Winterlude Celebrates Canada's Diversity

The 41^st Winterlude highlights cultural, artistic and culinary diversity

OTTAWA, Dec. 13, 2018 /CNW/ - Greg Fergus, Member of Parliament (Hull?Aylmer), today unveiled the new vision and programming for Winterlude 2019. Mr. Fergus made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism.

Organized by Canadian Heritage, this flagship event in the winter tourism season will celebrate Canadian diversity in Canada's Capital Region.

The 41^st Winterlude offers a more urban experience with new destinations, including the ByWard Market and Sparks Street, in Ottawa. Through new partnerships, the event better reflects and represents all Canadians.

From February 1 to 18, 2019, Canada's Capital Region will host a multitude of activities highlighting our country's cultural, artistic and culinary diversity. Indigenous culture will be in the spotlight during the first weekend of festivities, while LGBTQ2+ culture, history and pride will be the focus of the program for the second.

In addition to such popular Winterlude highlights as the slides at the Snowflake Kingdom, the Rideau Canal Skateway, snow and ice sculptures, the Ice Hog family, and the traditional BeaverTails^® pastries, an even richer and more varied program awaits visitors in 2019.

This year's theme says it all: "THIS is Winterlude!"

Quotes

"From February 1 to 18, 2019, enjoy a bright, urban winter experience! Regardless of your age or interests, whether you're from Canada's Capital Region or elsewhere in the country or the world, I invite you to take part in the 41^st Winterlude. Come celebrate Canadian diversity with us in the heart of winter!"

?The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism

"This winter, Winterlude is being refreshed so that it will remain a favourite attraction in Canada's Capital Region. The new destinations will revitalize the visitor experience and offer an even more diverse lineup. I encourage everyone to discover this year's festival. There will be something for everyone!"

?Greg Fergus, Member of Parliament (Hull?Aylmer)

Quick Facts

Winterlude will take place on the weekends from February 1 to 18, 2019 in Ottawa?Gatineau. All destinations will remain open Monday, February 18, Family Day in Ontario.

While continuing to offer such iconic activities as skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway and the slides at the Snowflake Kingdom, this year's Winterlude will include new destinations: the ByWard Market, Sparks Street, Downtown Rideau, and the Glebe!

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is the presenting sponsor of the Rideau Canal Skateway and official sponsor of the Sno-Bus. The Snowflake Kingdom is presented by Tim Hortons. The Rideau Carleton Raceway Casino is the presenting sponsor of the SubZero Electro DJ Nights in the ByWard Market.

Winterlude is made possible thanks to the support of around 700 volunteers.

Visitors are encouraged to use the free Winterlude OLG Sno-Bus shuttle service.

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We're looking for Winterlude volunteers!

Associated Links

Winterlude

Backgrounder

Winterlude 2019

From February 1 to 18, 2019, enjoy an urban and dazzling winter experience during the 41st Winterlude!

While maintaining its iconic activities?skating on the Rideau Canal, sliding at the Snowflake Kingdom?Winterlude is also offering new destinations: the ByWard Market, Sparks Street, Downtown Rideau and the Glebe.

THIS is Winterlude!

Check the calendar of events and visit the site on a regular basis to learn about the activities that will be featured on each of the three weekends: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/winterlude.html.

Throughout Winterlude, our cultural, artistic and culinary diversity will be in the spotlight:

• Festibière Winter at the Canadian Museum of History and Winter Brewfest at Lansdowne Park
• Food tastings
• Shows and cultural animation

Indigenous culture will be featured on the first weekend. Activities will include:

• A contemporary powwow at the Canadian Museum of History
• Aboriginal craft and writing workshops
• A digital interactive screening

LGBTQ2+ culture, history and pride will be the centrepiece of the programming on Sparks Street on the second weekend:

• Winter Pride, presented by Capital Pride
• A photo exhibit commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the partial decriminalization of homosexuality

Winterlude 2019 Destinations

Over the three weekends of Winterlude, Canada's Capital Region becomes the stage for activities that showcase Canadian winter culture and traditions. Thanks to the participation of numerous partners, visitors can enjoy a multitude of indoor and outdoor activities with various themes such as arts, culture, music, theatre, humour, sports, culinary experiences and much more. There's something for everyone! Visitors are encouraged to get to the Winterlude official sites with the free OLG Sno-Bus service.

The Snowflake Kingdom

The Snowflake Kingdom comes to life in Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau. Every winter, we build the popular super slides that can accommodate more than 2,000 sliders per hour on busy days! Beautiful snow sculptures and a host of thrilling activities await visitors in this huge winter playground. The Ice Hog family, the beloved Winterlude mascots, settle in for their annual stay.

The new Kiddie Zone is a toddler friendly area close to the super slides that will allow smaller kids to play safely. Enjoy the rush of hurtling down the zip line ($) or get your culture fix at Maison Charron, where arts and crafts, and Indigenous customs will be explored. All this and much more is awaits you at the Snowflake Kingdom.

The Snowflake Kingdom is co-produced by the Ville de Gatineau and Canadian Heritage.

The ByWard Market

Established in 1826 by Lieutenant-Colonel John By, the ByWard Market is one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets. All year round, it welcomes artisans, farmers and local producers as well as buskers. Located near Parliament Hill, the area buzzes day and night. Just a stone's throw from the shops and restaurants, and overlooking the Ottawa River, the National Gallery of Canada beautifully crowns the jewel that is the ByWard Market.

Enjoy a traditional winter dish in this unique setting at the ByWard Market Stew Cookoff ($), and admire the finesse of the artwork at the 32^nd Tim Hortons Crystal Garden International Ice Carving Competition on York Street. Dance the night away in one of the many ByWard Market bars, and don't miss your chance to experience Chimes, an interactive art structure that is both luminous and unifying!

The Rideau Canal Skateway ? presented by OLG

One of Canada's most historic sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal is an icon in itself! Every winter, the Canal, as it is commonly known, becomes the world's largest skating rink. The 7.8-kilometre course stretches from Mackenzie Avenue in the downtown area to Dows Lake and offers a fantastic urban outdoor experience!

Put on your skates and head out onto the Rideau Canal Skateway. Experience the thrill of third Ice Dragon Boat Festival. Discover the pure delight of biting into a Beaver Tail^® pastry or sipping a tasty hot chocolate. In addition to these Winterlude classics, you will find kiosks to rent skates and sleds, take a break to refresh yourself, and most likely come across someone you know!

The National Capital Commission is the custodian of the world's largest skating rink?a must-see for both tourists and Ottawa?Gatineau locals!

Sparks Street

It was 1961 when Sparks Street became the first permanent open pedestrian mall in North America. Just a few steps south of Parliament Hill, it is a bridge between Ottawa's past and today's modern lifestyle. Nestled between Elgin and Lyon streets, this promenade is a great destination all year round. With the Lord Stanley's Gift monument, trendy shops and restaurants, lively cuisine and cultural festivals, it's no wonder that this street is popular with residents and visitors alike.

Warm up while playing ice games and get your picture taken in front of the giant OTTAWA letters. Sparks Street will also host Winter Pride, a colourful street party presented by Capital Pride. Put on your finest rainbow attire and brave the cold as waves of diversity, pride and solidarity unfold over Canada's Capital Region! Canadian Heritage will also present the photo exhibit Standing Up, Standing Out: Portraits from the Collection of the National Archives commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the partial decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada.

Downtown Rideau

When you think of downtown Rideau, fashion boutiques, bookstores, jewellers, souvenir shops and other businesses obviously come to mind. But downtown Rideau is also a place of culture and history. It is home to the Bytown Museum, the Ottawa Art Gallery and Arts Court, and the National Arts Center, with its unique Kipnes Lantern that serves as a beacon for the performing arts in Canada.

Throughout Winterlude, thousands of festival visitors will walk through this bustling arts and culture hotspot as they go from the ByWard Market to the Rideau Canal and Sparks Street, and vice versa. Join them and take the opportunity to energize your mind, warm up your feet and grab a bite to eat in one of downtown Rideau's many restaurants and cafes.

The Glebe

One of Ottawa's first suburbs, the Glebe has a rich and fascinating history. The name comes from the lands, or "glebes," which St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church sold around 1837 when the population was growing. The Aberdeen Pavilion, built in 1898, is the only major 19^th-century building still in use in Canada. Today, it is the beating heart of the renewed Lansdowne Park. The Glebe is known for its boutiques and restaurants on Bank Street. It is also a residential area with beautiful brick houses dating back to the 1800s.

During Winterlude, the entire neighborhood takes part in the Snomania event, and everybody... rolls with it! Take a stroll in the Glebe and see why it has become the "snowman capital of the planet!" Discover the brewing heritage of Ontario and Quebec at the Winter Brewfest, and savor delicacies at the Ottawa Famers Winter Market?all in the enchanting setting of Lansdowne Park's Aberdeen Pavilion.

SOURCE Canadian Heritage