Capital Region’s winter celebration set to kick off with skating, sliding, ice carvings and the American Express^® Winterlude Opening

The National Capital Commission (NCC) is ready to welcome visitors from all over the world for the 34th edition of Winterlude, which starts Friday, February 3, 2012. Over three weeks, until February 20, Canada’s Capital Region will be the ideal destination to discover Canadian winter traditions through a wide variety of cultural, sport, culinary and family activities.

Here is a snapshot of the activities taking place during the first weekend of Winterlude.

American Express^® Winterlude Opening
Friday, February 3, Canadian Museum of Civilization

The celebration officially kicks off with the American Express® Winterlude Opening at the Canadian Museum of Civilization on February 3rd. The program will feature special lighting effects, historical characters and drummers, storytelling around cozy fire pits, an outdoor DJ dance party, and, at 9 pm, a fireworks extravaganza.

Visitors can take advantage of free admission on February 3, from 5 pm to 11 pm, to explore the museum’s many exhibits and enjoy special programming.

The event will also be celebrated at Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, which will remain open until 9:30 pm, offering another perfect vantage point to enjoy the evening’s fireworks.

Rogers Crystal Garden in Confederation Park
“Northern Passion” carved in ice

This weekend, there are plenty of chances to watch ice carvers from around the world create their crystalline masterpieces at Confederation Park. These include the Rogers One-Block Challenge on Friday, February 3 from 8 am to 10 am (Awards Ceremony: 5 pm), and the 25th Rogers International Ice-Carving Competition, where professional carvers from around the world put their talent to the test throughout the weekend (People’s Choice Online Voting Contest starts Sunday, February 5 at 6 pm).

On opening weekend, visitors to Rogers Crystal Garden will also have the opportunity to:

• visit an authentic Sami Lavvu from northern Norway;
• discover BlizzArt, an outdoor gallery featuring unique Canadian work of art;
• meet artists from northern Canada and see them perform in the Rogers Crystal Globe;
• groove to the tunes of the Sub-Zero Music Series;
• celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in ice and photos;
• learn about ephemeral art and create their own sculpture;
• experience the Yukon through the eyes of talented artists;
• find out more about the great Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, and his expedition through the Northwest Passage.

The public can start off their first Winterlude weekend with a delicious (and free!) pancake and hot chocolate breakfast at 10 am on Saturday, February 4, during the Eighth Annual Enbridge Pancake Breakfast (Festival Plaza at Ottawa City Hall, across from Confederation Park). While supplies last.

Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau
Let the adventure begin — with the Ice Hog Family!

Presented by the Ville de Gatineau and the NCC, young and the young at heart alike will enjoy playing in this frosty paradise of giant snow slides. The fun begins on Friday, February 3, at 10:30 am, when Mama and Papa Ice Hog, and twins Noumi and Nouma, join the crowd for the official launch of Snowflake Kingdom – North America’s biggest snow playground.

On Winterlude’s first weekend, visitors will have the chance to:

• find their way through the A-maze-ing Fort Wellington;
• learn about the life of the people who lived in 1812 through interpretation, demonstrations and games;
• take part in a day in the life of a Coast Guard employee;
• test their physical fitness in the Canadian Forces Winter Obstacle Course;
• experience downhill skiing with qualified instructors;
• feel the rhythm at the Snowflake Stage featuring talented performers and acrobatic stunts;
• celebrate Yukon Days with performances and snow sculptures;
• visit the Adventure Zone, where they can try Jumpaï trampolines, rock climbing and catch a lift in a tethered hot air balloon (Feb. 3).

The Rideau Canal Skateway
Celebrating 42 seasons of skating

Each winter, the NCC transforms the Rideau Canal into the world’s largest skating rink, which was officially recognized as such in 2005 by Guinness World Records™. The Rideau Canal Skateway is centre stage for many activities during Winterlude. For the celebration’s opening weekend, the world-famous ice surface will host the 29th Annual Winterlude Triathlon and the 32nd Annual Accora Village Bed Race which take place at Dows Lake this Saturday. In addition to pioneer activities and crafts that take place this weekend at Bronson Avenue with the Canada Agriculture Museum, throughout Winterlude visitors to the Skateway will have the opportunity to:

• discover Portraits on the Ice, an outdoor art gallery presented by Library and Archives Canada, which this season commemorates the War of 1812;
• see Fire Weavers and other talented acts at the WestJet Fun 'n Festival Zone;
• enjoy culinary demonstrations and sample creative Canadian dishes in the American Express Lounge at Fifth Avenue;
• sign up for a free 45-minute Subway® Learn to Skate session;
• take in storytelling theatre, traditional dances, songs and hand drumming with Aboriginal Experiences at Pig Island;
• and much, much more!

Programming Partners
Truly making Winterlude the Capital Region’s winter celebration

For the 34^th edition of Winterlude, more than 50 programming partners, from Ottawa and Gatineau’s private and public sectors, have come together to offer visitors a wide-range of indoor and outdoor activities aimed at animating the Capital like never before. Here is just a sampling of what takes place on the first weekend of Winterlude:

• 21st Annual ByWard Market Stew Cook-Off;
• the first annual Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival;
•  Cool Science Saturday at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum;
• Northern Lights 2012: Northern Lights Business and Cultural Showcase;
• Ottawa Theatres Present Paul Brandt at Centrepointe Theatre;
• CARTE BLANCHE with Jean-Claude Marcus and Samuel Boivin-Provost presented by the Ville de Gatineau;
• The Mighty Popo: Gakondo is presented by the Ville de Gatineau;
• Downtown Rideau CHILL FACTOR.

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.

Media Information:

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

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