Opening of Quebec Winter Carnival sites postponed again, to 2 p.m.
The opening of the Quebec Winter Carnival sites has been postponed again, this time to 2 p.m. on Saturday, due to the extreme cold.
"As the first to look forward to celebrating with you, we understand your great disappointment. This is a decision of the head, not of heart," the event's organizers say on the carnival's Facebook page.
The Quebec Carnival was supposed to start on Friday, but the opening had been postponed by a day, initially to Saturday 10 a.m., due to the extreme cold that settled in the province on Friday.
The temperature in the Old Capital was -48 degrees Celsius around 5 a.m. Saturday morning with the wind chill factor, and is expected to rise to -26, or -40 degrees Celsius with wind chill, around 10 a.m., according to Environment Canada's forecast.
The temperature will gradually climb throughout the day to reach -19 degrees Celsius by mid-afternoon, -30 with the wind, according to Environment Canada's forecast, but Sunday should be much more comfortable with a maximum of -8 degrees.
In an interview with The Canadian Press on Thursday, Quebec Winter Carnival general manager Marie-Ève Jacob spoke of "truly exceptional circumstances."
She explained the decision to postpone the event by one day for "the safety of the carnival-goers," but also of the field teams "who would be exposed to dangerous cold temperatures."
The organization said it was convinced it had made the right decision to avoid frostbite and injuries.
Jacob said there have been three or four occasions in the last 20 years when sites have been closed due to storms, ice or extreme cold.
"At carnival as we like to say we are stronger than the cold, but smarter than the extreme cold," Jacob said in announcing the postponement of the official opening.
The Limoilou night parade will take place as planned on Saturday at 5.30 p.m. followed by the post-parade. The 'Franco Vidéotron' evening featuring Ariane Moffatt and Alfa Rococo will also be held as originally scheduled on Saturday at 8 p.m.
The 'Electro Frette' evening that was to be held on Friday has been moved to Sunday evening at 7 p.m.
The Quebec Winter Carnival will run until February 12.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 4, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Walmart Canada CEO says retailer not trying to profit from inflation
Walmart Canada is not trying to profit from food inflation, president and CEO Gonzalo Gebara told a parliamentary committee studying the issue Monday evening.

How many COVID-19 vaccine doses should you have by now?
Here is a summary of the current COVID-19 vaccination guidelines from NACI, for both children and adults who are at increased risk of serious illness and those who are not.
Victims identified as police reveal Nashville school shooter had drawn maps, done surveillance
The suspect in a Nashville school shooting on Monday had drawn a detailed map of the school, including potential entry points, and conducted surveillance before killing three students and three adults in the latest in a series of mass shootings in a country growing increasingly unnerved by bloodshed in schools.
From silicon to brain cells: How biology may hold the future of computers
As artificial intelligence software and advanced computers revolutionize modern technology, some researchers see a future where computer programmers leap from silicon to organic molecules.
Pope Francis the fashion icon? Detecting AI images reaches 'uncanny valley,' cybersecurity expert warns
After a few altered images of Pope Francis sporting a white puffer jacket convinced the online world the Catholic leader could be a part-time fashion icon, one expert warns the rapid improvement of AI could pose larger societal problems.
Freeland's budget to include grocery rebate for lower income Canadians, here's what else to expect Tuesday
The 2023 federal budget will include a one-time 'grocery rebate' for Canadians with lower incomes who may be struggling with the rising cost of food, CTV News has confirmed.
Gender-affirming care bans expanding, access being cut: U.S. laws now targeting transgender adults
In some U.S. states, proponents of gender-affirming care bans have argued for the last few years that minors are too young to make these medical decisions — but in 2023, legislative attempts to limit the health-care options for transgender youth have expanded to a new age group: adults.
Getting an extra consultation before surgery might not give you a better outcome: Canadian study
A new study that looked at more than 300,000 patients found that a medical consultation prior to a routine surgery wasn’t connected to a better surgical outcome, suggesting these consultations might not be necessary.
Quebec girl, 9, dies after snow fort collapses behind residence
A nine-year-old girl has died after a snow fort collapsed in a forest behind a rural Quebec home.