Winterlude invites Canadians from across the country to virtually celebrate the joys of winter
The pandemic has turned this year’s Winterlude into a virtual festival, and the organizers of Ottawa-gatineau’s flagship winter event have come up with some creative ways to celebrate winter differently and to embrace the season in a safe and healthy way.
“It’s a really difficult time for Canadians, but I think that the idea of sharing positive experiences is now more important than ever,” said Winterlude spokesperson Amy Mills. “Canadian Heritage wants to offer Canadians a way to have an entertaining, but also safe, collective experience that marks Canadian winter.”
To do that, Mills said that they have moved Winterlude into the virtual world by creating a dedicated Winterlude app and website that are bursting with Canadian content to help you fall in love with winter all over again.
Both the app and the website will give Winterlude fans plenty of entertaining and informative things to listen to, to watch and to do. More importantly, many of the activities are designed to help you and your family celebrate winter.
Mills said app users can enjoy playlists, podcasts, master classes, do-it-yourself workshops and even virtual fireworks.
You won’t be able to highfive Winterlude’s official mascots in person this year, but kids and adults alike can experience The Ice Hog Adventure and become characters in a virtual storybook featuring the warm and fuzzy characters.
The 43rd edition of Winterlude kicked off Friday, Feb. 5 with a national virtual show on the Canadian Heritage Youtube channel, and the webcast will be available until Feb. 21. Entitled Exploring Canada’s Winter Traditions!, the show features Canadian talent from coast to coast to coast, including Ariane Moffatt, Alexandre Tétrault, the Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Corneille, Faouzia, Ria Mae, Masson Stomp, Tracy Trash, William Prince and figure skater Elladj Baldé.
One of Winterlude’s highlights each year is the incredible ice carvings on display. You won’t be able to see the artworks in person this winter, but organizers are launching the first-ever virtual Winterlude National Ice-carving Competition.
Professional ice sculptors will present their work online from Yellowknife, Banff/lake Louise, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Gatineau, Québec City and Halifax, and fans will have until Feb. 21 to vote for their three favourite creations.
Each artist had a mere 28 hours to transform eight blocks of ice into an artwork on the theme of the joys of winter.
Winterlude fans are invited to visit the Winterlude website to find out what their program partners are doing to help you celebrate winter, including the Juno Awards, Festival du Voyageur, National Arts Centre, Canadian Museum of History, Parks Canada, Library and Archives Canada, Capital Pride and the City of Gatineau. Winterlude also wants to thank official sponsor OLG and major sponsor Rogers for their collaboration with this year’s edition.
For more information, visit www.canada.ca/en/can adian-heritage/campaigns/ winterlude.html