Chilly skaters on the Rideau Canal will no longer be able to enjoy a free concert along with their beavertail and hot chocolate during Winterlude this year.
The National Capital Commission is removing the Snowbowl, a five-year-old free outdoor concert series, from their winter event lineup.
NCC spokeswoman Denise LeBlanc said this cut was motivated by concerns for the environment. This is one of many future steps for the NCC, as it works toward carrying out their environmental strategy.
The Snowbowl stage is erected on the ice each year at the start of the Rideau Canal skating rink, in the shadow of the National Arts Centre.
Heating the massive stage sitting on the frozen canal was causing too much damage to the environment, according to LeBlanc.
The NCC is reevaluating Winterlude events in an effort to reach a two-year goal of a carbon-neutral Winterlude.
The $400,000 cost of the Snowbowl will be redistributed to other Winterlude programming.
The NCC will release more details of this year’s Winterlude schedule on Jan. 19.
The 32nd edition of Winterlude will run from Feb. 5-21 this year.