| Confederation Park is one of the main centres of | | | | frozen expanse of the 7.8 km long Rideau Canal, |
| Ottawa's Winterlude Festival, and what was excellent | | | | indeed the world's largest natural ice skating surface, |
| for us was that we were staying right across the | | | | according to the Guiness Book of World Records. |
| street at the Lord Elgin Hotel. So all we had to do | | | | The Rideau Canal Skateway itself hosts a variety of |
| was literally cross the street and we were right in | | | | activities: you can get a taste of Aboriginal culture, |
| the heart of the action. | | | | traditions and cuisine at the Pig Island Aboriginal |
| Winterlude is Ottawa's winter festival, organized by | | | | Village. The Canadian Tire JumpStart Activity Centre |
| the National Capital Commission. It brings together | | | | at Fifth Avenue allows children to test their hockey |
| exciting events and activities for the whole family | | | | skills and they can also try out the Jumpai trampoline |
| and most of the activities are free of charge. | | | | system. Union Station at Rideau Street provides a |
| Naturally, Winterlude is a big draw for tourists: last | | | | 1920s ambience: the history of the railway yards on |
| year the festival attractived approximately 650,000 | | | | the banks of the Rideau River is recounted on |
| visitors. | | | | displays and interpretive panels. |
| You would think that Ottawa is a city of bureaucrats, | | | | This past Saturday, the 26th Annual Bed Race on |
| who maintain a stiff upper lip at all times. Far from it, | | | | Dow's Lake combined athleticism, ingenous |
| as we had already seen during our Friday night outing | | | | engineering and fundraising for a great day of charity |
| to Fat Tuesdays in the ByWard Market, Ottawans | | | | and hilarity. |
| know how to party and Winterlude is a 2 week long | | | | Another opportunity for fundraising is coming up on |
| excuse for everyone to get out and celebrate | | | | February 19, 2006, when Canadian Tire invities you to |
| winter. | | | | participate in the Great Skate from 11 am to 3 pm |
| Winterlude is hosted throughout the entire city, so | | | | on the Rideau Canal Skateway on Fifth Avenue. |
| here is a summary of some of the main Winterlude | | | | Proceeds will go to Canadian Tire JumpStart, a |
| Locations: | | | | charitable program created by the Canadian Tire |
| Confederation Park is hosting the Casino du | | | | Foundation for Families that helps kids in financial need |
| Lac-Leamy Crystal Garden, an outdoor entertainment | | | | participate in organized sports and recreation. |
| venue that includes the Crystal Lounge, a variety of | | | | On the other side of the Ottawa River in Hull, |
| food vendors and outdoor sculptures. | | | | Quebec, is Jacques-Cartier Park, official location of |
| When we headed out on Saturday morning, we | | | | Snowflake Kingdom and another official Winterlude |
| walked right into the ice carving competition where 7 | | | | site. It offers the Ice Hogs Winter Sports Adventure, |
| or 8 ice carvers were working on frozen blocks of | | | | individual slides of different slopes which will provide |
| ice, using a variety of electric and hand tools to give | | | | fun to the whole family. |
| shape to the creatures of their imagination. | | | | Northern Place is a snow shelter and presents the |
| Chain saws were being used, electrical grinding tools | | | | enchanting world of Aboriginal cultures with aboriginal |
| and hand chisels slowly but surely created | | | | shows and traditional demonstrations. The Ice Hog |
| recognizeable objects. Teddy bears, choo-choo trains | | | | Amphitheatre is home to the Ice Hog's Walkabout, |
| and cartoon characters were coming to life right in | | | | and in case you didn't know, the Ice Hogs are |
| front of our very eyes. | | | | Winterlude's official mascots. Children can get a hug |
| Confederation Park also hosts the Fire and Ice | | | | from one of their favourite mascots - Mama, Papa, |
| Culinary Demonstrations, and renowned chefs and | | | | Noumi and Nouma. The Snowflake Kingdom also |
| media personalities compete for the Winterlude Ice | | | | presents "Expérience Maneige", an |
| Chef titles. | | | | opportunity for 5 to 8 year old children to go downhill |
| Another Winterlude location just minutes away is the | | | | skiing. |
| American Express Snowbowl, a stage located right in | | | | And a restaurant festival preceeds Winterlude. This |
| front of the Government Conference Centre. This | | | | year Taste of Winterlude was held from January 20 |
| year's lineup includes Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, | | | | to February 2, 2006, where many popular restaurants |
| Mes Aïeux, Jully Black, Doba Caracol, Daniel | | | | in Ottawa-Gatineau served up their specialties in |
| Lanois and many more. | | | | affordable prix-fix menu format. We missed the |
| On our way back from Darcy McGee's on Saturday | | | | restaurant festival, but good food was not lacking |
| evening we walked down to Confederation Park and | | | | during our past 2 days in Ottawa. Our enjoyable |
| on to the American Express Snowbowl and caught a | | | | dinners at Fat Tuesdays and Darcy McGee's gave us |
| bit of a live concert. The stage was set against the | | | | a sample of some of the culinary treats on offer in |
| National Conference Centre and was beautifully | | | | Ottawa. |
| illuminated in orange, pink and purple shades and the | | | | Winterlude offers a wide variety of activities, and |
| crowd was enjoying the live music. | | | | fortunately this past weekend we had a chance to |
| The Rideau Canal Skateway is another official | | | | participate in just a few. We thoroughly enjoyed the |
| Winterlude location. This past weekend I had a | | | | experience and hope to come back to Ottawa for |
| chance to experience the Canal myself, and on a | | | | another festival, maybe even the famous Tulip |
| beautiful crisp winter day, it was an exhiliariting | | | | Festival this coming May....... |
| experience to glide almost weightlessly across the | | | | |