Festival Updates and News
News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.
Locals find family fun at Winterlude
TRACEY TONG
METRO OTTAWA
Winterlude may be known for bringing tens of thousands of people to Ottawa every year, but it also gives locals a chance to find entertainment right in their own backyard.
Family Day long weekend brought thousands of locals to Winterlude’s three sites, including the Rideau Canal Skateway, Confederation Park and Jacques-Cartier Park yesterday.
“Last year was a bad time for the economy,” said Ottawa resident Jennifer Parker. “I think a lot of families are really glad for quality activities they can take their kids to easily, that the kids will actually enjoy, and that won’t break the bank.
“Children shouldn’t have to miss out because the economy was in a slump.”
Parker and her husband brought their kids to Jacques-Cartier Park yesterday, where there were snow slides and ice fishing events.
Ottawa resident Becky Draper has enjoyed skating on the canal and Beavertails during Winterlude for years, but this year was extra special — it marked the first Winterlude for her year-old son.
City resident Jim Shivas never misses Winterlude. His favourite activities include skating on the canal and checking out the ice sculptures. The weather was perfect for winter fun this weekend, he said.
“As long as you can still see the stuff and go skating, that’s what matters to me,” he said. “I’d come out at -20.”
Bernadette Bailey and her daughter, Hannah, take advantage of Winterlude offerings by playing host to out-of-town friends and family every February.
While some people never miss Winterlude, other residents discovered it for the first time.
To read the full article, click here.
Ottawa StoryTellers presents, Let the Games Begin!
NAC’s FOURTH STAGE
Thursday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7:00.)
Tickets are $15, $12 seniors & students and are available at the NAC box office or Ticketmaster.ca 613.755.1111. Package prices are available, 4 shows for $50
Get into the spirit of sports as we celebrate the Games! Hear the true stories of athletes who faced great odds to compete for Canada. Join us as we journey from the earliest days of the Games to the turning point of the 20th century when women competed for gold for the first time in history, and then on to the modern day. Tonight we showcase the individual dedication and quest for honour that prompts athletes to face great risk in order to represent their countries in the spirit of peace and mutual respect.
Performers:
Sherri Yazdani
As a child, few events brought Sherri Yazdani as much dread as the annual track and field meet. Always the last one to cross the finish line, she avoided even thinking about athletics. A storyteller for the past five years, Sherri is drawn to stories of the human condition. And it was there she found the connection…for these are not stories of mere athletic prowess, but of the indomitable spirits who took on the quest for gold.
Kim Kilpatrick
Kim Kilpatrick is a former Paralympian and is now a veteran storyteller. She grew up in a sports-loving family and has participated in many athletic activities. Her family also includes many storytellers. In this program, she combines these two passions. Kim has told stories at the NAC Fourth Stage and at storytelling festivals in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, and Saint Mary’s, in schools, cafes, and many other venues.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Caitlyn Paxson, Managing Artistic Director, Ottawa StoryTellers
MAD@ottawastorytellers.ca or info@ottawastorytellers.ca (tel: 613.322.8336)
Manitoba artists to be seen in Ottawa with Prairie Scene
Mia Hudson
Winnipeg Free Press
OTTAWA — When Mother Courage and Her Children opens tonight at the Manitoba Theatre Centre it will bring a piece of the National Arts Centre to Winnipeg.
Next year, the National Arts Centre will bring pieces of Manitoba’s arts scene to Ottawa.
From April 26 to May 7, 2011, the NAC will stage Prairie Scene, a festival of more than 500 artists from Manitoba and Saskatchewan across every medium, from dancers and painters to musicians and writers.
It’s meant to keep the ‘national’ in the National Arts Centre.
“The NAC doesn’t want to be known just as great big building on the side of the Rideau Canal,” said Rosemary Thompson, NAC’s director of communications.
The National Arts Centre was created in 1966 to mark Canada’s 100th birthday. Its mandate is to develop performing arts in both the capital region and across the country.
Mother Courage is a co-production between the NAC and MTC, and is the second play this year performed by the newly revived NAC English Theatre Company.
Prairie Scene is the fifth in a series of scene festivals planned by the NAC on two-year intervals. The most recent version was B.C. Scene, held in the spring of 2009. It saw 600 artists from British Columbia visit Ottawa for 90 different events over 13 days. The Atlantic region, Alberta, and Quebec have also had their scenes in the sun, while Ontario and the Arctic are still to come.
Thompson, who joined the NAC recently after more than a decade as a CTV national reporter, said one of the things that drew her to the job was the opportunity to participate in events like Prairie Scene.
“Part of the fun of working here is it does have a national reach,” she said.
Thompson, who got her start in journalism as a cub reporter with CBC television in Winnipeg, even thinks her prairie connections may have helped her land the job.
“(The scenes) really are a chance to get to know the country through its artists,” said Heather Moore, executive director of Prairie Scene.
No artists have yet been confirmed. Moore said about one third of the programming will be decided by next fall.
To read the full article, click here.
Winterlude is good for Byward business
For 500 businesses and 250 storefronts in the ByWard Market, Winterlude provides a shot in the arm for what would normally be a slower time of year.
Thanks to the influx of tourists that are brought in by the Winterlude festivities and the opening of the Rideau Canal Skateway, businesses in the market see a really important spike, said Jasna Jennings, executive director of the ByWard Market Business Improvement Area.
Winterlude is typically one of those busy times of year that the businesses look to make their year, said Jennings.
Nearly all the hotels in the market and surrounding area are completely sold out of rooms during the event, said Jantine Van Kregten, director of communications for Ottawa Tourism. The Chateau Laurier has been sold out for a while, the Westin is full, the Marriott is full, the Lord Elgin is full.
According to the National Capital Commission, 650,000 people attend Winterlude annually, one-third of which are from out of town.
To read the full article, click here.
Winterlude Urban Cozy Project – Call for Submissions
TRACEY TONG
METRO OTTAWA
When the temperature drops, people aren’t the only ones bundling up against the cold.
The Winterlude Urban Cozy Project will see residents dressing up trees, signposts, park benches and lampposts at Confederation Park and Jacques-Cartier Park with urban art.
“We’re trying to bring out the creative side of Ottawa and getting people to contribute pieces to transform Ottawa’s landscape,” said Spins and Needles co-founder Melanie Yugo, who is collaborating with the National Capital Commission on the project.
Submissions can be brought to the Crystal Lounge at Confederation Park from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12.
To read the full article, click here.
« FOULE ÉCLAIR » AU BAL DE NEIGE APPUIE LES ATHLÈTES OLYMPIQUES CANADIENS
La Commission de la capitale nationale (CCN) a produit sa première foule éclair (Flash Mob) de son histoire dimanche dernier sur la patinoire du canal Rideau au lac Dows dans le cadre du Bal de Neige, la fête de l’hiver canadien.
Cette événement et le vidéoclip ont été produit pour démontrer l’enthousiasme et le soutien de la région de la capitale du Canada aux athlètes olympiques canadiens qui offriront le meilleur d’eux-mêmes dans quelques jours aux Jeux olympiques de Vancouver.
Le vidéoclip est disponible sur le site web de la CCN au www.capitaleducanada.gc.ca/fouleeclair.
La CCN remercie la centaine de résidents et visiteurs qui ont participé à cet événement unique. La CCN tient également à remercier les membres du Ottawa Valley Curling Association, l’Ottawa Pacers et Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Clubs et les patineurs du canal Rideau qui se sont joints à l’événement.
WINTERLUDE FLASH MOB SUPPORTS CANADIAN OLYMPIC ATHLETES
The National Capital Commission (NCC) produced its first-ever flash mob this past Sunday at Dows Lake on the Rideau Canal Skateway as part of Winterlude, Canada’s winter celebration.
The event and the resulting video demonstrates Canada’s Capital Region’s enthusiasm and support of Canadian Olympic athletes who will be giving their all at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
This video is available on the NCC’s website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca/flashmob.
The NCC wishes to thank the more than one hundred residents and visitors who participated in this unique event. Special thanks also goes out to the Ottawa Valley Curling Association, the Ottawa Pacers and the Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Clubs and canal skaters who joined in the event.
Sculpture de glace pour souligner le 100e anniversaire de la Marine canadienne dans le cadre du Bal de Neige
OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – 10 fév. 2010) – L’honorable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, ministre des Anciens Combattants et ministre d’état (Agriculture) et Mme Marie Lemay, première dirigeante de la Commission de la capitale nationale, souligneront le 100e anniversaire de la Marine canadienne, en procédant à l’illumination d’une sculpture de glace ayant pour thème la Marine, dans le cadre du Bal de Neige 2010.
Contre-Amiral Nigel Greenwood, adjoint au chef d’état-major des forces maritimes assistera aussi à cette activité.
La sculpture de glace représente le NCSM Sackville, la dernière corvette de la classe “Flower” encore existante parmi les plus de 120 qui furent construites au Canada pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale.
Lieu : “Reflets de glace Rogers”, parc de la Confédération (avenue Laurier, en face de l’Hôtel de ville), Ottawa (Ontario)
Date : Le jeudi 11 février 2010
Heure : 18 h 30
Cette cérémonie se déroulera en présence d’anciens combattants et d’autres invités de la Marine canadienne.
Renseignements :
Anciens Combattants Canada
Janice Summerby
Conseillère, Relations avec les médias
Bureau : 613-992-7468
ou
Cabinet du ministre des Anciens Combattants
Sophie Doucet
Attachée de presse
Bureau : 613-992-3465
Cellulaire : 613-608-3252
Commission de la capitale nationale
Kathryn Keyes
Conseillère principale en communications
Bureau : 613-239-5636
Cellulaire : 613-859-9565
Winterlude Ice Sculpture to Honour 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy
OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Feb. 10, 2010) – The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture) and Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital Commission, will honour the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy by illuminating a Navy-themed ice sculpture as part of Winterlude 2010.
Rear Admiral Nigel Greenwood, Assistant Chief of the Maritime Staff, will also attend the event.
The sculpture depicts the HMCS Sackville, Canada’s last remaining Flower-class corvette of the more than 120 built in Canada during the Second World War.
Location: “Rogers Crystal Garden”, Confederation Park (Laurier Avenue, across from City Hall), Ottawa, Ontario
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
This ceremony will be attended by Veterans and other guests of the Canadian Navy.
For more information, please contact:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Janice Summerby
Media Relations Advisor
Office: 613-992-7468
or
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
Sophie Doucet
Press Secretary
Office: 613-992-3465
Cell: 613-608-3252
or
National Capital Commission
Kathryn Keyes
Senior Communications Advisor
Office: 613-239-5636
Cell: 613-859-9565
The NCC and the Canadian Red Cross Thank Residents and Visitors for Making “Skate for Haiti” a Success
The National Capital Commission, the Canadian Red Cross and the Haitian community would like to thank residents and visitors who participated in Skate for Haiti and gave generously during the activities held on the Rideau Canal Skateway on February 5, 6 and 7, during the first weekend of Winterlude.
A total of nearly $ 13 000 was raised and will be eligible for matching by the Government of Canada. This includes $6 000 raised by the owners, management and staff of BeaverTails® concessions along the Skateway in aid of Haiti.
Canadians and visitors alike demonstrated their care and compassion for the earthquake survivors in Haiti as they enjoyed the Rideau Canal Skateway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Participants donated using the 17 contribution boxes located along the Rideau Canal Skateway, joined together in a two-kilometre human chain and created a sense of shared community, while taking in performances by Haitian artists on Saturday and Sunday.
The Skate for Haiti weekend was organized as a gesture of solidarity to raise funds and celebrate the region’s Haitian community on the beautiful Rideau Canal Skateway.
For more information about Winterlude activities, visit Winterlude.gc.ca.
The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 185 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. Our mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.
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