Now, it's estimated that one million people skate here each winter. John Taylor is a history professor at Carleton University. They use it for commuting. And you see kids in the hallways with skates slung over their shoulders. Now, a whole generation has grown up with the canal.
Kids hang out there after school.
And couples go there on a first date. They even feel safe leaving their boots and backpacks under public benches. Skater Ken Bruff says the canal is a reflection of the way Canadians approach winter. If you squirrel away through the winter, it really becomes unbearable. In any given winter, there are weddings and hockey games and picnics on the Rideau Canal.