It's Officially Christmas--Traditional Lighting Ceremony on Parliament Hill Kicks Off the Season

Thousands gathered at Parliament Hill last night to witness the annual lighting ceremony, attended by prime minister Justin Trudeau.

More than 400,000 multi-coloured lights — 100,000 more than last year — lit up Parliament Hill, Sussex Drive, Wellington Street, Mackenzie Avenue, Elgin Street, the Alexandra Bridge and Laurier Street.

The ceremony began with a performance by Measha Brueggergosman and the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir. A new 13-minute multimedia projection show was also unveiled for the occasion. The winter-themed display--which features a musical soundtrack and stars a grizzly bear, a fox and a snowman on a quest for light--will be presented on a loop from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. every evening until Jan. 7, onto the Peace Tower and Centre Block.

The increase in lights for the ceremony and the new projection show were part of a plan to revamp the annual lights program by the Department of Canadian Heritage, after a report by National Capital Commission said the program was “mired in mediocrity”.

The ceremony also featured a fireworks display and free BeaverTail pastries and hot chocolate.

Photo by Michelle Tribe (Flickr.com)