The BreakFest Blog
News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.
Grants Ontario is Live: Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Grants Ontario an online tool that provides one-window access to information about grants offered by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.
Grants Ontario supports elements of the 2011 Partnership Project report where non-profit organizations asked the Ontario Government to ‘… institute standardized application forms, timelines accountability and reporting requirements across ministries by moving as much as possible online.
Benefits of Grants Ontario
Simplified application process
By replacing antiquated software Grants Ontario now allows you to locate, draft and submit grant applications, check application status and manage reports – all online!
Grants Ontario’s automated features relieve the burden of repeated manual input of information which reduces the amount of time spent on submitting applications. Once you have registered, the system will automatically record your contact details such as name, address and title, and uses common application questions to simplify online submissions.
The addition of online report filing in April 2012 will further reduce workload and demonstrates a commitment to a cleaner environment. Payment processes to successful applicants will also be streamlined.
Secure information
Grants Ontario is a secure system that can only be accessed via the Government of Ontario’s encrypted ONE key log-in system. Until data is submitted to the ministry only the applicant will see it.
Get Ready for Grants Ontario
While program application material is not yet available, grant recipients and prospective applicants are encouraged to register on the Grants Ontario system to obtain their One-Key ID and password as soon as possible.
Applicants must complete the enrolment process on the new Grants Ontario before applying to any of the Ministry’s funding programs.
Find out more about Grants Ontario
Visit Grants Ontario ( www.grants.gov.on.ca) to access the online training material and a Frequently Asked Questions section. Technical support will be available during regular business hours.
Simpson: Aiming to grow the fest
Peter Simpson, Ottawa Citizen
The running start of last year’s inaugural festival was enough to convince organizers the demand was there.
“We were flying by the seat of our pants last year,” O’Meara says. “We didn’t have any funding, but we managed to put together a very successful festival … We ended up having more than 1,000 people come out to the festival, even with the short time we had to plan it. This year we’ve had a full year and we’ve had lots of time to plan it and go big.”
Read more: Aiming to grow the fest
All-Star game gives Ottawa a chance to shine
Rebecca Lindell, Global News
Ottawa is the host city for the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, the league’s annual showcase of talent pitting NHL heroes against each other in a game for fun.
The game will be televised in 150 countries and with such bright stars on home ice, it gives Ottawa a chance to shine.
“It’s a big spotlight for the city of Ottawa,” said Cyril Leeder, president of the Ottawa Senators.
The events around the All-Star game have been designed to take advantage of one of Ottawa’s unavoidable characteristics.
Read it on Global News: All-Star game gives Ottawa a chance to shine
Ottawa needs a better attitude: If you’re complaining that Ottawa sucks you’re not looking hard enough
Emma Godmere, Ottawa Citizen
Despite being more than 150 years old, I think Ottawa shares more similarities with a young twentysomething than a supercentenarian.
In fact, I think the nation’s capital and I are a lot alike.
We tend to fall victim to our inferiority complexes. We compare ourselves to others who are older, more attractive, and more experienced than us. We’re concerned we too often sit back and refrain from acting out, or acting on our impulses. And sometimes, we just don’t know who or what we want to be.
Read the full piece on the Ottawa Citizen website: Ottawa needs a better attitude
Ottawa Mayor wants big bang on Canada’s 150th birthday
Postmedia News
Canada Day festivities in 2017 should be turned into a weeklong “Canadian Cultural Festival,” says Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.
The city should work with the National Arts Centre, National Capital Commission, provincial and territorial governments and the private sector to create the event between June 25 and July 1 in the year of Canada’s 150th birthday, Watson said in prepared remarks to an Ottawa Kiwanis Club luncheon.
Full story at Canada.com Ottawa Mayor wants big bang on Canada’s 150th birthday
Ottawa Tourism reallocates resources to convention attraction: One-time provincial funding unlikely to be renewed
Elizabeth Howell, OBJ
A fund used to bring large-scale conventions to Ottawa is expected to remain intact even though the provincial government appears disinclined to put more money on the table.
However, its continuation will likely come at the expense of other programs at Ottawa Tourism as the local agency uses “funds from within (its) current resources” to top off the convention attraction program, according to CEO Noel Buckley.
“What it means is we have to find a way to make this a sustainable program from a local perspective … that would allow us to properly compete in this competitive market segment,” he says.
Full story is available on the OBJ website: Ottawa Tourism reallocates resources to convention attraction
WinterBeerFest rolls into town
Ron Eade, Ottawa Citizen
Winter ales from Quebec will be toasted Friday and Saturday at the Château Cartier in Gatineau as organizers roll out their first WinterBeerFest, offering a mix of artisan beer, food, music and activities – complete with bonfire to stave off the cold.
Admission is free, but participants must be age 18 and over.
Beer tastings will be available in four-and eight-ounce pours. Tickets at 50¢ each will be required to sample (four tickets for the small size, eight for the eight-ounce serving).
Read more on the Ottawa Citizen website: WinterBeerFest rolls into town
Mayor touts ‘new way of thinking’ about economic development
OBJ Staff
Mayor Watson said the creation of Invest Ottawa is proof that economic development will be a top priority for his administration.
Among other achievements, the mayor pointed to the Major Events Office that will operate in partnership with Ottawa Tourism. The office will try to bring major events, such as the NHL All-Star Game, the 2012 Juno Awards and possibly the 2015 FIFA Women’s Cup, to Canada’s capital.
Along with the new Convention Centre, he said these major events can help grow the city’s tourism sector.
Full story on the OBJ website: Mayor touts ‘new way of thinking’ about economic development
Festival by-law public consult Jan. 17
Joanne Chianello, Ottawa Citizen
If you’re the kind of person interested in the way the dozens of festivals in this city are regulated, or if you simply get a kick from public consultations, you may want to drop by Ben Franklin Centre next Tuesday, January 17 at 7 p.m.
That’s when the city’s Delores MacAdam, the program manager of event central office, will give a PowerPoint presentation on the draft by-law that will be tabled with the community and protective services committee next weekend.
City staff have been working trying to pass a by-laws for years, and it’s not such a bad idea. It would standardize the rules and requirements for holding a special event, and in particular, give city officials authority to penalize those who break the rules.
Full editorial: Festival by-law public consult
Finding their voice – through poetry
Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen
For Liam and teens like him all across Ottawa, spoken word poetry is helping them find their voice and express how they feel about difficult things they face in their lives or the world around them. Depression, suicide, addiction, bullies, broken hearts and stereotypes are all fodder for poems, but so, too, are death, dictators and dearly beloved family members, in this art form that bursts with creativity, energy and emotion.
The budding poets meet over the lunch hour in Phelan’s second-floor classroom, where they fine-tune and perform pieces for each other. They also drop rhymes at school assemblies and many attend monthly poetry slams held at the central branch of the Ottawa Public Library.
Spoken word poetry has flourished in the city since the first national festival was held here in 2004. Ottawa teams have twice won the Canadian slam poetry title and the brand new youth team, which Liam is on, won the top prize at this year’s festival in Toronto.
Full story: Finding their voice – through poetry
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