Winterlude 2016 plans unveiled in Ottawa amid warm spell

The 38th edition of Winterludethe national capital'sannualcelebrationof all thingscold and icy is on the way, and organizersare working hard to drum up excitement despite the current warm spell.

MlanieJoly, minister of Canadian heritage, unveiled the official program today, as the temperature in Ottawa climbed into the double digits well above the normal high of3 C.

"I am convinced there is going to be a winter,"Jolyjoked, thenchallenged Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson to lace up his skates.

Heritage Minister Mlanie Joly challenges Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson to a skate.

9 years ago

Duration 0:31

Details for upcoming Winterlude festivities announced today.

Watson informedJolythat winter sports aren't exactly his forte, and that in skates he resembles a certainDisney character.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson responds to Joly's dare.

9 years ago

Duration 0:30

'I look like Bambi on ice'

Winterludeattracts hundreds of thousands of visitorsand is a major source of tourism for the city, Watson said.

Curling,snow carving and a dance

The twin themes of Winterlude 2016are"Discover the Great Canadian North"and "Discover CanadianFlora and Fauna."

The festival's mainstays are back: skating on the frozenRideauCanal, sliding down ice chutesinJacquesCartierPark andstrolling among the crystalline sculptures in Confederation Park. But this year'sactivities will also centre aroundthe Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall,LansdownePark and theShenkmanArts Centre.

Other activities include:

• Curling lessons.
• Community snow carving competitions.
• A huge dance held at Lansdowne Park'sAberdeen Pavilion.

In Confederation Park, the National Research Council of Canada will construct a giantsculpture made from 100 blocks of ice to mark the organization's centenary.

The three-week event kicks off on Jan. 29, 2016.