Ottawa outdoor rinks remain closed despite frigid temperatures

Ottawa's outdoor rinks remain closed despite frigid temperatures — caused by a mild start to winter and the heavy snowfall last week — forcing the cancellation of the Ontario long-track speed-skating championships.

The outdoor oval at Brewer Park in Ottawa was scheduled to host the competition on Jan. 16 and 17. On Boxing Day, though, organizers decided to cancel the event.

• No Rideau Canal skating in sight as mild weather continues

"The host of the event made the decision to cancel the event because of weather concerns and the risk that the Brewer Oval would not be operational in the coming weeks," read a post on the Ontario Speed Skating Association website.

Skaters hoping to establish Olympic Style times in the 500-metre and 1,000-metre distances were given the option to skate in another competition in Ste. Foy, Que., on Jan. 9.

Jim Hovey, who maintains the Brewer Oval, said skating would not be possible until mid-January at the earliest. He said the oval normally aims to open by Christmas each year.

Quebec City's refrigerated oval was the back-up plan this year and Hovey suggests Ottawa should have one, too, because Brewer Park is the only non-refrigerated outdoor oval in Ontario.

"It would be very nice [to have a refrigerated oval]. That I'm not too optimistic about," he said.

Hovey said there have been fewer skating days over the years from about 70 days in the past to 50 days recently.

• Listen to the full interview with Jim Hovey here.

Neighbourhoods trying to help open rink

It's an issue Olivier Cullen also deals with at Ottawa's Lindenlea neighbourhood rink.

"I don't think the Sens are coming to practise anytime soon," Cullen told CBC Radio's Hallie Cotnam during an interview on Ottawa Morning.

"Looks temporarily treacherous I would say so stay off it for now but give it a few days and it would be idyllic."

Cullen said a neighbourhood effort to boot–stamp the ice down over the weekend helped, but there is a lack of heavy equipment owned by rinks like the Brewer Oval.

He hopes the rink will open in the coming days, but warmer temperatures this week could make that a lofty goal.