Festival Updates and News
News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.
Le Bus-o-neige du Bal de Neige sera gratuit : OLG devient le commanditaire en titre du Bus-o-neige
La Commission de la capitale nationale (CCN) et la Société des loteries et des jeux de l’Ontario (OLG) annoncent aujourd’hui un nouveau partenariat qui permettra d’offrir GRATUITEMENT le service du Bus-o-neige aux résidents et visiteurs durant les trois weekends du Bal de Neige, les 4-5, 11-12 et 18-19 février.
« La CCN est heureuse d’accueillir OLG comme commanditaire en titre du Bus-o-neige du Bal de Neige, qui offrira aux visiteurs un accès gratuit à ce service clé exploité par la STO et OC Transpo”, a déclaré Marie Lemay, première dirigeante de la CCN. Ce partenariat est particulièrement important parce qu’il encourage les visiteurs à utiliser le transport en commun, et contribue à la réduction de l’empreinte de carbone du Bal de Neige.»
Mme Lemay était accompagnée de Rod Phillips, président et chef de la direction d’OLG, de Yasir Naqvi, député provincial d’Ottawa-Centre et de Jim Watson, maire de la Ville d’Ottawa, lors d’une conférence de presse, aujourd’hui, à l’un des arrêts du Bus-o-neige, rue Elgin.
« La Société des loteries et des jeux de l’Ontario (OLG) est fière de faire partie du Bal de Neige, une grande fête de l’hiver, et de poursuivre son engagement envers les partenariats communautaires en parrainant le Bus-o-neige, a déclaré Rod Phillips, président et chef de la direction d’OLG. Dans le cadre de ce parrainage, nous sommes ravis d’offrir, cette année, le Bus-o-neige gratuitement pour tous les passagers qui participent au Bal de Neige. »
« Je tiens à remercier OLG de commanditer cette merveilleuse initiative, a ajouté le maire Watson. Le Bal de Neige est un événement de renom dans la région de la capitale nationale et disposer d’un mode de transport gratuit et fiable pour les résidents et les visiteurs permet d’en rendre l’expérience encore plus agréable. »
OC Transpo et la Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) offrent un service de navette reliant les sites officiels du Bal de Neige : la navette emprunte la promenade Queen Elizabeth qui longe la patinoire du canal Rideau jusqu’au lac Dow’s ; les Reflets de glace Rogers au parc de la Confédération ; et le Domaine des flocons au parc Jacques-Cartier à Gatineau. Les arrêts du Bus-o-neige sont clairement indiqués sur des affiches du Bal de Neige.
À propos d’OLG : OLG est fière de travailler avec les communautés de l’Ontario et de contribuer à l’organisation de plus de 200 événements chaque année par l’entremise de son programme de commandite. Par son engagement actif et ses contributions, OLG maintien une forte présence dans les événements communautaires et des festivals à travers l’Ontario. La commandite d’événements communautaires utiles constitue, pour OLG, une autre façon d’améliorer la vie de la population de l’Ontario.
Winterlude’s Sno-Bus offered Free of Charge: OLG becomes the title sponsor of the Sno-Bus service
The National Capital Commission (NCC) and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced today a new partnership that will provide residents and visitors to Winterlude, access to the Sno-Bus service, FREE OF CHARGE, during Winterlude’s three weekends, February 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19.
“The NCC is pleased to welcome OLG as the title sponsor of Winterlude’s Sno-Bus, and to offer visitors free access to this key service operated by the STO and OC Transpo”, said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer at the NCC. “This partnership is especially important because it encourages visitors to use public transit, and contributes to reducing Winterlude’s carbon footprint.”
Ms. Lemay was accompanied by Rod Phillips, OLG President & CEO, Yasir Naqvi, Ottawa Centre MPP and Jim Watson, Mayor of the City of Ottawa, at a news conference held today at one of the Sno-Bus stops on Elgin Street.
“The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is proud to be part of Winterlude, a great celebration of winter and to continue our commitment to community partnership by sponsoring the Sno-Bus,” said Rod Phillips, OLG’s President and CEO. “As part of this sponsorship, we are excited that this year, the Sno-Bus will be free for all passengers participating in Winterlude.”
“I want to thank the OLG for sponsoring this great initiative,” added Mayor Watson. “Winterlude is a marquee event in the national capital region and having a free and reliable mode of transportation for residents and visitors makes it that much more enjoyable.”
OC Transpo and the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) offer this shuttle service linking Winterlude’s official sites: along Queen Elizabeth Drive and the Rideau Canal Skateway to Dow’s Lake; Rogers Crystal Garden at Confederation Park; and Winterlude’s Snowflake Kingdom, located at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau. Sno-Bus stops are clearly indicated on Winterlude signs along the way.
About OLG: OLG is proud to work with communities in Ontario and be part of bringing over 200 local events to life each year through our Sponsorship Program. From business events to cultural and music festivals, OLG is an involved and contributing partner in community events and festivals across Ontario. Providing sponsorship support to worthwhile community events is another way that OLG makes life better for people across Ontario.
OIFF Hosts Fourth Annual 72-Hour Film Challenge
The Ottawa International Film Festival’s (OIFF) fourth 72-Hour Film Challenge kicks off on Thursday, January 26 at 6:15pm at the Lieutenant’s Pump.
The 72-Hour Film Challenge tasks filmmakers to write, cast, direct, edit – in other words –create an entire original short film in three days. To give the Challenge an added twist, filmmakers must include plot points and creative criteria set out in a mystery envelope received upon registration.
“I’m always impressed by the film talent we have in Ottawa,” says Nina Bains, Executive Director of OIFF. “With a few cues, filmmakers put together imaginative stories and wonderfully shot scenes in just three days. It’s pretty remarkable.” Last year’s winners, The Waiting Room (Voters Favourite) and Polar Bear Love (Judges Pick) went on to receive national attention.
Interested filmmakers must attend the 72-Hour Film Challenge registration briefing on Thursday, January 26 at 6:15pm at the Lieutenant’s Pump to receive the mystery envelope. Registration cost is $20 per team, and teams must submit their final product by Sunday, January 29 at 7pm.
The selected film entries will be screened and voted on at the Lieutenant’s Pump on Thursday, February 16 at 7pm. The top three films will automatically qualify for the 2012 Ottawa International Film Festival in August. The winning film team will take home a prize pack valued at over $10,000 that includes Adobe Creative Suite Master Collection 5.5 provided by Adobe, and a full RED ONE production/post-production rental package provided by Parktown free of cost to shoot their next short film (some conditions apply). As well, Parktown is offering a 15% discount off indie equipment rental prices to any filmmaker participating in the challenge for their submission.
The OIFF 72-Hour Film Challenge is sponsored by the Lieutenant’s Pump, Adobe, Parktown.
Follow OIFF on Twitter @ottawafilmfest
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OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (OIFF) focuses on promoting local and Canadian talent and aims to serve as a niche platform for independent filmmaking. The festival showcases Canadian and international feature length, short and documentary films, and includes a music-video challenge, which brings together local musicians and filmmakers. The second annual OIFF was voted Best Film Festival of 2011 by Ottawa Xpress readers. For more information, visit www.oiff.ca.
Top 10 Family Activities in Ontario: Rideau Canal Amongst the Top
National Geographic
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A Trip to the Cottage
Ontario is a big, diverse place and its residents, spread across more than a million square kilometers, don’t lay claim to all that many shared experiences. But if there’s one Ontario tradition that’s nearly universal, it’s the family trip to the cottage.
Cottage time is all about campfires, canoe rides, and rainy-day board games. Visitors can get in on the action too; rental cottages are widely available. Popular “cottage country” areas include the Kawarthas and Muskoka, both within a couple hours’ drive of Toronto, and the Rideau Lakes, near Ottawa.
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Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo is the largest in Canada, and one of the largest in the world. Its 460-plus animal species are organized by their region of origin. In addition to the main exhibits, the zoo also offers a special children’s zone with demonstrations, a splash park, and interactive activities for kids.
In recent years the Toronto Zoo has substantially expanded its conservation and education efforts, upgrading animal habitats and funding research projects worldwide. Ask about the zoo’s family-focused educational programs.
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Rideau Canal (Ottawa)
Ottawa’s Rideau Canal is a national historic site and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built after the War of 1812 as the key link in a chain of locks, rivers, and lakes that provided an alternate route between Montreal and Kingston, in case of an American invasion of the St. Lawrence River. Today it’s an urban waterway lined with trees and bike paths—perfect for renting a canoe, pedal boat, or bicycle and cruising through downtown. In winter, it’s transformed into the world’s longest skating rink.
Read more on the National Geographic website: Top 10 Family Activities in Ontario
Rideau Canal Skateway likely to open mid-January
Dan Neutel, The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA — With the expected return of cold weather Tuesday, the National Capital Commission is predicting the Rideau Canal will be open for skating by mid-month.
“We’re still on target,” said Jasmine Leduc of NCC media relations. “On average the Rideau Canal Skateway opens in the first half of January, weather permitting.”
This will be the 42nd skating season on the canal.
“Last year the skating season opened on Jan. 8, and it closed on March 6,” says Leduc. “Visitors enjoyed 53 days of skating through a 58 day skating season. And it included a beautiful stretch of 40 consecutive days with near ideal skating conditions.
“On average over the past five years, the Rideau Canal Skateway offered 45 skating days during a season that lasted on average 50 days,” says Leduc.
The key to good ice is cold weather with no snow. Snow acts as a thermal blanket preventing the ice from thickening.
“We’re hoping that the mild weather this past weekend had very little impact on the ice,” said Leduc. “We’re hoping that the cold weather will return shortly and that we’ll be able to resume our flooding operations.”
Fostering a love of reading for success
The Ottawa Citizen
Re: Ontario’s children drastically losing love of reading, study finds, Dec. 13.
This article highlights a disturbing trend among Ontario children.
There should be no blame or finger pointing in responding to this wake up call, but rather we should see this as an early warning sign that in our efforts to raise test scores we should never take the fun and the sheer pleasure of reading out of the equation.
There is no question that our kids need all the skills in the tool kit to lead productive and happy lives and there is no question that the love of reading is the bedrock upon which all our efforts must be based.
If children do not have healthy and active imaginations, if they are insecure about expressing themselves or believing in themselves, which a love of reading fosters, then they will always be disadvantaged.
As the study by The People for Education shows, “students’ reading enjoyment contributes to their success in all subjects, as well as their sense of social and civic engagement.”
We have seen first-hand the amazing impact meeting an author can have in a child’s life.
Ottawa’s Taste of Winterlude presents Foodie Paradise
Ray, The Canadian
Taste of Winterlude is a great way to explore Ottawa this winter. Brighten your winter blaahs with great culinary treasures. Each January and February, Taste of Winterlude dazziles. This is one year you will not want to miss, with some new hit food sensations. Taste of Winterlude officially starts January 26, and ends on February 19, 2012. But, be sure to check on the availability of reservations before they are sold out. You can not only sample cuisine at some of our nation’s capital top restaurants; but can also learn new cooling techniques; and can also tour local restaurants or shops, guided by chefs or sommeliers.
And, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Taste of Winterlude also attracts winemakers, and it features made in Canada products which celebrate our cultural vitality, creative spirit, and national identity.
This year I had the pleasure to preview some of Taste of Winterlude’s offerings. This preview tour was with Chef Andrée Riffou’s and Paola St-Georges who are both from C’est Bon Cooking, and who both embrace the passion that inspires Taste of Winterlude‘s organizing.
Chef Andrée Riffou studied cuisine and pastry with Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa and in Paris. She attained the most respected Cordon Bleu designation of Le Grand Diplôme de cuisine et de pâtisserie. In 2008, she launched C’est Bon Cooking where she shares her passion for food with her clients. Contact C’est Bon Cooking if you would like to learn the secrets of fabulous French-inspired cuisine. You can experience local specialties and meet with local chefs and food artisans, and also meet other foodies. At C’est Bon, building camaraderie during their culinary team building and training events and classes helps support social networking atmosphere.
Read more on The Canadian website: Ottawa’s Taste of Winterlude presents Foodie Paradise
Fashion Week embraces Winterlude
Joe Lofaro, Metro News
For the first time, Ottawa Fashion Week (OFW) is officially partnering with Winterlude in February and will stage its fashion showcase at a new venue in the downtown Westin Hotel.
Visitors can warm up to some winter fashions as models showcase collections for the fall and winter seasons inside the hotel ballroom from Feb. 17 to 19.
Winterlude attracts more than half a million visitors to the Ottawa-Gatineau region during the three-weekend-long festival, so OFW creative director Bruno Racine said it was a smart idea to host OFW around the same time. He said more than half of the 5,000 people in attendance each year at OFW are from out of town.
Read more on the Metro News website: Fashion Week embraces Winterlude
Winterlude 2012 will remember the War of 1812
Alicja Siekierska, The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA — Feb. 3 will mark the start of Winterlude 2012, the 34th edition the city’s popular three-week long winter festival.
The National Capital Commission unveiled new details about the annual winter extravaganza Tuesday, which will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 as well as the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Coast Guard. There will be various activities honouring the anniversaries throughout the festival.
The NCC will work with more than 50 programming partners — more than ever before — to bring a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities to the event.
NCC CEO Marie Lemay says the increase in partnerships will not only make for a “bigger and better” Winterlude, but it will also bring more community involvement.
“We want the community to take ownership so it’s not just the NCC’s Winterlude,” says Lemay. “Community groups have really taken part in it, building it and taking ownership of it. So it’s everybody’s Winterlude.”
One of the new partners is the Ottawa Jazz Festival, which will launch the first annual Winter Jazz Festival with a series of concerts Feb. 2 to 4, most at the NAC’s Fourth Stage.
Read more on the Ottawa Citizen website: Winterlude 2012 will remember the War of 1812
Winterlude 2012: More partners, more to discover
Skating, sliding, musical fireworks, culinary experiences and much more
[Source: NCC press release]
Canada’s Capital Region — The National Capital Commission (NCC) today unveiled the line-up of events for the 34th edition of Winterlude and the 42nd season of the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest skating rink.
The Capital’s winter celebration, will be held from February 3 to 20, 2012, and feature an array of memorable activities where the outdoors, winter sports, Canada’s diverse cultures, winter traditions and culinary arts will be at the forefront.
“For the 34th edition of Winterlude, more partners than ever have come together to offer residents and visitors the opportunity to rekindle their appreciation of Canadian winter traditions, our diversity and our artistic and scientific achievements,” explains Marie Lemay, NCC Chief Executive Officer. “The iconic Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest skating rink, will be at the heart of the Capital Region’s winter celebration”.
Ms. Lemay was accompanied by Jim Watson, Mayor of the City of Ottawa; Marc Bureau, Mayor of Ville de Gatineau; and Wendy Hall, Vice-President of Account Development, Global Corporate Payments with American Express, at a news conference held today at the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa.
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