PlacesNews

Saunoa Plans an Ottawa River Sauna and November Toronto Opening

Sauna culture and community

Published: Oct 7, 2026
Reading time: 2 min

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Saunoa plans 90-minute waterfront sessions, with a river plunge in Ottawa this fall and a deck tub in Toronto from November.

Black-clad floating sauna and rectangular plunge tub moored beside Toronto’s harbourfront — Fig. 01Saunoa’s Toronto floating sauna has a plunge tub on the deck.Photo: Saunoa.

In this story2 sections

01Ottawa: sauna beside the River House
02Toronto: a harbourfront sauna and deck plunge

A river plunge beside an Ottawa heritage boathouse. A deck tub with the CN Tower behind it in Toronto. Saunoa’s two floating sauna locations put 90-minute heat-and-cold sessions on distinctly different city waterfronts.

The operator announces Ottawa for fall 2026 and Toronto for November. Exact opening days have not been announced.

Ottawa: sauna beside the River House

The Ottawa location sits beside the NCC River House at 501 Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway. Saunoa’s plans include an enclosed river plunge, open-water access, on-site changing rooms and access to the River House.

The century-old boathouse has been restored for year-round public use, with food and beverage amenities and changing facilities. Its public summer swimming season has a separate schedule; Saunoa has yet to detail winter river access.

The NCC River House beside the frozen Ottawa River, seen from its shore access path — The NCC River House in winter. Saunoa’s floating sauna is planned beside the heritage building. Image: Saunoa.

Toronto: a harbourfront sauna and deck plunge

At 275 Queen’s Quay West, the Toronto sauna pairs its hot room with a plunge tub on the deck, changing rooms and cold showers. The operator is collecting names for a Toronto waitlist through its website.

Bathers in a floating sauna and on its deck beside a plunge tub, with Toronto's CN Tower behind it — The CN Tower rises behind Saunoa’s Toronto sauna and deck plunge. Photo: Saunoa.

Both locations follow the same bathing rhythm: time in the heat, water on the stones, cooling and rest, repeated within a 90-minute visit. The name comes from the Finnish verb saunoa, meaning to sauna.