Over the coming weeks, the National Capital Commission (NCC) and the Ville de Gatineau, will be transforming Gatineau’s Jacques-Cartier Park into the Winterlude Snowflake Kingdom for the 34^th edition of Winterlude, which takes place from February 3 to 20, 2012.

On this official site, the NCC and the Ville de Gatineau create the biggest snow playground on the continent. When it changes into Snowflake Kingdom, Jacques-Cartier Park is the place to celebrate the pleasures of Canadian winters with activities inspired by Canada’s past and our winter traditions

How do we build this world-famous winter wonderland?

• The NCC and Ville de Gatineau create this Winterlude wonderland with more than 30,000 cubic metres of snow. The snow-making cannons are in full operation around the clock, whenever weather permits, for approximately 10 days in January to make the snow.
• The overall design of the park and each structure is created by a team of events specialists from the NCC and Ville de Gatineau, as well as other contractors. Professional sculptors join the team to apply the final decorative touches.
• Each slide is designed with a different degree of slope, height and speed, creating an exciting experience for all age groups.
• Once built, the giant snow slides are watered until they develop a thick ice coating. This helps to prevent melting and damage to the slides. It offers sliders an enhanced experience. Most slides and sculptures are built to face north to avoid direct sunlight, which also helps reduce melting.
• The equipment used to build this magical site includes snow cannons, bulldozers, snow blowers, dump trucks, loaders, grooming machines, shovels, and more.

Fun Facts

• On busy days, the slide network can accommodate more than 10,000 sliders per hour.
• The park is decorated with approximately 500 recycled Christmas trees.
• At any given time, there are approximately 100 staff on site, including volunteers, contractors, and staff from the NCC and Ville de Gatineau, to ensure a smooth ride for all visitors.
• Each year, close to 300,000 visitors take part in Winterlude activities in Jacques-Cartier Park. More than one third of the participants are from outside the Capital Region.
• Each day, the Winterlude mascots give hundreds of Ice Hog hugs to families visiting Winterlude’s Snowflake Kingdom.

This family friendly paradise — with its giant snow slides, outdoor amphitheatre, and traditional winter activities — is the ideal destination for the young and the young at heart during Winterlude. For full programming listings, visitors are invited to visit the Winterlude website at Winterlude.gc.ca.  

Opening Hours for 2012

Winterlude’s Snowflake Kingdom is open Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays, 9 am to 6 pm; Fridays and Saturdays, 9 am to 9 pm (except February 3, until 9:30 pm). The park is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Public Information

For more information about Winterlude’s Snowflake Kingdom and Winterlude, members of the public may contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 1-800-465-1867 (toll-free),

613-239-5090 (TTY) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY); or visit the Winterlude website at Winterlude.gc.ca. Members of the public can also contact the Ville de Gatineau at 819-243-3383 or visit the website at gatineau.ca/baldeneige.

Media Information

The NCC is happy to provide the media with an online news kit: www.winterlude.gc.ca/media-kits.

Winterlude is also on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.

NCC
Charles Cardinal
613-239-5227 (office)
613-851-6924 (cellular)
charles.cardinal@ncc-ccn.ca                          

Denise LeBlanc
613-239-5750 (office)
613-851-9465 (cellular)
denise.leblanc@ncc-ccn.ca    

VILLE DE GATINEAU
Nathalie Brunette
819-643-0275 (office)
819-329-4489 (cellular)
nathalie@nbcommunication.ca