Warmer weather means hot savings for winter clothes at Ottawa stores
Thursday marked another warmer than average winter day in Ottawa, making it feel like it's time to put away that winter gear – or it might be the perfect time to buy some.
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Sonia Leroy and her daughter Rowan Hughes are heading to Mont Tremblant for a ski trip this weekend.
"It occurred to me that since my daughter is wearing my snow pants, I don't have anything to wear," said Leroy. "So I was going to rent some."
But to her surprise, renting snow gear was even more expensive than buying it brand new.
"We were going to rent snow gear and everything at Tremblant for our ski trip this weekend for $75, a jacket and snow pants," said Hughes. "But you could just buy an amazing pair of snow pants instead."
Almost all of this year’s winter clothing is on sale at Bushtukah, a winter store with three locations in Ottawa.
The wall of skis at the store has never been this full in mid-February. On Thursday, it was all on sale.
"From a pure winter enthusiast standpoint, it's been a bit of a disappointment," said Bushtukah's CFO Dave Morton.
"It's looking like it will be an early spring, which means that, there are some great deals for consumers still looking for some winter clothing," said Morton.
That "early spring" feeling is getting many to start thinking about warmer days ahead.
"Yesterday, there was a lineup of 10 people and they're all bringing their bikes in," said Mike Osborne, Bushtukah's head service writer. "They all know the warm weather is here."
Cyco’s, an outdoor sports shop located near the Rideau Canal, relies on skate rentals all winter. It’s been a rough two years, with the Skateway being only briefly open this year and not at all last season.
"It’s a major hit not having the canal," said Bruce Martin, Cyco’s co-owner.
"We’re looking at probably $30,000 to $40,000 that we lose without the canal. This year won't be as bad because we've been able to have some canal time."
Luckily, they too are seeing cyclists already lining up in for early spring tune-ups.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.