Ice and art: Winnipeg’s frozen river trail

Perhaps one of the best embodiments of Canadians' ability to embrace winter, rather than hide from it, pops up every December at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers.

WINNIPEG – Perhaps one of the best embodiments of Canadians’ ability to embrace winter, rather than hide from it, pops up every December at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers.

In a city where it’s cold enough to freeze moving waterways, crews prepare a skating trail nearly seven kilometres long on the two rivers and comb adjacent walking and cross-country ski trails.

Workers dot the ice with benches, trees and signs, as well as distinctive warming huts that combine art and function.

Temperatures may dip from 0 to -30 C, but Winnipeggers still hit the trails and take in sights from the middle of a river that can only be seen by boat in other seasons.

“It’s a totally different perspective of the city, where you’ve got the riverbanks and some green spaces. You can see animal tracks cutting across,” says Paul Simpson, who regularly skates and runs along the paths.

“It’s just so quiet … you just hear the, like, swoosh of the blade back and forth.”

With warm clothing and running shoes, Simpson also uses the river trails to commute to work in winter.

The Nestaweya river trail, in the heart of Winnipeg, is a combination of trails for skating, walking, cycling and cross-country skiing. It’s not quite as long as the Rideau Canal trail in Ottawa but is arguably more whimsical.