By Fatima Baalbaki
It’s the first winter after the Rideau Canal was officially crowned the world’s largest skating rink and Winterlude organizers are hoping the weather will let revellers celebrate.
Last August, Guinness World Records proclaimed Ottawa’s 7.8-kilometre skateway the world’s largest naturally frozen ice rink — a title Winterlude organizers hope will attract skaters to the festival.
“We certainly hope this news will attract more visitors to the canal,” says Chantal Comeau, of the National Capital Commission.
That is, if the canal, along with Winterlude’s ice and snow sculptures, doesn’t turn into slush.
Winterlude makes its debut on Feb. 3 and will continue for three weekends until Feb. 19.
In past years, warm weather has kept skaters off the ice, spoiling canal activities like the famous Bedzzz Race and the Winterlude Triathlon.
Last year, the canal closed for a few days after Winterlude’s first weekend. Although this didn’t affect any events, it did force many mid-week skaters to keep away.
In 2001, warm temperatures even melted the festival’s ice sculptures.
Mariam Zihri says she clearly remembers that Winterlude because a classmate brought a fish sculpture to class that had melted off its display. At the time, Zihri was a Grade 10 student at Lisgar Collegiate.
She says she also remembers the condition of the canal on some days. “It was all mushy,” she says. “Your skates would get stuck in the ice. You’d fall so much because it was so bumpy.”
Comeau says warm weather in February is something Winterlude organizers have come to expect.
“We’ve become quite used to adjusting to the weather conditions,” she says. “We make sure to include plenty of non-weather-dependent activities.”
The newest feature of this year’s festival is Snowbowl, which was put up last Winterlude as a pilot project. Built right on the canal, the $415,000 amphitheatre will host free weekend shows regardless of ice conditions.
This year, the four-time Guinness World Record holder for fastest ice carver will perform chainsaw carving demonstrations on the mega stage.
The line-up for this year’s Snowbowl musical performers include rock band Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, Québec’s Mes Aïeux band, R&B star Jully Black and hip-hop artist K’naan.
Also for the second year in a row, the NCC will build a lounge at Confederation Park, complete with walls, chairs and tables, all made of ice.
A sun-repelling tent will enable the Crystal Lounge to host a variety of weather-independent activities, including flair bartending demonstration, sushi workshops and cooking demonstrations that use fire and ice.
A spoiler for ice skaters, warm weather could benefit Canada’s capital. Jantine Van Kregten of the Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority says warm weather may end up benefiting Ottawa’s economy.
“Bad weather might boost spending around the city, because some people might decide to visit a museum or go shopping (if the canal is closed),” she says.
Kregten says she’s hopeful that at least two of Winterlude’s three weekends will be cold enough for the canal to be open.
Ikuo Kanbayashi, the president of the Canadian Ice Carvers’ Society, is hoping for low temperatures to keep his ice sculptures solid.
He has been carving for Winterlude since 1984 and says he’s always sorry to see his work melt.
“We’ve been disappointed, but it’s Mother Nature,” he says with a laugh. “What can you do?”
Last year, Kanbayashi and three other sculptors worked for four days to create a giant spaceship, which used one hundred blocks of ice. The year before, the team sculpted a dragon whose mouth was periodically lit on fire for crowds of spectators.
As for this year’s sculpture?
“It’s a surprise,” Kanbayashi says. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
That is, if the ice lasts long enough for you to get there.