Skating the Rideau Canal in a Heavy Snowstorm.
Growing up in Canada, skating was as natural to me as walking. Whether it was on freshly flooded rinks, frozen ponds, or even the occasional stretch of river behind my house, I always found joy in carving lines into the ice. But nothing could have prepared me for the sheer endlessness of the Rideau Canal. As I laced up my skates on the edge of this legendary skateway, Ottawa lay buried under 80 cm of freshly fallen snow, a gift from back-to-back winter storms.
The streets were hushed, muffled by towering snowbanks, but here on the ice, life carried on—gliding, spinning, laughing. The winter I had always known, the one I had learned to love through years of travel and experience, had never felt more alive than it did in that moment.
After a few loops, I step off the ice and head toward the ByWard Market, where warm lights glow against the frost-covered streets. Festive wreaths, twinkling garlands, and cozy cafés invite me in. The scent of hot chocolate and wood-fired treats drifts through the air, completing the perfect winter day in Ottawa.
Stepping onto Spark Street, I’m immediately surrounded by the magic of Winterlude—twinkling lights, intricate ice sculptures, and the laughter of families bundled up against the cold. The air is crisp, the snowfall thick, blanketing the city in a hushed, wintry embrace.
As I stepped off the ice and back into the snow-covered streets of Ottawa, I couldn’t help but take one last look at the canal, now glowing under the soft shimmer of streetlights. My legs ached from hours of skating, my face was flushed from the cold, but my heart was full.
This experience had been more than just gliding across frozen water—it was a connection to Canada’s winter spirit, a celebration of resilience, and a reminder of why I have come to cherish the unique beauty of our seasons. No matter where my travels take me, I know that few things will ever compare to the feeling of skating endlessly through the heart of winter, surrounded by snow, history, and a city that embraces the cold like no other.
NOMAD SKETCHBOOK 