Decking the malls may not have made registers sing

By Michael Bassett

Some Sparks Street Mall merchants are reporting higher Christmas sales for 1998, but opinions are mixed as to whether the malls experiment with new Christmas decorations was behind the boost in business.

All eight Sparks Street Mall businesses surveyed reported sales were up this December and Peter Harris, Sparks Street Mall manager, said although management does not collect sales data from the merchants, he has been told that sales are up along the mall this year. read more

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Snow and ice fest features snow-free South American country

By Tom McLean

Welcome to the Andes – Ottawa style.

La Nina promises cold weather and ample snow for Winterlude 1999, but the international component of the festival will feature a virtually snow-free country.

Chile runs half the length of the South American Pacific coast, from Peru to the lower tip of the continent. It has a thin profile thanks to the Andes Mountains, which hug almost the entire length of the country’s right flank, but you might have to climb the peaks to catch a snowflake on your tongue. read more

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