Why you can't skate on the North Saskatchewan like other Canadian rivers
Edmonton, as a winter city, knows how to embrace the season. With festivals like Flying Canoë Volant, Silver Skate, and Deep Freeze, and world-class winter sports and activities within driving distance, we thrive in the snow and ice.
Which got us wondering: if cities like Winnipeg and Ottawa have the Nestaweya River Trail and the Rideau Canal, why can’t we skate on the North Saskatchewan River? It’s certainly cold enough, and a glide from Hawrelak Park to the Walterdale Bridge would be so picturesque. Joni Mitchell once sang about wishing she could skate away on a river, and it’s hard not to want the same here.
Well, according to the City of Edmonton, the North Saskatchewan River is extremely unsafe in winter. Skating or walking on the North Saskatchewan River is prohibited, and doing so can result in a $500 fine. Unlike some other Canadian waterways, the river does not freeze reliably.
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“While the river may appear solid, the water beneath remains in constant motion, creating thin, unpredictable ice and unstable banks. These deceptive conditions pose a severe rescue risk to both people and pets,” explained Yetunde Adebiyi, senior communications advisor with the City of Edmonton.
The North Saskatchewan River is known for fast underwater currents, strong undertows and hidden hazards such as debris, floating trees and muddy shorelines, all of which make it especially dangerous in winter.
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The City urges residents to practise ice safety by keeping pets away from all bodies of water and ice and keeping them on a leash. If you see someone or a pet fall through ice, call 911 immediately. Do not attempt a rescue, because doing so could create a second victim.
In the past five years, EFRS has responded to an average of 111 river-rescue calls per year.
“Regardless of the season, the ice on the North Saskatchewan River is never safe.”
For those still hoping to lace up their skates, the City offers regularly monitored and maintained skating locations that are free and safe for public use, or you can check out our roundup of places to skate in the Edmonton area.
While a river skating trail may be out of the question, the City once floated the idea of an 11-kilometre artificial “Freezeway,” a skating route that would have allowed residents to skate to work. The idea, however, never came to fruition.