Following a successful opening over the weekend, the National Capital Commission (NCC) opened a further 7.4km of the canal from 8am on January 14.

“Our crews are clearing snow from the ice following the recent snowfall and will continue to prepare new sections for skating as soon as the ice is safe,” said NCC spokesperson Mariam El-Akhrass.

A 4km section was opened over the weekend, and the cold weather has made an additional 3.4km section available from Bank Street to Library, including Dawes Lake.

The NCC is working with Carleton University to adapt the rink to the changing climate. “We used the cold weather before the holidays to strengthen the ice, and it has paid off,” said El-Akhrass.

The canal attracted 20,000 visitors on opening day and more than 85,000 over the weekend, more than half the number of visitors from last year’s 10-day season.

The National Capital Commission (NCC) noted that their team's efforts improved the ice conditions from "fair" to "good."

The rink, one of Ottawa's winter icons, faces threats from climate change. The average skating season is about 50 days, but warm winters make it difficult to maintain the required 30 cm (12 in) of ice.

The 2022-23 canal did not open for the first time in 54 years, and the 2021-22 season lasted just 10 days.