Frosty festivals to winter sports: How Winnipeggers are taking advantage of milder weather
Donning toques, mitts and scarves Saturday, Winnipeg families didn't let some light snow spoil a break from the extreme cold.
"It's definitely a mood booster. A lot of family quality time, so it definitely breaks up the winter for sure." said one family CTV News talked to.
"It's really important, especially here in Winnipeg where it's so cold we take any opportunity we get," said another family.
The families took part in Winnipeg Trails Association's Mobile Ski Library, where people can borrow cross-country skis and other winter sports equipment for free.
It's an initiative Anders Swanson, the association's executive director, said is important in encouraging Winnipeggers to get outside.
"You can lay a ski track, and suddenly it's a ton of fun," said Swanson. "It's as good as a roller coaster. You don't need to go to West Edmonton Mall to have a fun day, and that's what I love about this."
Swanson noted many people using the library are first-time skiers or are new to Canada.
While it changes it's location frequently, on Saturday, the ski library was parked outside St. Norbert Community Centre's Heritage Day event.
This year's St. Norbert Heritage Day Festival, which celebrates the area's past with a variety of other frosty festivities, is the first one back since the beginning of the pandemic.
"It's terrific. We make use of all of our property here. We have bonfires going right now," said Dana Derkson, the centre's president.
"Winnipeg is winter. You have to find a way to embrace snow and ice and things like that," she added.
A sentiment echoed by Winterscape, Winnipeg's first international ice carving contest.
"Winnipeg is a winter city," said Corby Pearce, one of the event's organizers." Any chance we have to celebrate what we have here. We have the cold. We have the ice. The ice we are using we've taken out of the river."
Taking place in Upper Fort Garry Park, the carving contest features artists from the Philippines, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands and Canada.
"Winter is coming every year. It's either hide in your basement or get out and enjoy what we have, and the skating trails, and the snow sculptures, and all these beautiful ice sculptures that will be here and downtown," said Pearce. "It's a big deal so you got to come out and see it."
The sculptures will be judged Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
The carvers will then stick around to create more sculptures around downtown later in February for Downtown Winnipeg BIZ's Winter Wanderland initiative.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Crypt near Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner could fetch US$400,000 at auction
A one-space mausoleum crypt in the vicinity of Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner will go on auction Saturday, when it is expected to reach between US$200,000 and $400,000.
This Toronto restaurant is no longer accepting tips. Here's how it's going
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff – tipping is no longer accepted.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Premiers not being truthful about carbon tax, Trudeau says while sparks fly in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative premiers across the country are 'not telling the truth' when it comes to the carbon tax. Trudeau's comments came as fresh sparks were flying in Ottawa at a recalled House of Commons committee.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.