By Jessica Maguire
Put on your hats, mittens and scarves because Winterlude 2003 is just around the corner and is about to make the best of what winter has to offer.
Winterlude celebrates its silver anniversary this year with new sites and entertaining activities ranging from snow sculptures to snow slides to stew cook-offs.
“Canada’s Capital Region celebrates this year as the 25th anniversary of Winterlude, so it’s going to be really special,” says Martine Bélanger, National Capital Commission spokeswoman.
“Major’s Hill will be, for the first time, a Winterlude site,” Bélanger says. It will host the opening ceremonies and a special show in celebration of the anniversary on Jan. 31.
Winterlude started in 1979 to honour Canada’s northern climate and culture. In those days, it was a small local event that only took place on the canal.
Since it began, Winterlude has undergone a few changes.
“With the climate changing we can’t always depend on the weather . . . so we need to move the activities to other sites if the canal is not in pristine condition,” Bélanger says.
During the three-week festival, activities will be scattered around downtown Ottawa and Gatineau.
Bélanger says a main attraction this year is the Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau. She says this giant snow playground with some 30 slides is the place to be for children and the “young at heart.”
Another highlight is the Casino du Lac-Leamy Crystal Garden in Confederation Park, which will hold ice carving events every weekend. Sculptures will be lit for nighttime viewing.
The RBC Fantasy on Ice, which will be held on the canal at Fifth Avenue, will feature young Canadian figure skaters.
Although last year’s warm weather delayed the festival, organizers are optimistic about the canal conditions this year.
“We’re hoping for cold overnight temperatures to flood the canal to provide better skating conditions,” Bélanger says.
Despite the freezing weather so far, the City of Ottawa has taken precautions for this year’s snow sculpture competition.
“We’ve moved the snow sculptures from Dow’s Lake to the Festival Plaza in front of City Hall,” says Aldo Chiappa, special events advisor for the City of Ottawa. “We can’t rely on the weather.”
The sculptures located at Dow’s Lake last year were boosted onto the banks of the canal because organizers were afraid the ice couldn’t support them.
For those who don’t care for winter sports and prefer the heat, restaurants and bars in the ByWard Market are hosting a Mardi Gras festival from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3.
A stew cook-off will take place at noon on Jan. 31 outside the south end of the ByWard Market Building.
Pubs and clubs are also participating in the Mardi Gras festival. On Tap is holding a Saints and Sinners theme night on Jan. 29, Suite 34 on Clarence a masquerade ball on Jan. 30, Pub en Ville a cajun evening and Bistro 115 a Sunday brunch on Feb. 2.
Lara Dubois, special events coordinator for the ByWard Market, says the event was “successful last year . . . we’re trying to get all kinds of merchants throughout the market and more people involved this year,” she adds.
Winterlude runs from Jan. 31 to Feb. 16.