In a funny way, the resurgence of Ottawa’s theatre scene over the last dozen years can be traced back to Canada’s most famous political assassination.

On April 7, 1868, Thomas D’Arcy McGee, a Father of Confederation and Member of Parliament, was shot in the head on Sparks Street, less than a year after Canada was born. The perpetrator was allegedly Patrick J. Whelan, who was hanged publicly at what’s now a youth hostel—formerly Carleton County Gaol—on Nicholas Street.

That was Canada’s only assassination of a federal figure, and the whole episode continues to fascinate history buffs in the nation’s capital. Among those who were captivated by the story was Pierre Brault, who created a one-man show about Whelan called “Blood on the Moon” with collaborators Judi Pearl and Jon Koensgen.

“Blood” debuted at the Ottawa Fringe Festival in June 1999 at Arts Court—right next door to the former jail where Whelan was hanged.

Nobody realized that “Blood” would become a legend of its own—even a catalyst for the growth of the Ottawa theatre scene. A smash hit at Fringe that year, “Blood” was picked up by the NAC’s then-Artistic Director Marti Maraden for a reprisal on Canada’s national stage.

For full story, go to: What’s next for Ottawa’s theatre scene?

Ottawa Fashion Week runs Feb. 17, 18 and 19, with designers showing their fall and winter lines for 2012-2013.

Does that sound a little early to be looking at clothes for next fall? Not really, says creative director Bruno Racine. Ottawa’s fashion week (OFW) starts after Montreal’s and before Toronto’s.

Last fall’s OFW attracted 5,000 visitors, and the event keeps getting bigger and better, says Racine. This season, OFW has partnered with Winterlude – the Ice Hogs will be stylin’ signature OFW togs – and OFW is aiming to attract 7,000 fashion fans this season.

Read More:  Runway ready

CFRA

The National Capital Commission is quite pleased with the first weekend of Winterlude.

Senior Vice President Guy Laflamme tells CFRA News attendance has been excellent. “If I count the number of smiles I have encountered, I think people were extremely pleased and happy with what they experienced.”

Laflamme is chalking some of the success up to changes in Winterlude’s business plan to focus on arts and culture, educational events, and food. “We still have winter outdoor sports, but we have way more arts and culture…culinary gourmet food activities…as well as scientific activities”.

But he admits the weather was also a big factor this weekend. “This was an A+ type of weather report and hopefully we’ll be able to benefit from the same kind of conditions for the next two weekends.”

Laflamme says over 30,000 people took in Friday’s fireworks at Winterlude’s opening ceremonies, and it was a great kickoff to what he believes is the best edition of the winter festival yet. “Winterlude has grown to a level of quality and sophistication unmatched in past editions.”

Organizers of the Beaver Cup Pond Hockey Festival will attempt to set a Guinness World Record on the Rideau Canal skateway next weekend for the longest breakaway goal.

The attempt will start at 7:15 a.m. on Feb. 11 on the ice near Chateau Laurier, and six skaters will pass the puck to each other in a relay-style trek across the 7.8-kilometre skateway.

The Beaver Cup Festival is a weekend-long four-on- four pond-hockey tournament. Participants in the tournament will include Ottawa Senators alumni and media personalities.

Read full story: He skates and skates and skates … and scores

Jean Levac, The Ottawa Citizen

A proposed smoking ban on municipal properties such as City Hall could hurt attendance at the Capital Pride festival, say organizers who are calling for a grace period this summer if the new rules are approved.

Proposed bylaw amendments would see smoking prohibited on city properties such as parks, beaches, sports fields and areas outside municipal facilities, as well as bar and restaurant patios.

Events on city properties would also be smoke-free under the regulations, something that would affect the 2012 Capital Pride festival planned for Marion Dewar Plaza outside City Hall, organizers said.

Read more: Capital Pride organizers want grace period on outdoor smoking ban

Photograph by: Wayne Cuddington, Ottawa Citizen

Traditional favourites such as ice sculptures at Confederation Park are now joined by new events such as the Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival.

Winterlude runs for three weeks until February 20.

“We wanted to put in place a program that is even less vulnerable to fluctuating weather conditions,” said Guy Laflamme, senior vice-president, capital experience, communications and marketing at the National Capital Commission. “I think we’ve done extremely well.”

Read more: Winterlude bigger, more weatherproof than ever, NCC says

Photograph courtesy of The Ottawa Citizen, by: Bruno Schlumberger

If you’re trying to interest your young children in contemporary art, then Confederation Park is the place for you. Winterlude has brought 10 installations to the park, and while the pieces are hit-and-miss artistically, most are sure to fire a kid’s imagination.

Blizzart is a part of the National Capital Commission’s plan to weatherproof the annual festival. A warm snap can make short work of the ice sculptures that are ingeniously carved by international teams in the park each year, so the NCC has chosen 10 artists from across Canada to make less-vulnerable installations on the theme of “northern passion.” They were in various stages of installation when I visited on Thursday, and a crazy variety of materials were being put to use, from old mittens and hockey sticks to coloured glass and even ice – though not as it’s used in the familiar sculptures nearby.

Read more @ Ottawa Citizen online: Blizzart adds some northern passion

The Ottawa area is synonymous with winter sports and Winterlude certainly lives up to that reputation.

The three weeks of festivities are replete with events that range from deadly serious to the downright goofy.

This year’s highlight is Hockey Day in Canada, Feb 11 at 7 a.m. It features the Guinness World Record attempt for the longest hockey breakaway on the Rideau Canal at the Chateau Laurier.

Full story: Get your body movin’ at Winterlude

If you plan to take in some of the exciting sights of Winterlude this month, don’t be surprised to skate upon an art exhibit of a different kind — Portraits on the Ice. This refreshing outdoor gallery returns to the Rideau Canal Feb. 3, this time to mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

The exhibit showcases 10 portrait reproductions that represent some of the French- and English-speaking militia and colonists, British officers and First Nations allies who were a part of, or were affected by, the War of 1812. The original works of art were created in a variety of media — paintings, prints and photography.

Read the rest of the story on Metro Ottawa online: Skate back in history with Portraits on Ice

Photo courtesy of Ottawa Jazz Festival

Known for ice sculpture and skating on the canal, Winterlude hasn’t necessarily always been a key destination for the musically oriented. The JazzFest’s Petr Cancura is hoping to change that with this year’s Winter Jazzfest. We got some answers from Petr on what you can expect at the festival and why he thought jazz might be just what the Ottawa winter needs.

The Winter Jazzfest starts this evening and runs until Saturday. Shows take place in venues throughout the city. For a full schedule and information on tickets, visit the Jazz Festival Website.

For the full interview, please visit Apt 613: Ottawa’s Winterlude presents Jazzfest for music lovers