Skating at Rideau Hall
Skating has been a winter tradition at the Ottawa residence of the Governor General of Canada [GG], the Queen's vice-regal representative, since the 19th Century, dating to the time of Lord Dufferin who was GG from 1872 to 1878.
https://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15123
And it is
accessible to the public. If you are travelling to Ottawa in the winter, you can reserve your group ahead and get tickets [one time per season]. There is also open public skating sessions Saturdays and Sundays...
http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15335
In acknowledgement of that history, as part of the year of celebration of 150 years since Canada was formed in Confederation, a Winter Pavilion has been opened at Rideau Hall [from a renovated former dairy] and the long standing natural ice rink is has been replaced with an outdoor rink with refrigeration that will extend the season, and ensure a skate-able surface through the ups and downs of temperature.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/winter-pavilion-rideau-hall-1.3956975
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/new-winter-pavilion-stars-at-ggs-seasonal-party
https://www.gg.ca/event.aspx?id=1454
Some of Canada's earliest figure skating events were hosted by the GG, and one of Canada's oldest clubs, the Minto Skating Club, was established by the then GG the Earl of Minto and retains heraldry with his coronet.
https://www.gg.ca/event.aspx?id=108
So, as much as many of you were exasperated to have the GG drop in during nationals last week [mainly because there was no live stream and it added a further delay to CTV's broadcast], I'd argue it's important to acknowledge the important role that GGs have played in fostering the ice skating in Canada.....
Personally, I think it's great that the current GG is a figure skating fan, and enjoy having skating in the limelight given the profound attention we see usually devoted to hockey culture.