Frigid temperatures lead to cancellations, closures in Ottawa area

Frigid temperatures across the Ottawa region have led to closures andcancellations, affectingseverallocal ski hills and muchof the first day of Winterlude.

Environment Canada has issued extreme cold warnings for all of western Quebec and eastern Ontario, as a cold front that arrived lateThursday brings frigid winds through Friday into Saturday morning.

Ottawa, Gatineau, Que., and Cornwall, Ont., are expected to see temperatures at or below 30 C, with the wind chill making it feel closer to 40.

Friday was supposed to be the start of Winterlude, but the extreme coldhas forced some events to be postponed.

• Rideau Canal Skateway not expected to open for Winterlude's 1st weekend

Organizers havecancelledall outdoor activities scheduled for Friday. LocalMPs Yasir Naqvi and Marie-France Lalonde were scheduled to kick off the festival in theafternoon, but that was cancelled too.

The launch of the festival's ice-carving competition has been postponed to 10 a.m. Saturday.

Ski hills closed, operations modified

The western Quebec hills at Edelweiss Ski Resort, Ski Vorlage,Mont Cascades and Mont Ste. Mariewillbefully closedall day Friday.

Mont Cascades said it plans to open Saturday but may modify its hours, whileMont Ste. Marie willreopen on Saturday morning.

Edelweiss is planning to stay closed Saturday, while Ski Vorlagehas not yet saidwhether it will return to operation.

Despite the bone-chilling cold front, some hills will be open for intrepid skiers.

Camp Fortune in Chelsea, Que., said it will modifyits operations Friday but will not be closing.

It said both Pineault Quad and Valley Quad will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., while Skyline Quad and Meech Quad will be closed.

Camp Fortune has also cancelled night skiing Friday but said operations will return to normal Saturday.

Mount Pakenhamnear Calabogie, Ont., saidin an email that it will be open as normal Friday.

In other outdoor events, the Ontario Winter Games in Renfrew, Ont., are slated togo ahead without disruption.

The annual Nakkertok Trails Cross Country Ski Race, however, iscancelling races in all of itscategories Friday.