Ottawa scales back Parliament Hill New Year’s Eve party due to extreme cold
Posted Dec 29, 2017 07:37:12 AM.
Last Updated Dec 29, 2017 12:15:08 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Mother Nature drowned out Canada Day on Parliament Hill and now she’s doing her best to freeze out New Year’s Eve.
There will be skating and fireworks at the Parliament Hill New Year’s Eve party after all, despite the frigid temperatures in Canada’s capital, but the party will be missing live music performances.
Five hours after declaring the event cancelled on its website, the Department of Canadian Heritage has cleared the air around this weekend’s festivities.
“Given Environment Canada’s extreme cold warning and due to public health and safety concerns… programming for the Canada 150 closing events on Parliament Hill for December 30th and 31st has been modified,” a spokesperson for the Department of Canadian Heritage said in a statement.
The planned pyrotechnics and a laser show will still light up the sky at midnight.
The weather has already forced the cancellation of youth hockey games on the Parliament Hill Canada 150 skating rink but Campbell said public skating continues.
MUSIC CANCELLED ON THE HILL
Canadian Heritage also announced that “previously planned musical entertainers and evening DJs have been cancelled.”
Hip-hop artist Kardinal Offishal was among the artists scheduled to perform Sunday night.
He posted about his displeasure online, writing “Noooooooooo!!!,” on his official Twitter account. “Damn you frigid temperatures!!!!”
The City of Ottawa has already moved all its events indoors including a session of Parka Yoga and a concert.
The weather has already forced the cancellation of youth hockey games on the Parliament Hill Canada 150 skating rink but public skating continues.
For a full list of the celebrations in Ottawa, visit the Department of Candian Heritage website.
