Extreme cold puts many New Year’s Eve plans on ice

2018 will get a frigid welcome across most of the country Sunday night.

Some New Year’s Eve plans across Canada are being put on ice thanks to a long-lasting cold snap not expected to break until Tuesday in some places.

TORONTO

The City of Toronto previously announced its New Year’s Eve celebrations would be scaled back at Nathan Phillips Square due to the extreme cold weather conditions. With temperatures expected to plunge to -30 with the wind chill, officials say the program will start at 11:30 p.m. with a live DJ set to be followed by a countdown to the fireworks display at midnight.

MISSISSAUGA

The party at Mississauga’s Celebration Square has been shortened, and will now begin at 11:30 p.m. Live performances by DJ Shaun Frank and singer Delaney Jane will be followed by fireworks at midnight.

BRAMPTON

The city has elected to move most of its downtown celebrations indoors with only performances by Canadian rock band The Sheepdogs and rapper Pryde starting at 11 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled for midnight over the Rose Theatre and Main Street North. Inside City Hall, family-friendly programming including a kids dance party in the Atrium and a craft station in the Conservatory are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. up until 11 p.m.

OTTAWA

With wind chill values expected to be -35 on Sunday night, organizers of the party on Parliament Hill announced Friday they’re scaling back the event. Live musical performances have been cancelled but the city will still go ahead with a fireworks display and light show. The Canada 150 hockey tournament featuring 16 peewee boys and girls’ house league division teams from across Canada, which was scheduled to take place on the Canada 150 rink, has been relocated to indoor locations. Public skating will now be available on the outdoor rink instead.

MONTREAL

A huge New Year’s Eve party to cap the city’s 375th-birthday celebrations will go ahead as planned but organizers are expecting attendance to drop because of cold-weather warnings. The weather there is forecast to be -26 Celsius.

CALGARY

The outdoor New Year’s Eve celebrations at Olympic Plaza have been cancelled due to the extreme cold and wind chill. Officials say they still expect the ball to drop and fireworks to light up the sky and that people will be able to watch it on TV as well.

With files from The Canadian Press