Festival Updates and News
News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.
NCC, Occupy Ottawa protesters heading for Winterlude showdown over Confederation Park
Mohammed Ahmad, The Ottawa Citizen
The National Capital Commission and the Occupy Ottawa movement are likely heading for a showdown at Confederation Park over plans for Winterlude.
Considering the Occupy movement as a never-before-seen worldwide phenomenon, the NCC allowed the protesters to set up shop at Confederation Park to demonstrate against what they see as economic inequities in Canada and the world — even though it was in violation of regulations.
But speaking for the first time since the occupation began Oct. 15, NCC chief executive Marie Lemay said that with Winterlude — which takes place in February — fast approaching, the NCC will need to get the park back. Site preparations for Winterlude often start in December.
“One thing that we do want is to be able to return the land to its usual public use, and that is something we’ll have to discuss with the folks out there,” Lemay told the Citizen Tuesday.
“We do have important programming coming up with Winterlude and there’s a number of other programs that take place on this land. We want to be able to let the rest of the public use it.”
Military debate kicks off Free Thinking Film Festival
The Ottawa Citizen (Movie Guide)
Ottawa’s Free Thinking Film Festival kicks off Nov. 11 not with a film but with a debate about the future of Canada’s military featuring historian Jack Granatstein and international law expert Michael Byers. It starts at 6:30 p.m. at Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Ave. Other events include: The Biases of the CBC, a documentary that examines whether the CBC is biased against Israel and conservatives, 2 p.m., Nov. 13, Library and Archives Canada ($15 or included in the $75 festival pass, available at the door, Compact Music, Collected Works and the society’s website), and the Canadian premiere of Unmasked: Judeophobia and the Threat to Civilization, about the current political assault against Israel; in all the festival will screen more than 20 films, 7 p.m. Nov. 13, Bronson Centre. For a full list go to www.freethinkingfilmfest.ca.
Kellylee Evans to play Jazz Festival fundraiser Dec. 8
Dan Lalande, Ottawa Performing Arts Examiner
Looking to get away this winter?
Then your first trip should be to the Ottawa Jazz Festival’s annual fundraiser, December 8 at the Library and Archives of Canada.
The annual event, in which items of all kinds are auctioned off, regularly offers travel packages fit for a snowbird – not to mention getaways to Europe and New York. It’s a great way to bag a bye-bye bargain.
And if your winter getaway plans are already secured, no worries: there’s still the great food and good company of the pre-auction reception, plus the post-bidding concert by Ottawa’s own rising star, Kellylee Evans.
Read more on the Examiner.com website: Kellylee Evans to play Jazz Festival fundraiser Dec. 8
Storyteller talks up her passion for voice and ear
Jasleen Singh, Centretown News
Kim Kilpatrick says a story is a gift you give to a listener.
She says she was inspired more than 10 years ago after going to the Ottawa Storytelling Festival for the first time.
Now a professional storyteller and disability awareness advocate, Kilpatrick will share autobiographical stories about living as a blind person at the Ottawa Children’s Storytelling Festival at Library and Archives Canada on Nov. 5.
Kilpatrick will bring a unique take on storytelling, through the use of non-visual descriptions, which engage the imagination.
By describing what something sounds or feels like, children learn that although the storyteller may perceive things differently, they can still share common experiences with the audience.
“If you just tell children what it’s like being blind, they would still be interested,” says Kilpatrick.
“But when you tell a story, you never know, the next day they might go up to their teacher and ask ‘well, how did Kim get from her house to the store?’ That’s why storytelling is so powerful – because the story’s still sitting with them.”
Read more on the Centretown website: Storyteller talks up her passion for voice and ear
Paddles Up for the 2012 Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival
[Source: Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival]
OTTAWA, October 25, 2011 – Registration for the 2012 Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, the largest festival of its kind in North America, opens Tuesday, November 1 at 12:00 a.m. Registration can be done easily online at www.dragonboat.net and the first team to register receives a prize that will be presented during the festival.
Register early to guarantee the best rate. The early bird rate is available to the first 75 teams to register AND pay by January 31, 2012. With the success of the 2011 THODBF, organizers expect that many of the 194 registered teams will be returning. Team sites are chosen in order of payment and it is recommended to make payment early to ensure the best location.
The Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is taking place at Mooney’s Bay Park on June 22 to 24, 2012. Admission to the three day event is free and includes family entertainment such as non-stop racing, live music, the Tim Hortons Children’s Area, exhibitors and vendors. To register and for information on how to start a team, visit www.dragonboat.net.
About the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival
The Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is the largest festival of its kind in North America and is one of Ottawa’s must-attend summer events. This 3-day festival is hosted at Mooney’s Bay Park from June 22-24, 2012. Approximately 73,000 spectators take in non-stop racing, cultural activities, live music, a variety of vendors/exhibits and family-oriented entertainment. For more information, visit www.dragonboat.net, www.facebook.com/ottawadragonboat, www.twitter.com/ottdragonboat.
Couldn’t make it to the Writers Festival?
The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA — Starting Friday, the Ottawa International Writers Festival will post by noon videos of authors who appeared at the festival the previous day. The festival began Thursday and runs until Oct. 25. To watch a video of Ottawa’s Frances Itani and other authors who appeared Thursday, go to www.ottawacitizen. com/books. For the Itani video, press play in the screen below. For additional videos, visit the Books page throughout the weekend.
Music for Silenced Voices
Shostakovich and His Fifteen Quartets with Wendy Lesser and the Arthur-Leblanc Quartet
[Source: Music and Beyond press release]
This Sunday, a very special event celebrating Shostakovich’s remarkable cycle of string quartets will take place at Knox Presbyterian Church on Elgin Street. This event is presented by the Ottawa International Writers Festival in partnership with Music and Beyond. It will feature Canada’s Arthur-Leblanc String Quartet (who are about to release the first-ever complete set of Shostakovich string quartets by a Canadian ensemble) along with writer Wendy Lesser who has just written a new book on the Shostakovich quartets. It promises to be a fascinating evening filled with wonderful music. While it starts at 8:30 p.m., it will run for 90 minutes straight and will be finished by 10:00 p.m.
Film festival takes fresh look at what we eat
The Ottawa Citizen
Two films that examine where our food comes from will be shown this week as part of the the Reel Food Film Festival. On Thursday, Oct. 20, Our Daily Bread, a non-narrated film, will highlight how industrial our food production has become (note: some scenes are difficult to watch). On Thursday, Oct. 27 Fresh: The Movie explores and celebrates farmers, writers and entrepreneurs who are re-inventing their food systems, from the way they farm to what items are sold in grocery stores. Both screenings are at the Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch, 120 Metcalfe St. along with other short films. Films begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, although a donation of $5 is appreciated to help cover costs. For more info and to see trailers, go to www.reelfoodfilmfestival.ca/
Ottawa Race Weekend finds title sponsor
CBC News
Source: CBC News
Ottawa’s annual race weekend has a new title sponsor after going three years without.
Ottawa-based home builder Tamarack Homes will be the new title sponsor, event officials announced Wednesday, signing a five-year contract. The last sponsor agreement with Dutch insurance company ING ended in 2008.
The seven-race weekend, which bills itself as Canada’s largest running festival, attracted 40,000 runners last year.
Volunteer group Run Ottawa organizes it and often receives volunteer assistance from those working for the title sponsor.
“Having secured a title sponsor provides us with the long-term financial footing that will allow us to make the weekend even more enjoyable for our 40,000 runners,” said race director Jim Robinson.
Read more on the CBC website: Ottawa Race Weekend finds title sponsor
Call to Artists: Show your Northern Passion
OttawaStart
The National Capital Commission (NCC) is seeking work by Canadian professional artists for Northern Passion, an outdoor group exhibit to be held in Confederation Park, in the heart of Canada’s Capital Region, during Winterlude 2012.
From February 3 to 20, 2012, Confederation Park will again be an official site for the Capital’s winter celebration. Every year between 300,000 and 400,000 people visit this hub of Winterlude activity, making it an exceptional place for public presentation of works by Canadian artists.
Read more on the OttawaStart website: Call to Artists: Show your Northern Passion
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