The BreakFest Blog
News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.
Flood advisory issued for Rideau River: Silver lining, good for tulips
More than 30 mm of rain is expected to fall over the next couple of days, following what has already been one of the wettest Aprils in years.
Patrick Larson, a spokesman for the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, said residents should brace themselves for a very wet Thursday.
As for a silver lining in all the dark clouds, the National Capital Commission predicted the April weather would make for perfect conditions in the lead-up to next month’s Tulip Festival.
“We should get a good three-week blooming season this year,” said Mario Fournier, the NCC’s manager in charge of parks and green spaces around Ottawa. “We’re just right on target.”
For the full article visit CBC.ca
Ottawa Tourism announces the finalists for the 2011 Ottawa Tourism Awards
Ottawa Festivals would like to congratulate all of the finalists for the 2011 Ottawa Tourism Awards. Best of luck on May 12!
2011 Ottawa Tourism Awards Finalists:
NEW COMPANY OF THE YEAR
- Calypso Theme Waterpark
- C’est Bon Cooking
- Classic Theatre Festival
INNOVATION OF THE YEAR
- Calypso Theme Waterpark
- C’est Bon Cooking: Foods of Ottawa Tours
- Museum of Civilization: Blackberry App
- National Arts Centre: Oscar’s Corner
- National Capital Commission: Mosaika
EVENT OF THE YEAR
- Bell Capital Cup
- Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest
- Canadian Museum of Nature: Grand re-opening
- National Capital Commission: Canada Day
- National Capital Commission: Mosaika
TOURISM PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR
- Downtown Rideau BIA & Arts Court Productions, Ottawa Little Theatre, Salamander Shakespeare Company – Downtown Rideau Summer Fling
- Haunted Walks Inc., The Ottawa Jail Hostel, The Bytown Museum & The Canadian Museum of Nature – Unique Tours of Ottawa
- National Capital Commission, City of Ottawa, Ville de Gatineau & Google Maps – Capital Pathway Network
- National Capital Commission & Museum of Civilization – Winterlude opening
- Savvy Company and Thyme & Again Catering – Local Culinary Experiences
- Somerset Street Chinatown BIA, City of Ottawa, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China & City of Beijing – Ottawa Chinatown Gateway Project
- Wilderness Tours & Windmill Developments – Whitewater Village
We look forward to celebrating excellence in our tourism industry on May 12 at the Ottawa Convention Centre.
Congratulations to all the finalists!
The Kingdom of Osgoode Medieval Festival
Planning is well underway for this year’s Kingdom of Osgoode Medieval Festival which will see an expanded Education Day (Friday 8 July), new events for children and parents alike and additional seating for the Feast. So mark your calendars for two days of jousting, dancing, music, merchants, archery demonstrations and more! Medieval dress is encouraged but not required.
July 8-10 – The Kingdom of Osgoode Medieval Festival, Osgoode Market Square, Osgoode Main Street, open 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tickets $5/person, children under 4 free.
July 8 – Education Day (children only). To register, download the form and mail with a cheque to Kingdom of Osgoode, Box 411, Osgoode ON, K0A 2W0.
July 9 – King’s Feast, Osgoode Community Centre, 5660 Osgoode Main Street.
Adults – $45 in advance, $50 at the door.
Children – $30 in advance, $35 at the door.
King’s Feast tickets on sale at Foodland or by calling Trudy Quinn at 613-826-1649.
Vendor information, contact Brenda Fedun at 613-821-1846 or tudorlady@gmail.com.
To volunteer, contact Connie Bazil at 613-826-3135 or email gbazil@sympatico.ca.
Visit www.osgoodemedievalfestival.com or contact Judy Carey at 613-826-1622 or at carey002@rogers.com for more information.
Exhibition No. 6, Work from the SPAO Portfolio Program, Straight Up.
On Friday April 29, 2011 between 15:00 and 21:00, the School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa will open its doors to the public for the vernissage of Exhibition No. 6. This exhibit is the latest of the annual series showcasing outstanding photographs produced by SPAO Portfolio Program students. The entire school will become the students’ gallery and open to the public during the following hours:
Friday, April 29th 15:00-21:00
Saturday, April 30th 10:00-18:00
Sunday, May 1st 10:00-18:00
Monday, May 2nd 11:00-19:00
Tuesday, May 3rd 11:00-19:00
Wednesday, May 4th 11:00-19:00
Thursday, May 5th 11:00-19:00
Friday, May 6th 11:00-15:00
A compelling blend of work from Level 1 and 2 students will be on exhibit as well as in complete portfolios. This group of work reflects ideas of identity, intense emotion, self-discovery, and individualism, but above all, this work is honest. Artists’ talks will be given on Saturday April 30th and Sunday May 1st 12:00 – 14:00.
Each of the 23 exhibiting students has a unique and compelling story behind their body of work. Olivia Johnston spent her second year at SPAO photographing and interviewing girls and women who have recovered from eating disorders.
“When I began this project, I expected to learn a great deal from the women I photographed, and intellectually I have; I now know much more about eating disorders than ever before. However, since getting to know the beautiful, confident, captivating, intelligent women who participated in the project, the diseases make less sense than ever. How and why does this happen to our best and brightest?”
One of Kathy Roussel’s photographic projects was photographing mayoral candidates of the 2010 election.
“What started off as a very simple exploration of the political candidates of Ottawa became a dialogue between the camera and each candidate. This series, a blend of documentary work and portraiture, does not answer political questions, but asks them.”
Exhibition week will also feature two publications for sale: a catalogue of the works on exhibit, and the third issue of PUSH/PULL, the annual student magazine. A limited edition of the poster designed especially for the exhibition by Neville Smith will also be available for purchase.
SPAO is celebrating its 6th academic year. The school and its Portfolio Program were founded to offer comprehensive, intensive photographic training in an intimate environment. The year-end exhibition is the public’s annual opportunity to view the work produced by the small classes, mentoring and collaboration at SPAO. Please come celebrate with us and see the works of this exceptional group in their pursuit of VISION, CONTENT and CRAFT.
If you have any questions about Exhibition No. 6, or would like to receive images for publication, please contact SPAO directly at: 613.562.3824 or khalia@spao.ca
Contact: Khalia Scott – SPAO Director
For more inforamiton visit http://www.spao.ca/specialevents.html
Hike for Hospice fundraiser to take place May 1
Source: Ottawa Citizen
Sunday, May 1 is May Day. Nowhere else in Ottawa will it be more meaningful than for those walking to fundraise for The Hospice at May Court.
The Hospice at May Court provides its services to patients and their families at no charge. In order to be able to offer this valuable service to the community, The Hospice at May Court must fundraise $1.5 million annually. Thanks to the generosity of thousands of donors each year and funds raised through events such as Hike for Hospice and the very popular Homes for the Holidays event held every November, The Hospice continues to help those in need.
The fundraising goal for 9th annual Hike for Hospice is $100,000. The day begins with registration and opening remarks, followed by warm-up exercises for the expected 400 hikers, led by Carleton University athletes. Over 75 volunteers will be there to take care of the participants. The fun five kilometre family friendly hike will take place rain or shine. The registration fee is $20 and includes a hike t-shirt, Tim Horton’s coffee and snacks, musical entertainment by Swampland Dixieland Band, belly dancers, Ray’s Reptiles, face painting, a delicious lunch from the Red Apron and a silent auction.
If you are interested in supporting or participating in Hike for Hospice, please go to www. hospicemaycourt.com or contact Ola Spec, coordinator of Events and Sponsorships at 613-260-2906 x232 or ola.spec@hospicemaycourt.com.
To read the full article visit The Ottawa Citizen.
Tea party brings royal wedding style to Ottawa
Jessica Smith, Metro Ottawa
A high tea and fashion show at the Museum of Nature tomorrow will give Ottawans who weren’t invited to the royal wedding a chance to enjoy some of its perks.
Formal attire worthy of the upcoming royal wedding, supplied by the St. Laurent Centre, will be modelled in a show presided over by Canadian fashionista Jeanne Beker.
Rather than a typical runway show the models will walk about the guests and be able to answer questions about the pieces.
“It’s great to combine fashion, fun and fundraising. With the royal wedding coming, it’s a great opportunity to host an afternoon tea,” said Bernice Rachkowski, marketing director for the St. Laurent Centre.
The event will be hosted by the CTV’s Carol Ann Meehan and adding to the pomp and circumstance of the occasion will be an appearance by the Governor-General’s foot guards.
The Royal ParTea is a fundraiser for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.
Tickets are available at www.ottawacancer.ca.
Visit Metro Ottawa for the full article.
Tasty challenge – Enjoy a fabulous meal out and savour Taste for Life
Ron Eade, The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA — Who knew that helping charities could be so easy, and so darned tasty?
Small wonder the popular 13th annual Taste for Life dining-out event, which takes place on April 27, now involves 48 restaurants across Ottawa and the Outaouais that pledge to donate 25 per cent of their food and drink sales to help people living with HIV and AIDS.
The program, now touching 28 communities in Ontario and Alberta, raises about $95,000 in the nation’s capital each year. To date it has raised about $1.5 million nationwide.
“People love it because they can try a new restaurant they’ve been meaning to visit, and help a charity at the same time,” says Martha Scott, development consultant at Ottawa’s Bruce House, who was instrumental in starting the program in 1999. The other beneficiary is Snowy Owl AIDS Foundation.
Taste for Life is supported by TD Canada Trust with money and volunteers at each dinner. For a list of restaurants and to make a reservation, check the website www.atasteforlife.org.
For the full article visit The Ottawa Citizen.
Sky World: Aboriginal Youth building community through theatre
Source: Fund Change
The Ottawa School of Speech & Drama (OSSD) http://www.ossd.com is a charitable organization dedicated to theatre arts education and training in the capital region. OSSD is partnering with Wabano (http://wabano.com/) as part of the school’s outreach programming. Outreach acting programs enable disenfranchised youth to learn valuable social skills as well as specific language and presentational skills.
The Sky World project will provide a series of drama workshops to 20-25 Aboriginal Youth. Working with established theatre professionals, and under the guidance of Aboriginal Elders, the participants will learn such performance techniques as building the ensemble, storytelling, writing for stage, movement, voice, mask, improvisation, and mime. The youth will also explore areas of set design, sound, lighting, and stage management.
The workshop nature of the project encourages youth development through drama. The process builds self-confidence, literacy skills, and enhanced communication skills through voice and movement. Community is built through the ensemble method of theatre training, encouraging collaboration and empathetic response.
The project will focus on developing an original theatre piece based on the theme of Sky World as interpreted by Elders, with research from participants. A final presentation for family, friends and community will take place in the theatre facilities at The Ottawa School of Speech & Drama, in Westboro, Ottawa.
The project is scheduled to start in May, with a completion date at the end of June.
Read the full story from Fund Change.
CN Cycle for CHEO – It’s what you can do to help kids with cancer
Source: The Ottawa Citizen
Being told that your child has cancer is some of the most devastating news that any parent will ever hear. For most of us, it is simply unimaginable and yet approximately 70 families in the Ottawa region hear this news from their doctor each and every year. As news spreads the question most often heard from family, friends, neighbours and co-workers is how can I help? The CN Cycle for CHEO was born of this same desire to help, and has become the region’s largest display of community support for children and families confronting pediatric cancer.
CN’s support, coupled with a community’s enthusiasm has helped raise over $1 million in support of pediatric cancer over the last two years. This is an encouraging number as we prepare for the third annual CN Cycle for CHEO.
The CN Cycle for CHEO is the Ottawa region’s largest fundraising event for pediatric cancer. It is a non-competitive, recreational event that offers cycling, in-line skating and walking events for people of all ages and abilities. This year, the CN Cycle for CHEO will take place on Sunday, May 1 with all events staged from the Canadian War Museum and the adjoining grounds of Lebreton Flats. Participants will enjoy the unique opportunity to safely cycle, in-line skate or walk along Ottawa’s most scenic, fully supported routes and share a wonderful community experience. There are new separate routes for the 70K and 35K cyclists and all of the fun and camaraderie that people have come to expect. After completing their chosen event, participants will be treated to food and family entertainment while they await the amazing prize draws and the announcement of the amount of money raised for CHEO. All of this takes place in the span of a Sunday morning with the event wrapping up shortly after noon.
For more information on events, registration and prizes please visit www.cncycle.ca.
Read the full story from The Ottawa Citizen.
LES DOCUMENTS DE DISCUSSION EN VUE DU RENOUVELLEMENT DU PLAN POUR LES ARTS ET LE PATRIMOINE SONT PRÊTS!
Les documents de discussion sur le renouvellement du Plan pour les arts et le patrimoine d’Ottawa 20/20 présentent des stratégies et des mesures qui pourraient être incluses dans un deuxième Plan d’action quinquennal pour la culture. On trouve les 11 documents de discussion au : http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/arts/news/plan_renewal/index_fr.html.
Prenez le temps de les lire et de répondre aux questions que vous trouverez à la fin de chaque document. Nous serons heureux de recevoir tout autre commentaire, stratégie ou idée! Vous avez jusqu’au 29 avril pour le faire.
Nous apprécions votre engagement et votre appui au développement culturel de notre ville. N’hésitez surtout pas à envoyer ce message à vos membres et contacts.
Contribuez ainsi à l’élaboration du deuxième Plan d’action quinquennal pour la culture d’Ottawa!
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