A sad day for Ottawa skaters...

According to CBC, Rideau Canal skating season ends.

"Heavy snowfall, rain, and above-seasonal temperatures over the past few days have forced the National Capital Commission to end the Rideau Canal skating season.

This season, which began Jan. 14, was the 40th skating season for the world's largest outdoor ice rink.

Thousands of skaters enjoyed "a beautiful stretch of 24 consecutive days with near ideal skating conditions on most of the Skateway," the NCC said on its website Friday afternoon.

The commission said the recent weather had made the ice unstable and advised skaters and pedestrians to respect the barricades and avoid the ice."

Courtesy of: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/02/27/ottawa-rideau.html