Ottawa Personal Injury Lawyer www.ottawainjury.ca David Hollingsworth…I’m sure you are excited as we are that Winterlude is finally here! It is such a great time of year and Ottawa’s Winterlude ranks up there as one of my family’s  favourite Ottawa events. They have created a fantastic website that gives plenty of information on what you can do and see all throughout Winterlude.  I have posted this weekend’s schedule..Have fun ( I know we will !) Enjoy Winterlude ! Of course, please wear a helmet if you are planning on skating or sliding.   -David Hollingsworth, Ottawa Personal Injury Lawyer

Ottawa’s winter celebration set to kick off with skating, sliding, ice carvings and Winterlude Opening

The National Capital Commission (NCC) is ready to welcome visitors from all over the world for the 34th edition of Winterlude, which starts tomorrow, February 3, 2012. Over three weeks, until February 20, Canada’s Capital Region will be the ideal destination to discover Canadian winter traditions with a wide variety of cultural, sport, culinary and family activities.

Here is a snapshot of the activities taking place during the first weekend of Winterlude.

Winterlude Opening: Friday, February 3, Canadian Museum of Civilization

Winterlude officially kicks off with the American Express® Winterlude Opening at the Canadian Museum of Civilization tomorrow.  Winterlude will feature special lighting effects, historical characters and drummers, storytelling around cozy fire pits, an outdoor DJ dance party, and, at 9 pm, a fireworks extravaganza. Visitors can take advantage of free admission tomorrow, from 5 pm to 11 pm, to explore the museum’s many exhibits and enjoy special programming. The event will also be celebrated at Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, which will be open until 9:30 pm, offering a perfect vantage point to enjoy the fireworks.

Rogers Crystal Garden in Confederation Park“Northern Passion” carved in ice

This weekend, there are plenty of chances to watch ice carvers from around the world create their crystalline masterpieces at Confederation Park. These include the Rogers One-Block Challenge tomorrow, February 3 from 8 am to 10 am (Awards Ceremony: 5 pm), and the 25th Rogers International Ice-Carving Competition, where professional carvers from around the world put their talent to the test throughout the weekend (People’s Choice Online Voting Contest starts Sunday, February 5 at 6 pm).

On opening weekend, visitors to Rogers Crystal Garden will also have the opportunity to:

• visit an authentic Sami Lavvu from northern Norway;
• discover BlizzArt, an outdoor gallery featuring unique Canadian work of art;
• meet artists from Canada and watch them perform in the Rogers Crystal Globe;
• listen to the Sub-Zero Music Series;
• celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in ice and photos;
• learn about ephemeral art and create own sculpture;
• experience the Yukon through the eyes of talented artists;
• find out more about the great Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, and his expedition through the Northwest Passage.

 Start off your  Winterlude weekend with a delicious (and free!) pancake and hot chocolate breakfast at 10 am, Saturday, February 4, during the 8th Annual Enbridge Pancake Breakfast (Festival Plaza at Ottawa City Hall, across from Confederation Park). While supplies last.

Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau  Let the adventure begin with the Ice Hog Family!

Presented by the Ville de Gatineau and the NCC, young and the young at heart alike will enjoy playing in this frosty paradise of giant snow slides. The fun begins tomorrow at 10:30 am, when Mama and Papa Ice Hog, and twins Noumi and Nouma, join the crowd for the official launch of Snowflake Kingdom – North America’s biggest snow playground.

On Winterlude’s first weekend, visitors will have the opportunity to:

• find their way through the A-maze-ing Fort Wellington;
• learn about the life of the people who lived in 1812 through interpretation, demonstrations and games;
• take part in a day in the life of a Coast Guard employee;
• test their physical fitness in the Canadian Forces Winter Obstacle Course;
• experience downhill skiing with qualified instructors;
• feel the rhythm at the Snowflake Stage featuring talented performers and acrobatic stunts;
• celebrate Yukon Days with performances and snow sculptures;
• visit the Adventure Zone, where they can try Jumpaï trampolines, rock climbing and catch a lift in a tethered hot air balloon (Feb. 3).

The Ottawa Rideau Canal Skateway Celebrating 42 seasons of skating !

Each winter, the NCC transforms the Rideau Canal into the world’s largest skating rink, which was officially recognized as such in 2005 by Guinness World Records™. The Rideau Canal Skateway is stage for many activities during Winterlude. For Winterlude’s opening weekend, the notorious ice surface will host the 29th Annual Winterlude Triathlon and the 32nd Annual Accora Village Bed Race which take place at Dows Lake this Saturday. In addition to pioneer activities and crafts that take place this weekend at Bronson Avenue with the Canada Agriculture Museum, throughout Winterlude visitors to the Skateway will have the opportunity to:

• discover Portraits on the Ice, an outdoor art gallery presented by Library and Archives Canada, which this season commemorates the War of 1812;
• Fire Weavers and other talented acts at the WestJet Fun ‘n Festival Zone;
• enjoy culinary demonstrations and sample Canadian dishes in the American Express Lounge at Fifth Avenue;
•  free 45-minute Subway® Learn to Skate session;
• storytelling theatre, traditional dances, songs and hand drumming with Aboriginal Experiences at Pig Island;

Programming Partners: Truly making Winterlude the Capital Region’s winter celebration

For the 34^th edition of Ottawa’s Winterlude, more than 50 programming partners, from Ottawa and Gatineau’s private and public sectors, have come together to offer visitors a wide-range of indoor and outdoor activities aimed at animating the Capital like never before. Here is just a sampling of what takes place on the first weekend of Ottawa’s  Winterlude:

• 21st Annual ByWard Market Stew Cook-Off;
• 1st annual Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival;
•  Cool Science Saturday at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum;
• Northern Lights 2012: Northern Lights Business and Cultural Showcase;
• Ottawa Theatres Present Paul Brandt at Centrepointe Theatre;
• CARTE BLANCHE with Jean-Claude Marcus and Samuel Boivin-Provost presented by the Ville de Gatineau;
• The Mighty Popo: Gakondo is presented by the Ville de Gatineau;
• Downtown Rideau CHILL FACTOR.

More Winterlude information is available from 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 canada’s capital and search for Winterlude.

———————- The  Ottawa Injury Blog is written regularly by Ottawa  personal injury lawyer David Hollingsworth. Since 1999, David has been an Ottawa injury lawyer helping and Ontario  accident victims and the families of accident victims who have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in an Ontario accident. This blog reports on accidents in eastern Ontario, personal injury issues, local Ottawa news and events and various news that relates to Ottawa, accidents and personal injury.  Visit www.ottawainjury.ca for more information. If you have a question, feel free to call or email david@ottawainjury.ca (613) 978-9549

Ottawa Winterlude Schedule 2012, 2012 Winterlude Activities, Ottawa Personal Injury Lawyer David Hollingsworth