Businesses benefit as Rideau Canal Skateway opens in full

For the first time since 2022, the full 7.8 km stretch of the Rideau Canal skateway is open, which is welcome news for nearby businesses.

For the first time in three years, the full length of the Rideau Canal Skateway is open and local businesses are already seeing a benefit.

Skaters don’t just enjoy the free ice time – they also visit restaurants, cafes and stores that surround the almost eight-kilometre stretch.

Owners say the canal’s full opening, coupled with the ongoing GST/HST tax holiday, is welcome.

That includes at the four Beavertail stands that sit on the canal. The stands are weather dependent and at the mercy of the opening of the skateway. On Saturday, a long line could be seen outside the stand that sits near the Fifth Avenue entrance.

Customers like Steven Fabbro are in good spirits about grabbing an iconic pastry.

“Beavertails are unreal,” he said. “And that’s why we come to the canal.”

Grant Hooker, the co-founder of Beavertails, says he’s equally happy to see skaters.

“I’m delighted. Of course, absolutely delighted,” he said.

Hooker says setting up along the canal costs the company up to $90,000 each year, including installation and training for dozens of staff.

“In the years we didn’t open – a dead loss,” he said.

The canal opened for 10 days during the 2023-24 season, but the full 7.8 kilometre section did not open for skating during the season. The skateway did not open for skating during the 2022-23 season due to the mild temperatures.

The NCC says the average skating season is 50 days, but the record is 95 days during the 1971-1972 season.

The company pays rent based on a percentage of their sales. During the canal closures of the past two seasons, he says the National Capital Commission (NCC) has helped by reducing those costs.

Despite the challenges that came with relying on the weather for business, Hooker always had plans to continue.

“The idea that mother nature has indeed given us this long string of subfreezing weather makes us feel [relief],” he said.

“We’re so glad that we rolled the dice because we wouldn’t want to be sitting at home with all this happening today.”

On Preston Street in Little Italy, restaurants are also seeing more foot traffic.

At La Favourita, reservations are coming in. Owner Nijeeb Sallal says they are fully booked for Saturday night.

“It’s a combination of both the tax free and opening, or preparing for the opening of Winterlude,” he said. “We are hoping for more traffic in the coming weeks.”

New figures from OpenTable shows the GST tax holiday created an 18 per cent increase in customer dining compared to 2023.

Marianna Vizcarra, the manager of Si Senior, agrees that evenings are busier these days.

“We have seen bigger parties and reservations from eight to 12 people,” she said.

As the skating season gets underway, there is hope the trend will continue.

“We’re very positive about the whole winter thing,” said Vizcarra. “And we’re hoping to see more people coming around.”