Ottawa's Rideau Canal Skating to work, Beavertails and hot chocolate, Winterlude. Each winter, a million residents and tourists enjoy the World's longest maintained skating rink through Canada's capital Ottawa. In 1970, Douglas Fullerton, National Capital Commission Chairman envisioned clearing a three-mile portion of the Rideau Canal through Ottawa for a large public skating rink. Today, many social and community activities including Winterlude, Ottawa's great winter festival, center on the Rideau Canal Skateway.