie Anderson, the authority's general manager, said the rink's plastic surface means never having to worry about ice conditions.
"It's a sure bet versus a frozen rink," she said.
By comparison, the nearby Rideau Canal Skateway didn't open at all in 2023, and only opened for 10 days last winter due to warm temperatures and poor conditions.
Anderson said with no need for refrigeration or resurfacing, the synthetic rink is also much cheaper to operate.
"A big part of it is making something affordable, that we can offer for free and the ability to extend and grow over the next couple of years," she said.
Opening Friday
While the long, narrow rink is not exactly Olympic-size, it can fit 20 to 30 skaters at a time.
"We have to use it," Dayler said. "We have to learn what the surface is going to do in terms of volume of people.
Ottawa Tourism's Jérôme Miousse said it's important for the city to diversify its winter recreation offerings "so that we're less reliant and dependent on the weather."
"It's great for the quality of life for residents," Miousse added. "And we do think that if residents are happy to go to a place in the city, it's good to have them as ambassadors."
Dayler said part of the goal is to attract more people to the market and its businesses.
"We have to think about ways that continue to add to the vibrancy and revitalization in the face of all of the challenges that we're experiencing," he said. "Whether that be political or whether that be climate."
Admission is free. The rink will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and there will be skates available to rent.
The rink's opening on Friday will coincide with a winter market and tree lighting event starting at 4 p.m.
With files from Natalia Goodwin and Sophie Panton