Tourists and residents will be able to play shinny and skate a lap on Parliament Hill in December, as the government announced plans Thursday to construct a rink on the east lawn.
The heritage department announced the rink would be constructed soon and will open on Dec. 7. It will stay open until Dec. 31 this year.
Andrew Campbell, senior executive director of Canada 150, said the rink is going to have all the amenities.
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“It will be a full-sized NHL rink, there will be a viewing area for people who need universal access and there will be a viewing area for about 1,000 people.”
Campbell said it’s a great way to cap off the sesquicentennial year.
“Canadians have really wanted to come together as communities and one of the great ways Canadians come together as a community, as people from the north is a community where we all skate together.”
The government was not providing cost estimates for the project yet, but promised more details would come out in the weeks ahead
Minister Mélanie Joly said in a prepared statement it would be a great opportunity for people to come visit parliament.
“I invite everyone to come out and celebrate our amazing country in true winter style.”
The rink will be open for Canada 150 Skating Day. The rink is being constructed with help from the Ottawa International Hockey Festival and the Ottawa Senators.
The NHL had originally pitched a proposal to have an outdoor game hosted on Parliament Hill, but the government rejected that idea.
– This article originally appeared in Metro News.
