About a kilometre-long section of Ottawa’s Rideau Canal Skateway has opened, much to the relief of many Ottawa residents – and potential visitors – who worried it would remain closed for the second winter in a row, following an unusually warm December.

The National Capital Commission says it plans to open more sections of the 7.8-km rink as ice conditions become safer. But some of the skaters lacing up near Pretoria Bridge worried that with above-zero temperatures expected later this week, the canal could close again.

They headed out to take advantage of the opportunity while they could, though multiple skaters said the ice was rough.

The NCC also urged skaters to get out while it’s possible. “Conditions are variable,” it said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The forecast shows a high of 5 C on Friday.

Joanne MacLellan, visiting from Sudbury, was getting ready for her first-ever skate on the canal. “I’m just glad they figured out how to open it up in chunks instead of worrying about the whole piece being open,” she said.

Jacky Lee, a medical student from Toronto, said skating on the canal was on his “bucket list” of Ottawa activities, so he grabbed his skates as soon as it opened Sunday and stayed on the ice for hours, then returned the next day with a group of friends.

“I’m really grateful they managed to get it frozen,” he said.