Winterlude will complete its transformation from local winter festival to national celebration this year.
Last year’s federal budget transferred responsibility for hosting the festival from the National Capital Commission, which has been in charge of Winterlude since its creation in 1979, to the department of Canadian Heritage. The entire “capital experience” branch of the NCC, which was charged with planning and running Winterlude among other responsibilities, was transferred to the federal government department.
On Dec. 16, the federal department released its program of activities for this year’s edition of the annual mid-winter festival. While Winterlude classics like ice carving and snow sculptures will stay, they will feel the impact of a stronger focus on shared Canadian heritage that will dominate the festival in 2014.
Winterlude 2014 will mark the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences, for example.
Veterans Affairs officials will light an ice sculpture in Confederation Park to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.
Canadian sports enthusiasts can celebrate the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics or 50 years of ringette in Canada with activities in Jacques Cartier Park.
According to the department, the goal of the festival is no different from years past.
“The objectives are what they’ve always been for the past dozen or so years. We’ve been recognizing and celebrating Canadian milestones at Winterlude and that continues this year,” says Denise Leblanc, Winterlude spokeswoman for the heritage department.
The department’s mandate is to “work together to promote culture, the arts, heritage, official languages, citizenship and participation as well as Aboriginal, youth and sport initiatives,” according to the department's website.
With features including series of art exhibits in Confederation Park, an Aboriginal village, a kid’s zone and winter-sport workshops in Jacques Cartier Park, Winterlude fits well within the Canadian Heritage mandate, says Leblanc.
Winterlude is inherently important to Canadians and their heritage, she says.
“Winterlude celebrates the essence of being Canadian in winter. It’s not even just about surviving the outdoors and making it through winter, but it’s about gathering people together, gathering your community together, getting out there and spending time in the great outdoors,” says Leblanc.
The department of Canadian Heritage is not alone in planning and putting on the festival.
Despite losing its responsibility for Winterlude, the NCC remains involved in the festival in a number of ways.
“The National Capital Commission is a partner for Winterlude,” says Emily Keogh, communications officer at the NCC.
The NCC still provides the three official sites for Winterlude activities, which are the Rideau Canal Skateway, Confederation Park and Jacques Cartier Park.
“It is our job to ensure these spaces are prepped and maintained before, during and after Winterlude,” says Keogh.
The NCC is also running a number of Winterlude activities, according to Keogh.
The NCC is only one of more than 90 Winterlude partners, according to Leblanc.
She says this is the highest number of partners in the history of the festival.
These include other federal government departments, the City of Gatineau, the City of Ottawa, foreign embassies and local businesses.
Winterlude 2014 activities will take place across the national capital region from Jan. 31 to Feb. 17.