You can almost hear the lyrics from Joni Mitchell’s ”River” … ”I wish I had a river I could skate on …” as there will be no lacing them up on Ottawa’s Rideau Canal anytime soon.

The National Capital Commission, that manages the renowned world’s largest skating rink, says it’s reassessing conditions of the ice, now that it’s been cold the last week, but the NCC has not yet announced an opening date.

Environment Canada says it’ll be between -9 C and -13 C during the day Saturday and Sunday. before warming up to just below freezing next week.

The canal was not open to skating last winter for the first time in its history.

The canal needs at least 30-cms of ice for the skateway to open, which requires 10 to 14-days of temperatures between -10 C and -20 C.