Whether you’re lacing up your skates to venture out on the Rideau Canal or heading out for Winterlude there’s now a free iPhone app for each, the National Capital Commission announced Wednesday.
The Rideau Canal app keeps skaters updated with the latest ice conditions and lets them know which sections of the canal are open.
Once they’re on the ice, users can find the closest snack-bar or nearest washroom.
There’s also a detailed map and a full listing of activities and services.
The Winterlude app — which can be used on all smartphones — provides listings by day and site for all Winterlude activities between February 4 and 21.
Users can create a personal calendar and share them on Facebook and Twitter.
The app also has an embedded Google map and users can “check in” to Winterlude sites to see where their friends are.
The first NCC app was produced for Canada Day 2010 and had more than 6,235 downloads and 18,406 activations for the one-day event.
The apps were developed by Ottawa-based Favequest and can be downloaded via the NCC’s Rideau Canal Skateway and Winterlude web pages or through iTunes.
-Kelly Roche
Kelly Roche - Storyteller 