February 1, 2020
Rideau Hall’s annual Winter Celebration was a chance to discover winter traditions from around the world, with over 25 free activities, performances, pop-up museums and food samples.
During the event, visitors took advantage of Canada’s oldest outdoor skating rink, or tried their hand at curling, kick sledding and more.
Thousands of people gathered at Rideau Hall for Winter Celebration on February 1, 2020.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-046
Winter Celebration is an event where visitors can discover over 25 activities and winter traditions.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-006
Volunteers demonstrated the ins and outs of curling.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-016
For the second year in a row, Winter Celebration was presented in partnership with Winterlude.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-019
The Governor General of Canada had the opportunity to meet with participants and partners of the event.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-026
Visitors walked around the grounds and discovered how different countries embrace the coldest months of the year by enjoying traditional foods and activities.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-030
Nunavut students shared their Inuit culture and language through drumming, dancing, throat singing and winter activities.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-035
During Winter Celebration, visitors had fun outside while taking part in a variety of winter sports.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-044
A team from the Embassy of Finland helped participants to experiment kicksledding, a chair-mounted sled.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-047
This activity, organized by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, encouraged visitors to try giant skis that hold eight adults at one time and to ski in unison, without stopping or falling over.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-049
This activity, organized by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, encouraged visitors to try giant skis that hold eight adults at one time and to ski in unison, without stopping or falling over.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-050
Many embassies offered delicious snacks and warm drinks to help keep visitors warm. The Embassy of Switzerland served raclette.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-052
Visitors enjoyed warming up near the fire and eating S'mores. The activity was offered by the YMCA/YWCA.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-054
Members of the Governor General’s Foot Guards introduced visitors to some of their training exercises with a fun obstacle course.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-059
Members of the Governor General’s Foot Guards introduced visitors to some of their training exercises with a fun obstacle course.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-060
Some visitors took a break and climbed aboard a horse-drawn wagon.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-064
Visitors enjoyed Rideau Hall's historic rink, first established by Lord Dufferin, Canada’s third governor general, in 1872.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-069
During Winter Celebration, visitors had fun outside while taking part in a variety of winter sports.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-072
Visitors enjoyed Rideau Hall's historic rink, first established by Lord Dufferin, Canada’s third governor general, in 1872.
- Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall
- Reference Number: GG06-2020-0019-077