Warm weather closes river skating trail, Forks rinks

The dramatic turn in weather in Winnipeg has closed the city's popular Red River Mutual Trail and all skating rinks at The Forks until further notice.

• The Forks river trail opens for skating on Monday

The Red River Trailruns on the Assiniboine River from a port at The Forks to Osborne Village as well as part of the Red River toward the Norwood Bridge.

Chelsea Thomson, a spokeswoman for The Forks, said mild weather and rain Winnipeg received Friday left puddles of waters on the skating trail.

The trail's closure had some people who had hoped to skate Saturday disappointed, including Krystin Kotze, an international student volunteering in Winnipeg.

"I've never seen snow before," Kotze said, adding she was looking forward to setting foot on the frozen Red River.

MikeMasyoluk, a skate sharpener at The Forks, said the temporary closure will mean smoother skating for people when the trail reopens.

"We haven'thad a chance to really sharpen a lot of the skates, so this way the next day or two I guess I'll be [doing]nothing but standing out here and sharpening skates.

"Everybody will be happy because all the skates will be sharpened."

Pop-up river restaurant still open

While you can't skate on the river, you can still get a bite to eat on it.

Joe Kalturnyk is the co-owner of RAW:almond, the pop-up restaurant at The Forks on the Assiniboine River.

Kalturnyk said the warm weather has created some challenges for staff at the restaurant, but it's still open to foodieswho have bought tickets.

He said staff have dealt with issues on the river before. "It kind of goes with the territory."

Kalturnyk said there's not a flood of water in the restaurant's tent, but staff are having to mop and keep checking problem spots.