Rideau Canal Skateway closes after shortest season on record

TheRideauCanalSkatewayhas madethe record books this season, but no one is celebrating.

The National Capital Commission announced late Thursday the skatewayisclosing for the season, making the 2016 seasonthe shortest on record.

"It's been quite short and unpredictable due to adverse weather conditions," saidNCC spokeswomanJasmine Leduc.

Since opening Jan. 23, the skatewayhasbeen closed 16 days, almost as many daysas it has been open.

Even on the 18 days when people have been allowed on the ice,skaters have only been able to skate the full length7.8-kilometres a few times.

Ice can't recover after rain

Leduc said things started to go downhill last weekend when it rained, and that the ice won't be able to recover.

"There was a lot of water that hadaccumulated on the ice and it hasn'tfrozen, then we didn't have enough cold weather and then there was more snow and more rain," she said.

"Looking at what's inthe forecast at this point, there's more snow and warmer temperatures. It's unrealistic to be able to reopen it."

Runner up for shortest season is 2001-2002,when the canal wasopen just 26 days.

Last season boasteda record 59 consecutive days of skating.

Sad for skaters, hard on businesses

"It's been a reallypoor season so far," said Adam Hendren, who runs the Beavertail stand on the canal, before the announcement.

"It's always fun being on the canal. It's a unique experience,but obviouslythe more you're open the more money you make."

Hendren saidit's beentough on his staff memberswho aren't getting the shifts they want.

"Most of the staff are hired just for the canal season. A lot of them are part-time students trying to put themselves through school. It's very frustrating for them as well," he said.

The canal ice is becoming thinner, so the NCC isasking people to stay off the skateway, said Leduc.