Cue the gondolas for summer fun next year
NCC puts out calls for ideas to ‘animate’ Rideau Canal
Chloé Fedio, Ottawa Citizen
Imagine gondola rides on the Rideau Canal and fire-juggling acrobats in the surrounding green space.
These ideas could become a reality, after the National Capital Commission put out an open call for pilot projects to “animate” the canal as early as June 2012.
The request for submissions is intentionally vague, said Marie Lemay, chief executive officer of the NCC.
“We thought it would be interesting to let the creative minds in the capital region really tell us what type of project would be great to animate,” Lemay said. “We’re testing a different approach on this. Why don’t we let the market tell us where the activities should take place and what kind of activities should take place.”
Proposals must include details on the concept, a financial model and can have a timeline of up to three years. The NCC will not fund projects but will offer use of the canal and its shoreline, from Rideau Street all the way to, but not including, Dow’s Lake.
WINTERLUDE PROMISES A SECOND WEEKEND OF EXCITING ACTIVITIES
Line-up includes: Yukon Celebrations, Giant Human Foosball, Great Canadian Beaver Cup Pond Hockey Championship a Sub-Zero DJ Series, and Roxy Paine at the National Gallery of Canada
The National Capital Commission (NCC) wishes to remind residents and visitors that the second weekend of the 33rd edition of Winterlude, Canada’s winter celebration, promises to be an exciting one. Winterlude continues in the Capital Region until February 21, 2011.
Here is a sampling of some of the activities taking place during the second weekend of Winterlude:
NCC WILL OPEN ANOTHER SECTION OF THE RIDEAU CANAL SKATEWAY TOMORROW
The National Capital Commission (NCC) announces that as of tomorrow, January 13 at 8 am, 5.8 kilometres of the Rideau Canal Skateway, between the Pretoria Bridge and Dows Lake, will be open. Skaters will be able to access the Skateway by using all the entrances along the opened section.
On January 8, 2011, the NCC opened 2.4 kilometres of ice between Pretoria Bridge and Bank Street Bridge.
The NCC is working to open the remaining sections of the world’s largest skating rink as soon as ice conditions are safe and weather permits. Pedestrians and skaters are asked not to venture onto the closed section of the Skateway where ice is considered unsafe.
Managed by the NCC, the 7.8-kilometre Rideau Canal Skateway receives, on average, one million visits each year. The world-famous ice surface becomes one of the official sites for Canada’s winter celebration, Winterlude, which will take place from February 4th to 21st, 2011.
For more information about the Rideau Canal Skateway, 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/skateway. Throughout the season, recorded information about skating conditions can be obtained by calling 613-239-5234.
Here’s your guide to some holiday fun
By Citizen files from Tony Spears, Kristy Nease, Katie Stewart and Bruce Deachman, The Ottawa Citizen
Our traditional observance of Victoria Day (the Queen’s official birthday) has given Canadians the perfect spot on the calendar to unofficially kick off summer. Bedding plants go in the frost-free ground. Cottages are opened and the patio furniture is hosed down. If you need a break from all that work, there’s plenty to do in the capital. The fabulous new incarnation of the Museum of Nature opens, with a packed schedule of special events. It’s also the final weekend to enjoy the Tulip Festival as it wraps up with a Prince Edward Island kitchen party. Another sure sign of the May long weekend is the launch of Sunday Bikedays, when the barriers go up to keep four-wheeled vehicles off the parkways, at least for a few hours.
Read more on the Ottawa Citizen website: Here’s your guide to some holiday fun
It’s festival season in the capital
TRACEY TONG, METRO OTTAWA
Ottawa is widely known as the city of festivals.
For residents looking for something to do on weekends without having to leave the city, the lineup doesn’t disappoint.
Read the full article on the Metro website to see a run down of a few of the many, many events that will be happening over the course of the next few months: It’s festival season in the capital
Sunny, warm weather could bring early burst of tulips
Tony Lofaro, The Ottawa Citizen
Photograph by: Bryanna Bradley, The Ottawa Citizen
If the mild weather continues, the city could soon witness a dazzling tulip display.
The appearance of tulips almost a month before the annual festival is not necessarily a problem, he added. The Canadian Tulip Festival runs from May 7 to 24. Fournier said the NCC plants about 700,000 tulip bulbs. Of those, 20 per cent — about 140,000 — are early-blooming. They generally pop up at the end of April.
The remaining 560,000 tulips are normal and late-blooming varieties, designed to be on display for the duration of the festival. Fournier said said cool weather is better for the for the festival’s schedule. “The weather is very important at this time, but we have no control over that.”
Full article on the Ottawa Citizen website: Sunny, warm weather could bring early burst of tulips
32ND WINTERLUDE A RESOUNDING SUCCESS: Winter Fun Brings Out The Crowds
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.
Final weekend of Winterlude
The National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased to invite residents and visitors to take part in the third and final weekend of the 32nd edition of Winterlude.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased to invite residents and visitors to take part in the third and final weekend of the 32nd edition of Winterlude, Canada’s winter celebration, which kicked-off on February 5 and ends on February 21. Here is an overview of some of the activities taking place during the final weekend of Winterlude.
The NCC is proud to celebrate the Olympics during the 32nd edition of Winterlude. On Sunday, The NCC, in collaboration with the Ottawa Pacers and Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Clubs, will stage speed skating demonstrations on an Olympic-size skating oval on the Rideau Canal Skateway at Dows Lake. The event gets underway at 2 pm with demonstrations of individual and pursuit skating, followed by a battle of the blades between Ottawa Senators Alumni and local competitive speed skaters. From 3 pm to 4 pm there will be public skating on the oval, with speed skates and gloves available for use from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. A radar system will be set up to record skaters’ speeds. Beginning at 5 pm, residents and visitors will be able to view live coverage from Vancouver of the 1500 metre Olympic speed skating competition on a giant screen. The competition features the Capital’s own Kristina Groves.
Again this weekend, residents and visitors will be able to learn about Canadian northern traditions, and be entertained at three official sites in Canada’s Capital Region.
To read the full press release, click here.
NCC SET FOR A FINAL WEEKEND OF ENTICING WINTERLUDE ACTIVITIES
The National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased to invite residents and visitors to take part in the third and final weekend of the 32nd edition of Winterlude, Canada’s winter celebration, which kicked-off on February 5 and ends on February 21. Here is an overview of some of the activities taking place during the final weekend of Winterlude.
The NCC is proud to celebrate the Olympics during the 32nd edition of Winterlude. On Sunday, The NCC, in collaboration with the Ottawa Pacers and Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Clubs, will stage speed skating demonstrations on an Olympic-size skating oval on the Rideau Canal Skateway at Dows Lake. The event gets underway at 2 pm with demonstrations of individual and pursuit skating, followed by a battle of the blades between Ottawa Senators Alumni and local competitive speed skaters. From 3 pm to 4 pm there will be public skating on the oval, with speed skates and gloves available for use from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. A radar system will be set up to record skaters’ speeds. Beginning at 5 pm, residents and visitors will be able to view live coverage from Vancouver of the 1500 metre Olympic speed skating competition on a giant screen. The competition features the Capital’s own Kristina Groves.
Again this weekend, residents and visitors will be able to learn about Canadian northern traditions, and be entertained at three official sites in Canada’s Capital Region.
Rogers Crystal Garden at Confederation Park
Calling all amateur carvers for the Rogers Public Ice-Carving Challenge! Members of the public will have an opportunity to create their own ice carvings with the help of professionals from the Canadian Ice Carvers’ Society on Saturday, February 20, from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. (Registration is required, and participants must be at least 18 years of age.)
Festival-goers will enjoy watching Learn to Carve demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday, February 20 and 21, at 10:45 am, 2 pm and 4 pm. Expert carvers will showcase the secrets of ice carving, how the carvers use their tools and how they can create a piece of art from a block of ice.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, visitors to the Rogers Crystal Garden Stage will have the opportunity to see performances by Cobra du Mandingue, a group of talented African and Canadian musicians and dancers, inspired by the rich repertoire of rhythms from Guinea and other parts of West Africa. Other performances at the Rogers Crystal Garden Stage on Friday and Saturday include The Chinese Lion Dance. This 3,000-year-old Chinese tradition symbolizes prosperity, luck and happiness. According to legends, the dance tells a story about a creature that terrorized villagers with thunder, lightning and rain.
Again this weekend, Confederation Park will be a popular evening destination during the ‘Sub-Zero DJ Series’, featuring DJs who will get the audience moving.
DJ Bear Witness will be on hand Friday, February 19, from 8 pm to 10:30 pm, while DJ Nifa will be in the spotlight during Girl DJ Night on Saturday, February 20, from 8 pm to 10:30 pm.
On Saturday and Sunday, visitors to Confederation Park can learn about Aboriginal culture through dance, song and storytelling. First Nations Interpretation and Dance will pay tribute to the Aboriginal peoples of yesterday and today on the Rogers Crystal Garden Stage on Saturday, February 20 and Sunday, February 21, at noon, 1:30 pm and 3 pm.
Sun Life Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques-Cartier Park
Equipped with giant snow slides, a labyrinth made of snow to celebrate Olympic sports, the Sun Life Stage, and the Place Gatineau play area, Jacques-Cartier Park continues to be a popular destination for families.
This is the final weekend for the public to admire massive snow sculptures created during the National Snow Sculpture Competition, presented in collaboration with the Ville de Gatineau. Inspired by this year’s theme, “Winter Fun,” ten teams of sculptors were challenged to create snowy masterpieces interpreting the joys and excitement that winter brings to the lives of Canadians each year — including physical and sporting activities, games, traditions and all its wacky wintry fun.
Once again this weekend, members of the public will be able to try their hand at ice fishing thanks to a collaboration with the CREDDO (Conseil régional de l’environnement et du développement durable de l’Outaouais) and its partners, this Saturday and Sunday, from 9 am to 4 pm.
Visitors to Jacques-Cartier Park will also want to stop at Place Gatineau — a play area presented by the Ville de Gatineau that will offer participatory games for the whole family, including winter games and snow volleyball from Thursday to Sunday.
Back by popular demand – an additional free screening of the film La Guerre des tuques will be offered this Saturday at 6:30 pm. The film will be projected on the giant snow screen the at Sun Life Stage. For the occasion, visitors are invited to come dressed as their favourite characters from the popular Quebec film that celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Audiences will be awestruck by the Ski and Snowboard Trampoline Show. Canadian freestyle ski and snowboard athletes will showcase a unique, one-of-a-kind aerial acrobatics show — on a trampoline — Saturday and Sunday at noon, 2 pm and 4 pm.
On Sunday, February 21 at 3:30 pm, residents and visitors are invited to join the NCC Winterlude team as we bid Farewell to the Ice Hogs, before our friendly mascots embark on their long journey to Canada’s Far North.
Rideau Canal Skateway
Recognized by the Guinness World RecordsTM as the world’s largest skating rink, the Rideau Canal Skateway is presently open from the National Arts Centre (NAC) to Dows Lake. Again this weekend, the Skateway will host a variety of activities.
Skaters at Dows Lake are invited to visit Urban Art at Dows Gallery. The exhibit portrays young local artists’ vision of the Rideau Canal Skateway through the medium of graffiti art. These works of art will be exhibited for the duration of the skating season.
Aboriginal Traditions on the Rideau Canal Skateway at Lansdowne Park will also be a popular area this Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am to 4 pm, as everyone can enjoy traditional First Nations dances, storytelling and more!
At Fifth Avenue, residents and visitors can sign up for a free 45-minute Subway® Learn to Skate session, focused on fun and basic skills development, provided by professional coaches from Nepean, Gloucester and Minto skating clubs. Registrations take place on the hour. Visitors won’t want to miss the WestJet Fun ’n Festival Zone, an interactive fun zone, hosted by the owners of WestJet. Activities include a chance to win free WestJet flights, a photo experience, fire performances, and ice carvings. Additionally, the American Express® Lounge will offer culinary demonstrations and complimentary hot chocolate for visitors.
Olympic Games
Residents and visitors will be able to follow the Olympics during Winterlude on television screens installed at the following locations:
- Shelter area at Sun Life Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park;
- Capital Infocentre (90 Wellington Street, opposite Parliament Hill);
- The chalets on the Rideau Canal Skateway at Bronson Street, Fifth Avenue, Concord Street and the NAC.
Everyone is invited to take advantage of the shuttle service offered by OC Transpo and STO ($), which links Winterlude’s official sites. Stops are sign-posted.
Taste of Winterlude continues until Sunday, February 21, presented by American Express® in collaboration with the National Capital Commission. This program showcases, for the fifth year, some of the region’s top restaurants while providing great value to consumers with exclusive prix-fixe menus, fine dining experiences, wine pairings and other culinary delights.
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 Winterlude.gc.ca.
WINTERLUDE FLASH MOB SUPPORTS CANADIAN OLYMPIC ATHLETES
The National Capital Commission (NCC) produced its first-ever flash mob this past Sunday at Dows Lake on the Rideau Canal Skateway as part of Winterlude, Canada’s winter celebration.
The event and the resulting video demonstrates Canada’s Capital Region’s enthusiasm and support of Canadian Olympic athletes who will be giving their all at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
This video is available on the NCC’s website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca/flashmob.
The NCC wishes to thank the more than one hundred residents and visitors who participated in this unique event. Special thanks also goes out to the Ottawa Valley Curling Association, the Ottawa Pacers and the Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Clubs and canal skaters who joined in the event.
