It's official: Despite unseasonable warmth, Winnipeg's river trail is now open

Skaters rejoiced as an ice resurfacer cut the red ribbon to officially open the riverskating trail in Winnipeg Tuesday.

People startedskating on the river at The Forksaround New Year's Eve,but the trailwhich is formally called the Centennial River Trail, in honour of the Winnipeg Foundation's 100th anniversary this year had its official grand opening Tuesday. Paul Jordan, CEO of The Forks, says the trail will continue to grow as colder weather permits.

The river trail didn't open at all last winter because of frazil iceaslushie-like mixtureof crystals that can quickly grow as they clingto other objects in the water such as logs, branches andlarger blocks of ice.

This year, the challenge was unseasonably warm temperatures, said Jordan.

"It never got cold," he said."It's really hard to make ice when water doesn't freeze. But we were able to get it in," he said.

"It has been a challenging year, but cold weather is here next week. We're going to expand the trail and all that kind of stuff,so there's lots more coming."

Currently, the trail which includes a path for skating and another for walking, running or bikingstretches about five kilometres on the Assiniboine River, from The Forks to the Hugo Street docks, said Jordan, withaccess points at The Forks, Donald Street and the Hugo docks. Current trail conditions can be found online.

How much further it will growdepends on the weather, but if possible, the trail will expand to the Red River as well, Jordan said.

The trail's length and size should help people spreadout to respect physical distancing, but Jordan says skaters have to hold themselves accountable to those restrictions.

Avid skater James Torrance was glad to see the river trail open up again, especially since it allows the public to get outside during the pandemic.

"I'm here pretty well every morning," he said."I've been through 30-belows in the years. I've been through oneor twodegrees. But as long as you bundle up, you can go anytime you want, basically."

Torrance said he tries to get out to The Forks year-round.

"I just like the skating. I like the activity. I love The Forks it is my favourite location, whether it's cycling in the summer or skating in the winter."

Nancy Frost and Glenna Erickson both visited The Forksfor Tuesday morning'sopening ceremony. They were also both happy to see the trail back for people to enjoy.

"You can just got out and walk for miles, or you can skate or you can ski. You can do any of those things so it appeals to all populations," said Erickson."It's really great. I really appreciate it."

WATCH |A Winnipeg winter tradition officially opens:

A Winnipeg winter tradition officially opens

4 years ago

Duration 1:55

Winnipeggers love to skate and it was a beautiful day for it. The Winnipeg Foundation and The Forks officially opened the Centennial River Trail for this season today.