Rideau Canal Skateway attendance drops to lowest on record

The RideauCanal Skatewayhosted 330,000 visitsthis season, the lowest attendance since the National Capital Commission began keeping track in 1992-93.

The NCCclosed "the world's largest skating rink" on Feb. 25, after a meagre 18 skating days the shortest season ever.

• RideauCanalSkatewayclosed for the season

The NCC said in a press release that adverse weather conditions had deteriorated the skating surface and ice thickness in some areas of the 7.8-kilometreskateway.

There was an average of 18,333 visits to the canal on the days it was open.

Businesssuffered

The short season meant fewercustomers for businesses alongthe canal.

That includesthe mobile BeaverTailsshacks, among the more popular stopsfor hungry skaters.

The pastry makers have four locations set up on the canal during the skating season.

If this had been our first or even second year in business, I probably would be a plumber right now.- Grant Hooker, BeaverTails founder

Grant Hooker, founder of BeaverTails, said Mother Nature definitely took a bite out of his business this season.

"If this had been our first or even second year in business, I probably would be a plumber right now," Hooker said. "We would have not have been able to do make it."

Luckily for Hooker, this was his company's36th year in business, so he's equipped to weather a poor season.

He said that despite the drop in visitors this year, he's still excited about having a business on the skateway.

"The experience on the canal is world-class. There is no other place like it," Hooker said. "Everybody is out talking and having a good time. This is our business environment."

• Hot and cold: A 10-year look at Rideau Canal Skateway visits