City wins winter light competition

Winnipeg has always been the self-proclaimed Christmas capital of Canada. Now, the city has been recognized in a winter lights competition.

In awards handed out over the weekend, the Winter Lights committee called Winnipeg a "beacon of light and activity in the Prairies," and "a city which takes winter seriously by embracing the snow, ice and cold."

Winnipeg won in the category of cities with populations of 150,000 or larger, beating Toronto and Ottawa for the title. Judging in the contest was based on visual presentation and community involvement.

The committee lauded the city for celebrating its heritage in areas such as the Forks, Festival du Voyageur and the Fort Whyte Centre.

Winnipeg wasn't the only Manitoba community to win a Winter Lights award on the weekend: Portage la Prairie also won in the category for cities of its size.

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