32nd WINTERLUDE A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

The National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased to announce that the 32nd Winterlude, Canada’s winter celebration, was a resounding success. Although no official survey was conducted this year, organizers estimate that over 600,000 visitors enjoyed the official sites over the three weekends of Winterlude, which took place from February 5 to 21, 2010.

“Winterlude offers residents and visitors from around the world a chance to enjoy a Northern experience that is typically Canadian. The NCC is proud to contribute to promoting Canada’s Capital Region across Canada and around the world,” said Jean‑François Trépanier, Executive Vice-President of Operations at the NCC, during the Ice Hogs’ farewell, Winterlude’s closing ceremony.

Winterlude 2010 highlighted the 40th season of skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway, the Olympic Winter Games and Canada’s solidarity with Haiti, through a special project with the Red Cross.

American Express® Winterlude Opening

The American Express® Winterlude Opening at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and Major’s Hill Park was a great success. More than 25,000 people attended the sports and cultural performances and watched the fantastic musical fireworks display.

The NCC is increasingly seeking federal partnerships to offer diversified cultural programming that highlights the treasures of the Capital Region’s federal institutions. The successful partnership with the Canadian Museum of Civilization demonstrated the potential of this approach.

Rideau Canal Skateway

The Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest naturally frozen ice rink, was open from the National Arts Centre to Dows Lake, during all three Winterlude weekends. The quality of the ice surface allowed events and activities to take place along the full length of the Skateway. Today marks the 23rd day of consecutive skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway and the 40th season will continue while conditions allow.

An initiative that engaged youth, Urban Art, an exhibit expressing young local artists’ vision of the Rideau Canal Skateway through graffiti, drew large crowds to the outdoor gallery at Dows Lake. These works will remain on display throughout the entire skating season.

Winterlude visitors had many opportunities to enjoy winter fun and become more acquainted with Canadian traditions during activities such as the Great Canadian Beaver Cup Pond Hockey Classic, the Annual Bedzzz Bed Race, Subway® Learn to Skate lessons, and the Portrait Gallery of Canada’s exhibition of the portraits of Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Rogers Crystal Garden at Confederation Park

Rogers Crystal Garden enchanted the thousands of visitors and those who love ice sculptures, during the three weekends of Winterlude.

The 23rd Rogers International Ice-Carving Competition, with 38 professional sculptors from 13 countries, included several competitions that took place in Confederation Park. Visitors could also take in a majestic sculpture celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy, an ice replica of HMCS Sackville, as well as the impressive six-tonne ephemeral ice sculpture of a polar bear.

Rogers Crystal Lounge was also the place to be for those who enjoy DJ music. The performance by well-known DJ Dan Desnoyers attracted a large crowd.

Sun Life Snowflake Kingdom

Sun Life Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau was a paradise for children, youth and families. Thousands of visitors slid down the 30 slides, made their way through the Olympic-themed snow maze and tried their hand at ice fishing on the Ottawa River.

The NCC, in collaboration with the Ville de Gatineau, presented the National Snow Sculpture Competition, the theme of which was “Winter Fun.” The 10 teams, representing various Canadian provinces and territories, each had the task of carving a 40-tonne block of snow. The sculpture entitled Snow Skates, created by the team from Alberta received top honours, winning both the Jury’s Award and the People’s Choice Award.

Several performances, such as “Arthur L’aventurier,” also captured the attention of visitors to Snowflake Kingdom. The screening of the Québécois film La Guerre des tuques, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, was very popular, as were the walkabouts by the Ice Hog family, Winterlude’s famous mascots.

The NCC is proud of Winterlude’s success, and of the successful skating season on the Rideau Canal Skateway. The NCC gratefully acknowledges the support and collaboration of some 700 volunteers, and its many sponsors and partners, including the City of Ottawa, the Ville de Gatineau, OC Transpo, the Société de transport de l’Outaouais, Veterans Affairs Canada, the Government of Canada, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Canadian Forces, the Conseil régional de l’environnement et du développement durable, American Express®, Rogers, Sun Life Financial and WestJet.

The NCC is inviting the public to mark their calendars for the 33rd edition of Winterlude that will take place from February 4 to 20, 2011.

For more information about the NCC, please call 613-239-5000, 613-239-5090 (TTY), 1-800-465-1867 (toll-free) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY), or visit www.canadascapital.gc.ca.

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