Ottawa tourism operators are bracing for a winter that may look very different from the ones locals are used to, after a forecast pointed to unusually mild conditions across the National Capital Region.
A forecast that has operators worried
The Weather Network's winter forecast points to a potentially historic El Nino pattern for the region this year. For a city whose winter tourism economy leans heavily on snow and ice, that forecast is already changing how local businesses plan for the season ahead.
The NCC's idea for the Skateway
At the National Capital Commission, the concern is focused squarely on the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world-famous ice rink that draws skaters and tourists downtown every winter. NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum said the organization is exploring a striking option to protect at least part of the experience from warm weather: artificially refrigerating a kilometre-long stretch of the canal. "We have this crazy idea of what would it take to refrigerate a kilometre section of the Rideau Canal Skateway so you can go from the NAC to the Somerset Bridge," Nussbaum said. The idea would guarantee skaters a reliable route between the National Arts Centre and the Somerset Bridge even in a winter that doesn't cooperate.
A tour company cuts dog sledding
Not every business is finding a workaround. Brandon Bolduc, owner and operator of Aventure Outaouais, said his company has decided to drop dog sledding entirely this season because of worries about winter conditions. "This year we're actually no longer offering dog sledding because of the worries for winter," Bolduc said. The decision isn't a small one financially: Bolduc estimates the move will cost the business roughly $100,000 in lost revenue. "It's $100,000 or so in revenue that we're going to be losing out on," he said.
Ottawa Tourism's approach: spread the risk
Rather than betting everything on snow, Ottawa Tourism is trying to make the city's visitor economy less dependent on any single season. Jerome Miousse, the organization's director of public affairs, said the focus is on building resilience year-round. "Our focus is generally on strengthening the resilience of our visitor economy and you do that by ensuring that there are compelling reasons to visit in every single season," Miousse said.
That philosophy is already showing up in how the city's biggest winter event is run. Winterlude organizer Canadian Heritage has expanded its offerings to reduce reliance on snow and ice, keeping the festival relevant even in years when the weather doesn't deliver a classic Ottawa winter.
A new option that doesn't need snow at all
One project moving ahead regardless of what winter brings is Saunoa, a floating sauna and cold plunge facility at NCC River House. The NCC has confirmed Saunoa will open next month and operate year-round, giving the city a cold-weather draw that has nothing to do with snowfall totals.
What led here
This isn't the first sign that Ottawa's winter could be unusual this year. Earlier this month, forecasters flagged a developing El Nino pattern pointing to warmer-than-normal temperatures across parts of Canada, though they cautioned that doesn't rule out the occasional snowstorm or cold snap (ottown's earlier report).
Sources: Ottawa Business Journal
