Winterlude 2012 a success-organizers say
Posted Feb 21, 2012 07:41:22 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The 34’th Annual Winterlude has been deemed a success by the National Capital Commission. Hundreds of thousands of visitors celebrated the three week-long festival, taking in culture, science and winter traditions and no doubt a lot of hot chocolate and BeaverTails.
Winterlude took place from Feb. 3-Feb. 20 and wrapped up with the traditional farewell of the Ice Hog Family.
Jean-François Trépanier, Executive Vice-President of Operations at the NCC said one of the reasons this year was a success was because of the ability to grow and evolve and adapt to new realities. Moreover, thirty-three new programming partners joined the Winterlude family, creating great new partnerships.
The festival opened with fireworks at the Canadian Museum of Civilization which attracted over 30,000 people.
Despite the Rideau Canal being closed for a portion of Winterlude, visitors enjoyed a large selection of both indoor and outdoor activities including — Discover Portraits on Ice, an outdoor art gallery presented by Library and Archives Canada, which commemorating the War of 1812, and ice carving demonstrations at Confederation Park.
Some interesting facts about Winterlude 2012
- It was the first year composting was offered at Winterlude. 800 kg of organics was removed from the Skateway, 510 kg from Confederation Park and in Jacques-Cartier Park, the 80-litre bins were emptied on average 1.5 times a day.
- Winterlude and the Rideau Canal Skateway were both carbon neutral programs for the first time.
- 700 volunteers at Winterlude.
- An average of 600,000 visitors attend Winterlude per year.
If you are already missing the festivities, you can begin the countdown to the 35th Annual Winterlude which will run from Feb. 1 – Feb. 18, 2013.
