Winterlude 2016 plans unveiled in Ottawa amid warm spell
Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly 'convinced there is going to be a winter' despite mild weather
The 38th edition of Winterlude — the national capital's annual celebration of all things cold and icy — is on the way, and organizers are working hard to drum up excitement despite the current warm spell.
Mélanie Joly, minister of Canadian heritage, unveiled the official program today, as the temperature in Ottawa climbed into the double digits — well above the normal high of –3 C.
"I am convinced there is going to be a winter," Joly joked, then challenged Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson to lace up his skates.
Watson informed Joly that winter sports aren't exactly his forte, and that in skates he resembles a certain Disney character.
Winterlude attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and is a major source of tourism for the city, Watson said.
Curling, snow carving and a dance
The festival's mainstays are back: skating on the frozen Rideau Canal, sliding down ice chutes in Jacques Cartier Park and strolling among the crystalline sculptures in Confederation Park. But this year's activities will also centre around the Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall, Lansdowne Park and the Shenkman Arts Centre.
Other activities include:
- Curling lessons.
- Community snow carving competitions.
- A huge dance held at Lansdowne Park's Aberdeen Pavilion.
In Confederation Park, the National Research Council of Canada will construct a giant sculpture made from 100 blocks of ice to mark the organization's centenary.
The three-week event kicks off on Jan. 29, 2016.