Runway ready: 3 designers new to Ottawa Fashion Week
Joanne Laucius, Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Fashion Week runs Feb. 17, 18 and 19, with designers showing their fall and winter lines for 2012-2013.
Does that sound a little early to be looking at clothes for next fall? Not really, says creative director Bruno Racine. Ottawa’s fashion week (OFW) starts after Montreal’s and before Toronto’s.
Last fall’s OFW attracted 5,000 visitors, and the event keeps getting bigger and better, says Racine. This season, OFW has partnered with Winterlude – the Ice Hogs will be stylin’ signature OFW togs – and OFW is aiming to attract 7,000 fashion fans this season.
Read More: Runway ready
Winterlude visitors like it cold and snowy: Thousands descend on Snow Kingdom to enjoy slippery slides and sweet treats
Katia Dmitrieva, The Ottawa Citizen
Winterlude is a veritable rite of passage for Ottawans and creates fond memories for years to come.
But what if the white playground of ice sculptures, snowy slides, and the winding Rideau Canal Skateway were a little bit greener?
Festival organizers are finding it more difficult each year to maintain the winter wonderland as climate change takes its hold over the season.
“Winterlude in Ottawa is all about having the snow, the slides, and the ice sculptures,” said Adam Mullins, who spent the day with nine family members, including his wife, Cara, and two children. “If that would change, it would take away from the tradition.”
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Winterlude visitors like it cold and snowy
Thousands came to the opening weekend of Winterlude, taking in skating, ice sculpting, sledding and more. Residents and visitors alike had a hoot on the icy hills in the Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau.
Photo Courtesy of Julie Oliver, The Ottawa Citizen
Would you believe, 30 gallons of stew? From just one contestant?
Ron Eade, The Ottawa Citizen
Tucker’s Marketplace took top honours with judges at the 21st annual ByWard Market Stew Cook-Off, part of the opening Winterlude festivities that drew a record crowd of almost 800 hungry participants on Friday.
Tucker’s winning entry was a hearty beef, sausage and vegetable stew. And the People’s Choice award went to Social Restaurant and Lounge for its venison, chipotle and sweet potato stew.
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Would you believe, 30 gallons of stew? From just one contestant?
Byward Market Square was a mighty busy place at annual stew cook-off Friday.
Photo courtesy of Ron Eade, The Ottawa Citizen
Skate Safe and wear your helmet during Winterlude
Source: Press Release
The City of Ottawa, the National Capital Commission (NCC) and State Farm®, sponsor of the Skate Safe program, have teamed up once again to make an Ottawa winter tradition more fun for everyone through the Skate Safe program. The Skate Safe tent officially opened on Saturday morning on the Rideau Canal Skateway at the State Farm Zone at Concord.
Visitors to the Skate Safe tent will get assistance with helmet fittings, tips on helmet use and a free 15-minute “tips and tricks” skating session from staff and volunteers from Ottawa Public Health (OPH), Ottawa’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services department and ThinkFirst. The tent will be open Saturdays and Sundays during Winterlude, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., until February 20.
Downtown Ottawa Event Space’s ‘Winterlude’ Dinner Whets Appetites
Source: Press Release
Utilizing the unique atmosphere of one of the premier downtown Ottawa event venues, Winterlude has arranged an exclusive dining opportunity as part of its February celebration.
Celebrating the joys of winter, this annual event is packed with family activities and the Summit of Winterlude Dinner is no exception, welcoming families as part of the festival’s Family Day observance on Monday, February 20, 2012. Held in the Summit, our revolving event space atop the Ottawa Marriott Hotel, this Ottawa luxury hotel’s revolving dining room will open its doors on the hotel’s 29th floor for Winterlude’s special one-night event, serving up a five-course meal prepared by accomplished, award-winning Executive Chef Mark Steele.
NCC Calls Winterlude Opening Weekend “Very Positive”
Phil Gaudreau
CFRA
The National Capital Commission is quite pleased with the first weekend of Winterlude.
Senior Vice President Guy Laflamme tells CFRA News attendance has been excellent. “If I count the number of smiles I have encountered, I think people were extremely pleased and happy with what they experienced.”
Laflamme is chalking some of the success up to changes in Winterlude’s business plan to focus on arts and culture, educational events, and food. “We still have winter outdoor sports, but we have way more arts and culture…culinary gourmet food activities…as well as scientific activities”.
But he admits the weather was also a big factor this weekend. “This was an A+ type of weather report and hopefully we’ll be able to benefit from the same kind of conditions for the next two weekends.”
Laflamme says over 30,000 people took in Friday’s fireworks at Winterlude’s opening ceremonies, and it was a great kickoff to what he believes is the best edition of the winter festival yet. “Winterlude has grown to a level of quality and sophistication unmatched in past editions.”
Nepean girls’ tournament picks up where NHL All-Star Weekend left off
ALICJA SIEKIERSKA, The Ottawa Citizen
Local arenas around the city were packed on the weekend to check out the Nepean Girls’ Hockey Association’s 32nd annual tournament. This year, there were 86 competitive and 50 house league teams registered, making up 18 divisions representing all levels from novice to midget. More than 200 games were played in nine arenas over three days.
Most teams were from Ontario, although there were a handful of clubs from Quebec and the United States. The fact the event coincided with the start of Winterlude didn’t hurt attendance, either.
“The teams love competing and playing hockey in the tournament itself,” says president of the NGHA Phil Clarke. “But coming to Ottawa this time of year, during Winterlude, makes the experience that much more special.”
Read more: Nepean girls’ tournament picks up where NHL All-Star Weekend left off
He skates and skates and skates … and scores
JOE LOFARO / METRO OTTAWA
Organizers of the Beaver Cup Pond Hockey Festival will attempt to set a Guinness World Record on the Rideau Canal skateway next weekend for the longest breakaway goal.
The attempt will start at 7:15 a.m. on Feb. 11 on the ice near Chateau Laurier, and six skaters will pass the puck to each other in a relay-style trek across the 7.8-kilometre skateway.
The Beaver Cup Festival is a weekend-long four-on- four pond-hockey tournament. Participants in the tournament will include Ottawa Senators alumni and media personalities.
Read full story: He skates and skates and skates … and scores
Winterlude bigger, more weatherproof than ever, NCC says
Maria Cook, The Ottawa Citizen
Photograph by: Wayne Cuddington, Ottawa Citizen
Traditional favourites such as ice sculptures at Confederation Park are now joined by new events such as the Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival.
Winterlude runs for three weeks until February 20.
“We wanted to put in place a program that is even less vulnerable to fluctuating weather conditions,” said Guy Laflamme, senior vice-president, capital experience, communications and marketing at the National Capital Commission. “I think we’ve done extremely well.”
Read more: Winterlude bigger, more weatherproof than ever, NCC says
Blizzart adds some northern passion: 10 new Winterlude installations help weatherproof artistic endeavours
Peter Simpson, Ottawa Citizen
Photograph courtesy of The Ottawa Citizen, by: Bruno Schlumberger
If you’re trying to interest your young children in contemporary art, then Confederation Park is the place for you. Winterlude has brought 10 installations to the park, and while the pieces are hit-and-miss artistically, most are sure to fire a kid’s imagination.
Blizzart is a part of the National Capital Commission’s plan to weatherproof the annual festival. A warm snap can make short work of the ice sculptures that are ingeniously carved by international teams in the park each year, so the NCC has chosen 10 artists from across Canada to make less-vulnerable installations on the theme of “northern passion.” They were in various stages of installation when I visited on Thursday, and a crazy variety of materials were being put to use, from old mittens and hockey sticks to coloured glass and even ice – though not as it’s used in the familiar sculptures nearby.
Read more @ Ottawa Citizen online: Blizzart adds some northern passion
