The BreakFest Blog
News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.
“Hip” Ottawa has awoken from its slumber: report
By Vito Pilieci, The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA — Sleepy town Ottawa has finally “become hip” according to the Washington Post.
In a 1,000-word column, called Discovering Canada’s cool capital, which was published in Sunday’s paper, Canadian ex-pat Michael Kaminer calls Ottawa “unselfconscious cool,” “lively, smart, quirky and confident.”
Kaminer tells the Post’s two million Sunday readers, that Ottawa’s nightlife, cultural scene, restaurants and shopping have roared to life in recent years rivalling cities such as Chicago and San Francisco, and more locally Toronto and Montreal.
The New York-based freelance writer is in the unique position of assessing the national capital’s transformation over the past decade, as he grew up in Montreal and often made fun of Ottawa during his youth.
Read more: “Hip” Ottawa has awoken from its slumber: report
O Ottawa. When did you get so hip? Discovering Canada’s cool capital
Michael Kaminer, Special to The Washington Post
In fact, if anything now characterizes the city, I’d say it’s an unselfconscious cool. There’s a proudly indie aesthetic in its neighborhoods, but without the hipster posturing of Toronto. Unlike language-obsessed Montreal, the city has a relaxed attitude toward bilingualism — everything here comes in both official languages — that lends Ottawa an easy cosmopolitanism.
Oh, yes: Ottawa also boasts Canada’s Parliament, along with the National Gallery, the Royal Canadian Mint, the Canadian War Museum, Rideau Hall, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian Children’s Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. They’re all gleaming, serious attractions, with collections often lauded as some of the world’s best.
They used to be the reason for a visit to Ottawa, with restaurants and shopping an afterthought. These days, don’t be surprised if you find the opposite to be true.
Read the full article in the Washington Post: O Ottawa. When did you get so hip?
Post-Canada Day Ottawa still has plenty to offer
Heather Greenwood Davis | Toronto Star
I’ve never seen anything like it. The pomp. The circumstance. The pageantry. Canada Day in the Nation’s capital rivals the biggest celebrations on the planet when it comes to we-are-the-best boasting and patriotic chants. It was so-un-Canadian! It was awesome.
And when it was over you could see the hunger in the eyes and fading tattoo flags on cheeks of newbies like myself who had hoped that the excitement of the day might last just a little bit longer.
What would Ottawa be like when the seas of people dressed in red and white went back to corporate life? Turns out it is still pretty incredible. While the flag may not be the outfit of choice for your teen everyday and while, yes it is time (and I am talking to you lone wolf) to remove the flag painted on your face, my family found that the summer time in Ottawa still has plenty to offer.
View the top 5 picks: Post-Canada Day Ottawa still has plenty to offer
Ottawa tourism hoping for China boom
CBC News
Ottawa’s historic Rideau Canal will soon be getting a big tourism push — in China.
Representatives from Beijing’s tourism division were in Ottawa on Monday to sign a friendship agreement that will see the canal promoted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Beijing.
Noel Buckley, the CEO of Ottawa Tourism, is excited about a tourism agreement Canada struck with China last December.
“We’re hoping that it gets signed in the very near future,” said Buckley. “We’re certain that it will. But we’re already starting to work with partners in China as we speak.”
Read more: Ottawa tourism hoping for China boom
City for sale
By Ken Gray, The Ottawa Citizen
Hey, wanna buy a used city? Hope someone will. We need to sell Ottawa if we are to revive the private sector in this community.
That involves bringing together the National Capital Commission (which is already conducting a branding exercise for the region), the federal and Ontario governments, the city government, plus private interests to market this city both for tourism and enticing entrepreneurs and business here. Ottawa has done a poor job of this in the past, so rather than the municipality being a vibrant mix of private industry and the public sector, which it could be, Ottawa has become a one-industry town.
Read more: City for sale
Ottawa: Your perfect destination
KEITH CARMAN FOR METRO OTTAWA
Yet while all of this is draining our potential fun time, there is an alluring, inexpensive and geographically ideal vacation locale for everyone from teenagers to seniors: Ottawa. As fiduciary responsibilities grow, the stay-cation becomes an enticingly sound option, reducing drain of every sort and compelling us to explore our own neighbourhoods.
Many hotels offer their own promotional campaigns, but one of the quickest and easiest methods of arranging a no-frills leave is as simple as contacting Capital Tickets (ottawatourism.ca/888-688-2928), the official booking agent for Ottawa Tourism.
Chatting with their representatives reveals an endless array of personalized getaways literally steps from our front door. With booking options for all surrounding hotels, events (Bluesfest, Jazzfest, Tulip Festival and more), shows (concerts, musicals, theatre), restaurants and government attractions (Art Gallery, War Museum, Museum Of Canada) with rates subject to availability/package choice, planning a miniscule holiday couldn’t be easier.
Full article: Ottawa: Your perfect destination
Note: Ottawa Festivals is now a ticket outlet for CapitalTickets. You can find us right in the ByWard Market at 47 William Street.
As visits drop, Ottawa Tourism turns to NY Times ads
ctvottawa.ca
With United States tourists reluctant to spend their dollars on tourism during the recession, Ottawa Tourism is bringing out the big guns to lure them here: a half-page Sunday advertisement in the New York Times.
The ad highlights the Rideau Canal as a World Heritage Site, Ottawa’s arts scene, and the Byward Market.
Although Ottawa Tourism representative Jantine Van Kregten didn’t specify how much the campaign costs, she said the total budget for U.S. advertising in New York and Boston runs about $615,000 annually.
Full story @ CTV online: As visits drop, Ottawa Tourism turns to NY Times ads
Canada a hit with Lonely Planet’s Twitter audience in wake of Vancouver Olympics: poll
The Canadian Press via The Toronto Star
Canada is a hit with Twitter followers of guidebook publisher Lonely Planet in the wake of the Vancouver Olympics, according to a poll conducted this month by the Canadian Tourism Commission.
Almost three-quarters of the 735 respondents felt Canada was No. 1 in the world among countries that “have it all,” including wilderness escapes, cosmopolitan cities and a friendly population, said a CTC news release.
As well, just over 60 per cent felt that more people are now considering Canada for their next vacation as a result of the Olympics.
The unscientific poll of the international publisher’s Twitter audience was intended as a “temperature check post-Olympics,” said CTC publicist James Loftus.
Full article: Canada a hit with Lonely Planet’s Twitter audience in wake of Vancouver Olympics: poll
City prepares for tourism season
TRACEY TONG , METRO OTTAWA
The faces of Ottawa are learning to put their best feet forward, just in time for tourism season.
Organizations like Owl Rafting, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Ottawa Festivals attended to spread the word about their events.
Ottawa-Gatineau welcomes 7.68 million visitors a year, with the majority coming from between Windsor and Quebec City, said Hovey, but Ottawa Tourism is focusing efforts on tourists in the U.K., Germany, France and Australia.
Full story on the Metro Ottawa website: City prepares for tourism season
Tulip Shuffle: A chance to win a trip to Ottawa
Head over to the Ottawa Tourism website and play the Tulip Shuffle for a chance to win a trip to Ottawa.
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