Final weekend of March Break in Ottawa brings families outside
March Break is wrapping up for thousands of students across the province as the annual holiday marked the first break in three years without pandemic restrictions.
The spring-like weather meant many spent Saturday outside in the nation’s capital.
Centretown hosted a festival called Fire and Ice.
“It was good for the family to come out and enjoy the special meaning of what frozen ice and fire is all about,” said Roger Loyer, who is involved in the festival. “Kind of give people a chance to have fun and get into the colours of its purpose and reason.”
Many families were enjoying the outdoor exhibits.
“It’s really fun with the kids, getting to spend time with them and it brings back memories from when we had March Break,” said Shehzad Ismail, an Ottawa resident.
Young ones took time to create wood centrepieces at the event to put on display.
“It’s going really great, I have both of my children here and we are really looking forward to what Ottawa has for this festival because it’s our first time,” said Ruth Gostaw, who was at the festival with her two young kids.
As students took a break from their studies, Ottawa became a destination for those who were visiting out of province or town.
“We have had kind of a weird winter with the weather and we haven’t been able to go out skating so this is our first time downtown this year, it’s great,” said Mario Lambert, a parent of two.
Some city skating rinks, like the Rink of Dreams, remained open despite the warmer weather.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada makes amendments to foreign homebuyers ban – here's what they look like
Months after Canada's ban on foreign homebuyers took effect on Jan. 1, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has made several amendments to the legislation allowing non-Canadians to purchase residential properties in certain circumstances.

Spending to increase economic capacity is fiscally responsible, Freeland says in post-budget defence
Defending her latest federal budget, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said spending that increases economic capacity is fiscally responsible.
What is the grocery rebate in federal budget 2023? Key questions, answered
To help offset rising living expenses, the Government of Canada has introduced a one-time grocery rebate for low- and modest-income Canadians. Here is what we know about the rebate.
Victim of Vancouver stabbing had asked man not to vape near toddler, says grieving mom
The family of a 37-year-old man who was stabbed to death in Vancouver last weekend says he was attacked after asking someone not to vape near his young daughter.
From royal titles to animal testing: The law changes coming in the budget bill
The 2023 federal budget released this week includes a series of affordability measures, tax changes, and major spends on health care and the clean economy. But, tucked into the 255-page document are a series of smaller items you may have missed.
opinion | Don Martin's sorry-to-be-cynical prediction on the federal budget
The only thing most Canadians will remember about the budget this time next week is how the booze tax increase was reduced to two per cent from six, writes Don Martin in a column for CTVNews.ca.
RCMP interviewing Canadians held in detention camps in Syria: sources
CTV News has learned that RCMP officers are currently in northeast Syria, interviewing Canadians held in detention camps in order to bring them back to Canada. The three Mounties have so far interviewed only Canadian women in Al-Roj camp.
Actress Melissa Joan Hart describes helping children flee campus after Nashville school shooting
Actress Melissa Joan Hart says she was near Nashville's Covenant School soon after Monday's deadly shooting of six people, including three children, and helped some students get away from the scene.
Frustration, anticipation mark industry response to budget's flight delay fixes
The federal government has air travel on its radar after laying out plans in its budget to speed up airport security screening and reduce flight delays, but industry and advocates remain skeptical.