What’s new at Winterlude in Ottawa-Gatineau?
A zipline has been added to the Winterlude Snowflake Kingdom. Photo: James Morgan
It’s Winterlude time again in Ottawa-Gatineau. The annual celebration of Canada’s definitive season goes until February 20. Like most other things happening in the capital region in 2017, there’s a bit of an added touch to Winterlude this year because of Canada’s 150th anniversary. The main Winterlude activity sites in Ottawa are the Rideau Canal Skateway and Confederation Park which becomes the Crystal Garden for the festival. Ice sculptures and entertainment are the features there. The Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau has always been a popular place for giant snow slides and dog sledding, but this year it has some new attractions that make being outside in the winter actually seem fun. Make a wrong turn in the snow maze, zoom across the park on a zipline, or watch the acrobats perform. It’s just a short drive from the North Country, eastern Ontario, and the Montreal area to Winterlude.
Fish Catches Man! This really changes the idea of ice fishing. Photo: James Morgan
The Canada 150 Snow Maze. Photo: James Morgan
Snowmobiling in the British Columbia wilderness. Photo: James Morgan
Shooting the rapids with a canoe on a wild northern river. Photo: James Morgan
A Quebec artist made a snow globe with a maple sugar season scene inside. Photo: James Morgan
An indigenous village shows Winterlude visitors how Canada’s original inhabitants traditionally spend winter. Photo: James Morgan
A Manitoba artist’s rendition of a winter wind on the prairies. Photo: James Morgan
