A Season of Lights, Learning, and Outdoor Connection

WESLEY CLOVER PARKS — A four-season community hub for outdoor recreation • wesleycloverparks.com

This winter, Magic of Lights Ottawa celebrated its 10th anniversary at Wesley Clover Parks, running from November 21 through January 3. Over the past decade, the event has become a cherished holiday tradition for Ottawa residents and visitors, while donating more than $350,000 to local charities. Across ten seasons, teams have hung more than 20 million lights and installed over 200 kilometres of electrical cord to bring displays to life year after year.

Community impact remained central to this anniversary season. Magic of Lights Ottawa continued its partnership with the CHEO Foundation, supporting CHEO’s Kids These Days Campaign, the largest redevelopment campaign in CHEO’s 50-year history aimed at transforming pediatric care across the region. Each year, tickets are also donated directly to CHEO families and staff, with more than 2,500 carloads welcomed to enjoy the lights to date.

Winter recreation at The Parks saw a strong start, thanks to excellent snowfall. Members of the Kanata Nordic Ski Club have enjoyed robust conditions for both ski and snowshoe trails throughout the site. The volunteer-run club continues to maintain more than 18 kilometres of classic and skate-ski trails, while offering learn-to-ski programming and community events that bring outdoor enthusiasts of all ages together throughout the winter months.

At the Ian Millar School of Horsemanship, October marked the successful launch of Discover Horses, a new hands-on program designed as an accessible introduction to horsemanship. Offered bi-weekly and already running at capacity, these sessions invite participants of all ages to connect with the school horses through grooming, leading, and relaxed time in the barn.

Building on this momentum, the school is preparing to launch its Riding Foundations: Introduction Series. This six-week, beginner-friendly program will introduce the fundamentals of horsemanship and movement, helping participants build confidence, coordination, and core skills for riding. The series will be offered in age-specific groups for youth, teens, and adults.

Together, these new offerings reflect the Ian Millar School of Horsemanship’s all-inclusive approach, creating welcoming first steps into the world of horses — from casual, social interactions to more structured skill-building experiences.

To learn more about our events, visit wesleycloverparks.com