The BreakFest Blog
News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.
TIAC Announces Recipients of 2011 Canadian Tourism Awards
OTTAWA, November 24, 2011 – Fourteen organizations and individuals were honoured tonight by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) as recipients of the 2011 Canadian Tourism Awards, presented by The Toronto Star.
The awards were presented earlier this evening at a gala ceremony at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa.
“TIAC wishes to congratulate the fourteen recipients of the 2011 Canadian Tourism Awards,” said TIAC President and CEO David Goldstein. “This outstanding group of individuals and organizations have demonstrated ingenuity, perseverence and determination on the path to success and are a testament to the strength of Canada’s tourism industry. We are very pleased to recognize them as organizations and individuals who help make Canada a world-class destination.”
Give the Gift of Comedy this Holiday Season!
[Source: Ottawa Arts Court press release]
‘Tis the season to “laugh your arts off!” And the Ottawa Arts Court Foundation has the perfect gift! Tickets to the must-see event of 2012!
Canadian superstar comic, John Wing Jr. will take on prominent Ottawa Lawyer, Mark Ertel in Law & Disorder – A Legal Comedy Debate on March 29, 2012 from 5 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Arts Court Theatre (2 Daly Ave.). This fantastic new event is sure to entertain, all the while raising funds for the Ottawa Arts Court Foundation (OACF), the charitable organization responsible for the provision of leading facilities, programs and services for the local arts community.
John Wing Jr., who has toured North America extensively, has over 200 television appearances including the Tonight Show, Just For Laughs, and Comedy Now specials under his belt, will have his hands full as Lawyer Mark Ertel of Bayne Sellar Boxall puts into practice his years of experience defending everything from parking tickets to first degree murder.
Hosted by Ottawa actor and playwright, Pierre Brault, this event will be sure to keep you laughing, no matter what side you take. It’s Art vs. Law, in a battle of wit and will that benefits the local arts community no matter the debate’s outcome.
Ottawa Tourism launches Bonus Booking Offers
Third night free offer coming soon!
[Source: Ottawa Tourism press release]
OTTAWA, November 22, 2011—Ottawa Tourism has just launched Bonus Booking Offers, a program that gives visitors customized offers based on total hotel value at participating hotels. For example, a stay valued at $200 might offer free breakfast while a stay valued at $300 might offer free parking. Bonus offers are managed by individual hotels on the www.OttawaTourism.ca website’s booking engine and are available for new reservations at participating hotels.
Another enticing offer is just a couple weeks away from being launched: as of November 30, visitors to Ottawa can indulge in a Third Night Free at participating hotels for bookings and travel between November 30, 2011 and March 31, 2012.
Both options make it extra-easy to plan an Ottawa getaway to enjoy holiday cheer, skate on the Rideau Canal, attend the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game festivities or indulge in Winterlude activities.
“We strive to keep our offers fresh and enticing,” says Noel Buckley, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “By working closely with our hotel and attraction partners the new Bonus Booking Offers allow hotels to provide value-added options to consumers who, as a result, may end up staying longer for less and enjoying more, especially when combined with the Third Night Free promotion.”
Ottawa Tourism provides industry leadership and destination marketing to service the travel media and attract visitors, tours and conventions to Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region. Visit Ottawa Tourism at www.ottawatourism.ca
Seventh Annual Research Forum In Gatineau Park
[NCC press release]
The Friends of Gatineau Park, in collaboration with the National Capital Commission (NCC), will be hosting the seventh annual research forum on Saturday, November 19, 2011, from 9:30 am to 3 pm at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre, located at 33 Scott Road in Chelsea. This is a great opportunity to attend a variety of free presentations in French and English on research conducted in Gatineau Park.
The Friends of Gatineau Park support research, through the granting of bursaries to young researchers. This year’s recipients will present the results of their work.
- Isabelle Lavoie, a post-doctoral researcher from the Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre of the INRS (Institut national de la recherche scientifique), will present an assessment of water quality in the Park, including her methods of assessment.
- Jean Faubert of FloraQuebeca will be giving a talk on the bryophytes of the Eardley Escarpment.
- Researchers from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, as well as Park biologists, will talk about the Park’s watersheds, forest growth and disturbances, the importance of ecological corridors, and the results of a study on visitor use.
Admission is free, but participants are encouraged to make a donation in support of research. Lunch will be provided. Advance registration is required, as space is limit.
Research grants are funded through the sale of raffle tickets. Prizes this year — a kayak, a tent with accessories and a bicycle — were donated by Paddle Shack, Camp de base and Vélo des Ronds-Points. Tickets are available at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre or through the Friends of Gatineau Park. The draw will be held on the day of the forum (November 19, 2011).
Research results provide a tool to support decision making in the management of Gatineau Park, as well as a source of valuable information for the interpretation and educational programs hosted by the Friends of Gatineau Park.
For more information or to register, contact the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre at 819-827-2020 or visit the Friends of Gatineau Park website friendsofgatineaupark.ca.
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SeptiÈme FORUM annuel de la recherche au parc de la Gatineau
Les Amis du parc de la Gatineau, en collaboration avec la Commission de la capitale nationale (CCN), tiendront leur septième forum annuel de la recherche le samedi 19 novembre 2011, de 9 h 30 à 15 h, au Centre des visiteurs du parc de la Gatineau, situé au 33, chemin Scott, à Chelsea. C’est l’occasion d’assister gratuitement à des présentations en français ou en anglais sur des recherches faites au parc de la Gatineau.
Les Amis du parc de la Gatineau offrent des bourses à de jeunes chercheurs dans le but d’appuyer la recherche au Parc. Les récipiendaires de cette année présenteront les résultats de leurs travaux.
- Madame Isabelle Lavoie, chercheuse postdoctorale au Centre Eau Terre Environnement de l’Institut national de la recherche scientifique, présentera une évaluation de la qualité des eaux du Parc et la méthode employée pour obtenir ces résultats.
- Monsieur Jean Faubert de Flora Quebeca nous fera découvrir des mousses et des hépatiques de l’escarpement d’Eardley.
- Des chercheurs de l’Université Carleton et de l’Université d’Ottawa ainsi que des biologistes du parc de la Gatineau parleront des bassins hydrographiques du Parc, de la croissance et des perturbations des forêts, de l’importance des corridors écologiques et des résultats d’une étude sur les visiteurs du Parc.
L’entrée est gratuite. Les participants seront toutefois invités à faire un don qui servira à appuyer la recherche. Un dîner sera servi. Les places sont limitées; il faut donc s’inscrire à l’avance.
Les bourses de recherche sont financées par la vente de billets de tirage. Les prix de cette année — un kayak, une tente et ses accessoires et un vélo — sont offerts par Paddle Shack, Camp de base et Vélo des Ronds-Points. On peut acheter des billets au Centre des visiteurs, à Chelsea, ou auprès des Amis du parc de la Gatineau. Le tirage aura lieu le jour du forum, le 19 novembre 2011.
Les résultats de recherche sont à la fois un outil d’aide à la prise de décisions de gestion du parc de la Gatineau et une source inestimable d’information servant à alimenter les programmes d’interprétation et d’éducation qu’offrent les Amis du parc de la Gatineau.
Pour plus de renseignements ou pour s’inscrire, on communique avec le Centre des visiteurs du parc de la Gatineau, au 819-827-2020, ou avec les Amis du parc de la Gatineau, au amisduparcdelagatineau.ca.
Skateway ‘shacks’ go upscale
New $750,000 shelters in place along Rideau Canal
OTTAWA — At $750,000 apiece, the new shelters on the Rideau Canal Skateway may cost the same as a house, but they’re not built like one.
For starters, the skateway receives up to a million local and international visitors a year. The structures are designed to be welcoming, durable and in keeping with their high public profile.
“That’s a hefty price tag but it’s not surprising,” said Carleton University architecture professor Yvan Cazabon. “Structurally they’re more involved than your average little shack. It has to be hoisted. There’s a lot of custom building. It’s not a Home Depot kit of parts.”
The National Capital Commission has installed seven new chalets — four change rooms and three washrooms — to replace battered wood structures used since the 1970s.
The total cost was $5.24-million, or about $750,000 per shelter. The project was paid for by the federal government’s $4-billion infrastructure stimulus fund, created to fight the recession.
Capital BIXI Season Coming to an End
Returning next year on April 15, 2012
[NCC press release]
Canada’s Capital Region — With winter fast approaching, November 15 at 10 am will mark the end of the first season of the Capital BIXI bike share service. After this time, users will still be able to return their BIXI bike back to a station, but it will no longer be possible to rent one. The NCC also plans to remove all ten BIXI stations on November 15 for winter storage.
The NCC thanks all Capital BIXI users for contributing to making the bike sharing system a valuable transportation alternative in the region. The use of active modes of transportation has a positive impact on public health, the environment and transportation costs while enhancing the vibrancy of the Capital Region.
From May 18 to November 13, 2011, the Capital BIXI service generated 21,658 cycling trips stemming from 173 monthly and yearly subscribers and 7,384 distinct occasional users.
Capital BIXI Key ― Members can keep their Capital BIXI key for the 2012 season as it can be reactivated for upcoming seasons.
VIA Rail ― Members can also choose VIA Rail for their next trip in Canada and take advantage of a 10% discount on VIA’s best rate. To reserve your trip, visit your personal space at https://capital.bixi.com.
A BIXI for Christmas ― Gift certificates for yearly and monthly memberships are available online at http://boutique.bixi.com/.
Signature style
Janet Wilson, The Ottawa Citizen
Flamboyant designer Adrian Wu, who has built a reputation for his theatrical runway shows and over-the-top fashion, will open Ottawa’s Signatures Christmas Show on Nov. 15.
The 21-year-old Wu spent Tuesday walking around the architecturally stunning Ottawa Convention Centre getting a feel for the bold, sleek space before he launches his holiday collection, which will include silks, taffeta and some “sculptural” pieces.
“The modern venue with the glass, glass triangles and the contemporary carpets will have an impact on my show. It isn’t just about the clothes, but rather the overall message. The show, which is still being established as we speak, is ultimately the final product,” Wu said.
This will be Wu’s first exclusive runway show. He appeared at last month’s Toronto Fashion Week and has shown twice at Ottawa Fashion Week.
“People tell me Ottawa is conventional, yet I’m not conventional. I’m a human being trying to evoke a message. It’s just by coincidence that people call me a designer,” says the self-taught Burlington, Ont. native.
“I hope to live here one day. I love Ottawa and think it has the potential to be a real fashion capital.”
2012 FEO Conference Welcomes Social Media Guru as Keynote
[FEO press release]
(WOODSTOCK, ON) November 11, 2011 – Scott Stratten, president of UnMarketing, and a world expert in Viral, Social and Authentic Marketing, has been confirmed as the Opening Keynote Speaker for the Festivals & Events Ontario (FEO) 2012 Conference in Niagara Falls, scheduled for Thursday March 1 through Saturday March 3, 2012 at the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel & Conference Centre in Niagara Falls.
Presented by Niagara College, Stratten will deliver his keynote the morning of Friday, March 2, 2012, after the conference is already in progress. The conference gets underway by welcoming regular delegates the previous day at 1pm; a number of education and networking sessions are planned for that afternoon, followed by an opening welcome reception Thursday night. An additional, intensive, all-day educational session, featuring a world-renowned expert in their respective field, will also be available on a separate fee basis beginning at 8:30am Thursday morning.
Stratten is in demand as a speaker throughout the world and he has worked with organizations such as PepsiCo, Adobe, Red Cross, Cirque du Soleil, Fedelity Investments and, now, Festivals & Events Ontario. He now has over 100,000 people follow him on Twitter and was voted as one of the top influencers on the Twitter site, which has over 200 million users. His book “UnMarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging” became a national best-seller before it was released, and recently became a Globe and Mail #1 Business best-seller and also a National Post, Amazon.com and Amazon UK best-seller.
The Farm Family Project – More Than Just Pretty Faces
We’d like to share some information that was sent to us:
Artist: Rob Macinnis
Artist’s Talk: Friday November 25th, 2011, 19:00
Vernissage: Friday, November 18th, 2011, 18:00 – 21:00
On View: November 18th, 2011 – December 17th, 2011
Mon – Fri 10:00 -18:00, Sat 10:00-15:00
MORE THAN JUST PRETTY FACES
In The Farm Family Project, photo-based artist Rob Macinnis employs animals as portrait subjects in what began as an examination of fashion photography and the balance of power between humans and animals. The artist describes his early process:
“I began photographing farm animals because I was interested in using them as a metaphor for the fashion model, I wanted to draw parallels between literally consuming them, which we do everyday, and the way the photograph ‘consumes’ its subject.”
The faces of sheep, pigs, and other barnyard beasts gaze out from his large colour prints created in a variety of formats over a five-year period. They appear by turns sentient, expressive and humbled, inciting a host of reactions in the viewer including compassion and empathy that cross the species barrier.
From its beginnings, drawing parallels between the consumption of animals and the fashion world’s consumption of the body, The Farm Family Project has evolved into a broader critique of photography’s role in society. In the artist’s words:
“I wanted to explore more how the camera manipulates its subject and constructs a reality, more than learn anything directly specific about the animals.”
How Canadians Rate their National Capital: NCC and ACS Release New National Survey
[Source: NCC press release]
Canada’s Capital Region – Today the National Capital Commission and the Association for Canadian Studies released survey data which found that a plurality of Canadians feel that the most important roles for the Capital is to represent Canada to the world and to the country. Canada’s Capital also ranked highest among international capital cities according to respondents in 4 countries surveyed.
ACS Executive Director Jack Jedwab said “our research collaboration with the NCC reveals Canadians rate their Capital more positively than other international leading capitals are rated by their own citizens”. When asked about overall perceptions of their own national capital, almost 9 out of 10 (89%) Canadians ranked Canada’s Capital as positive or very positive. This was higher than the ratings provided by the citizens surveyed in the United States (76%), United Kingdom (82%) and France (80%) about perceptions of their respective national capitals.
Some 82% of Canadians ranked the Capital Region positively (somewhat + very) when asked to rate some of the country’s major metropolitan areas.
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