Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival cancelled for 2025

A carved dragon head on the front of a parked dragon boat is seen as competitors race at the Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival on the Rideau Canal Skateway during the Winterlude Festival in Ottawa on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (Justin Tang/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival on the Rideau Canal Skateway has been cancelled again this winter.

The decision follows four consecutive years of cancellations because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022 and insufficient ice conditions on the canal in 2023 and 2024.

"We are deeply disappointed to make this decision," said John Brooman, the festival's CEO, in an online announcement.

"The Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival has always celebrated winter, community spirit, and cultural connection. However, the safety and viability of the event must come first."

According to the announcement made online, the ongoing challenges related to climate conditions means the required ice thickness cannot be guaranteed for 2025.

"We get teams from all over the world that can't do ice racing in dragon boats," said chair Warren Creates.

"This year, it doesn't look good because Winterlude events have been scaled back, but we hope in future years to be able to plan one for sure."

The event is the world's largest ice dragon boat event, organizers say.

Preparations on the ice to open the skateway began this week, with frigid temperatures reaching -20 C overnight.

The skateway was only open for ten skating days for the 2023-2024 season and didn't open at all the year prior.