A Final Weekend of Enticing Winterlude Activities

Feb. 19, 2010 - PRLog -- The NCC has planned a great final weekend of enticing Winterlude activities for the whole family. The third and final weekend of the 32nd edition of Winterlude, Canada’s winter celebration, which kicked-off on February 5 and ends on February 21. Come on down to the Ottawa-Gatineau area, and stay at the Holiday Inn Plaza La Chaudiere in Gatineau, just minutes from the Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques Cartier Park. Contact us now to nook your room at 819-778-3880, 1-800-567-1962 (toll-free), or visit us on the web at www.rosdevhotels.com.

A fun filled stay in the Ottawa/Gatineau area is around the corner with the Holiday Inn Plaza La Chaudiere and his third and final weekend of Winterlude's fabulous attractions. Here's an overview of what you could be doing this weekend:

The NCC is proud to celebrate the Olympics during the 32nd edition of Winterlude. On Sunday, The NCC, in collaboration with the Ottawa Pacers and Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Clubs, will stage speed skating demonstrations on an Olympic-size skating oval on the Rideau Canal Skateway at Dows Lake. The event gets underway at 2 pm with demonstrations of individual and pursuit skating, followed by a battle of the blades between Ottawa Senators Alumni and local competitive speed skaters. From 3 pm to 4 pm there will be public skating on the oval, with speed skates and gloves available fo
r use from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. A radar system will be set up to record skaters’ speeds. Beginning at 5 pm, residents and visitors will be able to view live coverage from Vancouver of the 1500 metre Olympic speed skating competition on a giant screen. The competition features the Capital’s own Kristina Groves.

Again this weekend, residents and visitors will be able to learn about Canadian northern traditions, and be entertained at three official sites in Canada’s Capital Region.


Rogers Crystal Garden at Confederation Park

Calling all amateur carvers for the Rogers Public Ice-Carving Challenge! Members of the public will have an opportunity to create their own ice carvings with the help of professionals from the Canadian Ice Carvers’ Society on Saturday, February 20, from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. (Registration is required, and participants must be at least 18 years of age.)

Festival-goers will enjoy watching Learn to Carve demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday, February 20 and 21, at 10:45 am, 2 pm and 4 pm. Expert carvers will showcase the secrets of ice carving, how the carvers use their tools and how they can create a piece of art from a block of ice.

On Friday and Saturday evenings, visitors to the Rogers Crystal Garden Stage will have the opportunity to see performances by Cobra du Mandingue, a group of talented African and Canadian musicians and dancers, inspired by the rich repertoire of rhythms from Guinea and other parts of West Africa. Other performances at the Rogers CrystalGarden Stage on Friday and Saturday include The Chinese Lion Dance. This 3,000-year-old Chinese tradition symbolizes prosperity, luck and happiness. According to legends, the dance tells a story about a creature that terrorized villagers with thunder, lightning and rain.
Again this weekend, Confederation Park will be a popular evening destination during the ‘Sub-Zero DJ Series’, featuring DJs who will get the audience moving.
DJ Bear Witness will be on hand Friday, February 19, from 8 pm to 10:30 pm, while
DJ Nifa will be in the spotlight during Girl DJ Night on Saturday, February 20, from 8 pm to 10:30 pm.

On Saturday and Sunday, visitors to Confederation Park can learn about Aboriginal culture through dance, song and storytelling. First Nations Interpretation and Dance will pay tribute to the Aboriginal peoples of yesterday and today on the Rogers Crystal Garden Stage on Saturday, February 20 and Sunday, February 21, at noon, 1:30 pm and 3 pm.


Sun Life Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques-Cartier Park

Equipped with giant snow slides, a labyrinth made of snow to celebrate Olympic sports, the Sun Life Stage, and the Place Gatineau play area, Jacques-Cartier Park continues to be a popular destination for families.

This is the final weekend for the public to admire massive snow sculptures created during the National Snow Sculpture Competition, presented in collaboration with the Ville de Gatineau. Inspired by this year’s theme, “Winter Fun,” ten teams of sculptors were challenged to create snowy masterpieces interpreting the joys and excitement that winter brings to the lives of Canadians each year — including physical and sporting activities, games, traditions and all its wacky wintry fun.

Once again this weekend, members of the public will be able to try their hand at ice fishing thanks to a collaboration with the CREDDO (Conseil régional de l’environnement et du développement durable de l’Outaouais) and its partners, this Saturday and Sunday, from 9 am to 4 pm.

Visitors to Jacques-Cartier Park will also want to stop at Place Gatineau — a play area presented by the Ville de Gatineau that will offer participatory games for the whole family, including winter games and snow volleyball from Thursday to Sunday.

Back by popular demand - an additional free screening of the film La Guerre des tuques will be offered this Saturday at 6:30 pm. The film will be projected on the giant snow screen the at Sun Life Stage. For the occasion, visitors are invited to come dressed as their favourite characters from the popular Quebec film that celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Audiences will be awestruck by the Ski and Snowboard Trampoline Show. Canadian freestyle ski and snowboard athletes will showcase a unique, one-of-a-kind aerial acrobatics show — on a trampoline — Saturday and Sunday at noon, 2 pm and 4 pm.

On Sunday, February 21 at 3:30 pm, residents and visitors are invited to join the NCC Winterlude team as we bid Farewell to the Ice Hogs, before our friendly mascots embark on their long journey to Canada’s Far North.


Rideau Canal Skateway

Recognized by the Guinness World RecordsTM as the world’s largest skating rink, the Rideau Canal Skateway is presently open from the National Arts Centre (NAC) to Dows Lake. Again this weekend, the Skateway will host a variety of activities.

Skaters at Dows Lake are invited to visit Urban Art at Dows Gallery. The exhibit portrays young local artists’ vision of the Rideau Canal Skateway through the medium of graffiti art.

These works of art will be exhibited for the duration of the skating season.

Aboriginal Traditions on the Rideau Canal Skateway at Lansdowne Park will also be a popular area this Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am to 4 pm, as everyone can enjoy traditional First Nations dances, storytelling and more!

At Fifth Avenue, residents and visitors can sign up for a free 45-minute Subway® Learn to Skate session, focused on fun and basic skills development, provided by professional coaches from Nepean, Gloucester and Minto skating clubs. Registrations take place on the hour. Visitors won’t want to miss the WestJet Fun ’n Festival Zone, an interactive fun zone, hosted by the owners of WestJet. Activities include a chance to win free WestJet flights, a photo experience, fire performances, and ice carvings. Additionally, the American Express® Lounge will offer culinary demonstrations and complimentary hot chocolate for visitors.


Olympic Games

Residents and visitors will be able to follow the Olympics during Winterlude on television screens installed at the following locations:

- Shelter area at Sun Life Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park;
- Capital Infocentre (90 Wellington Street, opposite Parliament Hill);
- The chalets on the Rideau Canal Skateway at Bronson Street,

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.

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the 4 STAR Holiday Inn Plaza La Chaudière welcomes you for a fun and enjoyable stay. Minutes from Ottawa’s Parliament and the National Capital Regions many attractions. Experience great views of the Gatineau/Ottawa area with all rooms overlooking the Outaouais River & L’ile du Parc, or our interior courtyard. La Jardinière Restaurant will start your day off on thr right foot with a Canadian breakfast buffet, featuring REAL Canadian Maple Syrup from Québec. Complete your day savoring a delectible meal in the restaurant featuring various Cuisine for all tastes and budgets, or relaxing, and enjoying some drinks and watching the game with friends at the Bar des Chutes.