On Jan. 18, 1971, National Capital Commission chairman Douglas Fullerton had a crew clear the snow off the Rideau Canal between the Bronson Street overpass and the National Arts Centre.
In the 40 years since that first winter, the skateway has only gotten bigger, as have the events that take place on it.
With Winterlude opening Friday, activity on the skateway is about to hit a fever pitch.
The 27th annual Winterlude Triathlon takes place Saturday morning, followed by bed races in the afternoon.
New this year is the NCC’s Urban Art display, which was unveiled at Dow’s Lake yesterday.
The display, which celebrates the 40th year of the skateway, features dozens of graffiti murals created by high school students from both sides of the river.
Kamilla Riabko, a Grade 11 student at Brookfield High School, created a piece with classmates Jenica Shivkumar and Kimberlie Parisien.
The painting depicts a silhouette of an Olympic torchbearer skating under the Corktown Bridge.
Riabko said she liked that tens of thousands of skaters will see the mural.
“It’s pretty cool,” she said. “It’s a very nice idea to get youth involved and actually doing our part for the city.”
