Visitors may one day skate on a synthetic skating rink in Ottawa’s ByWard Market [Video]

Officials are exploring the idea of building a synthetic ice skating rink in Ottawa’s ByWard Market in a bid to enhance the area’s appeal.

The project is still in the early planning stages, with no set timeline, but officials hope to have it in place in the next two to three years. The proposed rink, measuring 90-by-20 feet, would cost between $40,000 and $50,000.

The exact location of the rink has not been decided, but the pedestrian section of William Street is being considered. This is one of the market’s busiest areas.

Rendering of what a synthetic rink could look like along the pedestrian section of William Street in Ottawa’s ByWard Market. (Joey Lavergne/CTV News Ottawa)

The synthetic rink could also be used for longer periods than the Rideau Canal Skateway, which was closed in 2023 and opened for a short period in the winter of 2024.

Along with the …