THE ICE HOG FAMILY HAS ARRIVED IN CANADA’S CAPITAL REGION — WINTERLUDE IS FAST APPROACHING!

December 21, 2009 · Filed Under Festival News, News

The National Capital Commission (NCC) today welcomed the Ice Hog family, Winterlude’s official mascots, to Jacques-Cartier Park. Papa and Mama Ice Hog made an eye-catching entrance on snowshoes, followed by Nouma and Noumi on cross-country skis. The Ice Hogs were accompanied by youth from the Eastern Ontario and Outaouais Scouts.Each winter, the Ice Hogs travel from Canada’s Far North to the Capital Region, to meet the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to participate in one of Canada’s greatest winter celebrations. The 32nd edition of Winterlude will take place from February 5 to 21, 2010.

Between now and the beginning of Winterlude, the Ice Hog family will settle into the region and get down to work helping with the programming for Winterlude 2010.

Official Sites
The NCC is also taking this opportunity to announce that Winterlude will be taking place at three official sites: the Rideau Canal Skateway and Confederation Park (Rogers Crystal Garden) in Ottawa, and Jacques-Cartier Park (Sun Life Snowflake Kingdom) in Gatineau. Other sites will also be used to hold special events.

Program of Activities
In January, the NCC will unveil the official program for the 32nd Winterlude and the 40th season of skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway. In the meantime, the NCC team will be busy putting the final touches on the program, which will highlight what makes the Canadian winter a fun and enriching experience: the outdoors, skating, sliding, snow and ice sculptures, and more.

Many of the changes to the 2010 edition of Winterlude will be motivated by our determination to embrace environmentally sound practices, and to transition toward a carbon-neutral Winterlude in 2012. In 2010, the NCC will measure the carbon footprint of events held on official Winterlude sites.

In this context of renewal and in keeping with the NCC’s environmental strategy, Snowbowl will be replaced by other programming elements. These will reflect the preference of visitors and participants to Winterlude for activities that are outdoor, family-oriented and participatory.

Winterlude is celebrating its 32nd anniversary from February 5 to 21, 2010. The success and longevity of Canada’s winter celebration are the direct result of the NCC’s efforts to ensure that programs and activities meet the expectations of both residents and visitors in Canada’s Capital Region.

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

Tags: Canada's Capital Region, Confederation Park, National Capital Commission, NCC, Ottawa Festivals, Ottawa Festivals Event Calendar, Rideau Canal Skateway, winter activities, winter festival, winterlude