At 25 days, the 2017 skating season on the Rideau Canal Skateway was a week longer than the shortest season on record -- which was last year. But with continued warm temperatures, it was no surprise today when the National Capital Commission declared the season at an end.

But before we say goodbye to the skating season on the Rideau Canal Skateway, I want to give a big thank you to the NCC crews who worked through the night to groom the ice and get it ready for skaters the next day.

They cleared the ice with shovels and brushes.

Skating at night, it was useful to follow the crews -- the ice was well lit and cleared so you could avoid cracks and holes.

The crews shoveled the snow out from the signage, and drilled holes through the ice to pump up water for flooding.

They flooded the ice with a zamboni with specially designed "wings" that spread the water out over a wide surface -- the albatross of the zamboni world.

It was all part of the fun of skating the Rideau Canal at night.

Thanks, NCC, for another wonderful skating season.