By Jessica Smith, Metro Ottawa

Two successful Canadians will be opening about up about their families and their personal lives at the Ottawa Library Wednesday to mark Asian Heritage Month.

Wellington-Halton Hills M.P. Michael Chong and Environment Canada policy advisory Sunny Uppal are going to tell their own stories as part of the Historica Dominion Institute’s Passages to Canada project, which organizers say aims to tell the stories of successful immigrants to “the citizens of tomorrow.”

Uppal family’s Canadian story begins in the early 1970′s when grandparents immigrated to Toronto from India.

Read more: MP to talk about Asian heritage at Ottawa library

With a lineup of hip, young French-speaking artists such as Acadiens Radio Radio and Mia Martina, the 37th Festival Franco-Ontarien is working hard to bring in a younger, more ethnically diverse audience this year.

“There (are) more French speakers from Africa, and Europeans, living in Ontario today than before,” said Laurent Vandeputte, Programming Director for the Franco. “It’s more dance music this year. We’re trying to get a younger crowd and to have ethnic culture as part of the mix.”

To do that, Vandeputte said, groups like Mia Martina and Swedish-Congolese R&B singer Mohambie are headlining the event. which runs June 14 to 16 in Major’s Hill Park.

Read more: Festival Franco-Ontarien targets young crowd with dance hits

Friday May 18th at 7:00 p.m., Centrepointe Theatre

The Kiwanis Music Festival Highlights Concert is going to be an amazing event!

Also known as “The Best of the Fest”, this Concert features the most entertaining and talented participants from the Festival as recommended by the adjudicators.  Some of the featured young people include Anita Pari (piano), Bryan Cheng (cello), Suran Barry (piano),  Riccardo Nazario del Castello (Trombone), Canterbury Senior Strings, Ensemble Vocal Senior de la Salle (the winners of the 2012 CBC Music in Schools award), Lisgar Senior Concert Band, and many more.

Read more: Kiwanis  Music Festival – NCR Highlights Concert

POSITION: LA1 Assistant Festival Coordinator

CONTRACT LENGTH: 26 weeks

START DATE: ASAP                 END DATE: For Set Weeks

JOB SUMMARY: Works with the Artistic Producer to ensure successful coordination of the Festival including workshops and events.

REPORTING: Artistic Producer

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in developing and implementing outreach event possibilities and workshops
• Coordinate ad placements in program and ensure correct usage of logos and ads
• Coordinate the production and distribution of various communications with outside vendors, such as printers and mail houses, to meet their designated due date
• Prepare workshop survey and administer to clients, update workshop database
• Assist Workshop Coordinator with in house and outreach workshops, assist sponsorship coordinator with identifying sponsors, ensuring sponsorship recognition is properly undertaken as per contract with sponsors
• Survey team members to assess volunteer needs
• Implement existing and create new volunteer recruitment methods including volunteer organizations, other festivals, existing teams & organizations, community members, media and social media networks
• Assist with volunteer workshops and with volunteer site visit when needed
• Recruit solid teams of volunteers for main event and/or workshops
• Maintain volunteer registration forms and database
• Create volunteer schedule and prepare supplies for volunteers; Educate volunteers on health and safety precautions
• Find affective methods to motivate volunteers; Assign jobs to all volunteers; Assist with site set-up and clean-up

SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Demonstrated project management skills, including the  ability to take initiative and establish work priorities
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure and achieve high quality results
• Ability and knowledge to recruit and maintain volunteers
• Possess good leadership skills
• Demonstrated high level of interpersonal skills and the ability to liaise effectively with a range of clients including children, adults and seniors
• Demonstrated high level of interpersonal skills and ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of clients, stakeholders and suppliers (including children, adults and seniors) to achieve desired outcomes.
• Must be willing and available to work some evenings and weekends
• Bilingual – comfort with verbal communication in both languages
• Must have basic Word and Excel skills; Wordpress an asset

TO APPLY: Forward CV to jobs@ottawafestivals.ca or fax to 613.233.3134

Please quote position number: LA1 and title

Only those candidates who meet the JCP criteria will be contacted for an interview. To learn more about the JCP criteria, please visit http://www.ottawafestivals.ca

Theatre Wakefield presents Dr Harold, on stage May 26 & 27 at the Wakefield LaPêche Community Centre in Wakefield, QC.

Penned by John Hardie, from the memoir of Dr. Harold Geggie entitled The Extra Mile, Dr Harold concerns the life and experiences of a country doctor in the days before the automobile and the telephone were in wide usage. It is a thoughtful, poignant and humane piece, and is drawn from Dr Geggie’s notes, written while in a cutter or sleigh, journeying the very rural area in and around Wakefield in Western Québec. This is a rewritten script from a first production in 2007.

John Hardie also performs the piece, with musical accompaniment by Alise Marlane (winner of the 2012 Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award) and Nathan Curry. All revenues from these performances will be donated to the committee for the Palliative Care Hospice, La Maison des Collines.

Read more: The Doctor Who Went the Extra Mile Returns!

Born in Ottawa 10 years ago and still calling it home, Magnetic North Theatre Festival is camping out in Calgary this year. Check their site for performance details, information on discounted accomodations and more!

www.MagneticNorthFestival.ca

Magnetic North Theatre Festival Celebrates its 10th Anniversary in Calgary Line up of Productions and Events Announced

The Magnetic North Theatre Festival is the premiere festival of new Canadian theatre. Like the Magnetic North Pole itself, the festival moves around the country, treating Canadians to excellence in English theatre from across Canada. Magnetic North gives us the opportunity to share our stories, to interpret our history and our times, and to explore how we see the world.

Community arts & crafts for sale, free family yoga, live music, alumni café, face painting, children’s entertainment and games, bake sale, BBQ, and much more!

All Saints Church, Sandy Hill, 317 Chapel St., Ottawa, ON K1N 7Z2

More Info:  http://bettyehyde.com/index.htm

Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/146797358784846/

Four new electronica acts have been added to the Main Stage for the second last night of the RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest in July.

Tokimonsta, KOAN Sound, Diplo, and Pretty Lights will stop by Ottawa July 14 during their Full Flex Express tour through Canada on a private passenger train. They will open for American dubstep music producer and DJ, Skrillex, who will play at 9:30 p.m.

Their names were officially added to the Bluesfest lineup Monday afternoon.

The Full Flex Express train tour will also stop in Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver.

Bluesfest organizers say there are still more new acts to be confirmed and further announcements are planned.

Bluesfest runs July 4-15.

La Commission de la capitale nationale (CCN), en partenariat avec la Garde côtière canadienne, a dévoilé aujourd’hui l’exposition 2012 de photos sur le pont Plaza. Cette année, l’exposition met en vedette le 50^e anniversaire de la Garde côtière canadienne.

« Dans le cadre des célébrations entourant le 50^e anniversaire de la Garde côtière canadienne cette année, j’ai l’honneur de dévoiler cette nouvelle exposition de photos soulignant la contribution de la Garde côtière à la sécurité et l’accessibilité des voies navigables, a affirmé le ministre Ashfield. Notre gouvernement est fier de la Garde côtière canadienne et de son personnel qui offre quotidiennement des services essentiels aux Canadiens. »

Vingt-six images accrocheuses à grande échelle – choisies pour représenter les valeurs, le travail d’aujourd’hui et les femmes et les hommes dévoués de la Garde côtière canadienne – seront présentées dans le cœur de la capitale du Canada de mai à octobre. Aménagée sur le pont Plaza à la Place de la Confédération, un des corridors piétonniers les plus achalandés de la capitale, l’exposition en plein air offre aux visiteurs un portrait fascinant de cette institution canadienne.

« Cette exposition permettra aux résidents et aux visiteurs de découvrir davantage l’important travail des femmes et des hommes de la Garde côtière canadienne, a déclaré Marie Lemay, première dirigeante de la CCN. Ces photos, exposées dans cet espace emblématique de la capitale, racontent des histoires de Canadiens d’un océan à l’autre. »

À propos de la Garde côtière canadienne

La Garde côtière canadienne a vu le jour le 26 janvier 1962. Depuis, les hommes et les femmes qui en font partie ont fourni d’importants services aux Canadiens comme ceux de communication et de trafic maritimes, d’aide à la navigation, de déglaçage, de recherche et de sauvetage et d’intervention environnementale.

Des événements et des activités pour célébrer les 50 années de service de la Garde côtière auront lieu tout le long de l’année dans plusieurs collectivités à travers le Canada. On encourage les Canadiens à en apprendre davantage sur la Garde côtière canadienne et à se joindre aux célébrations.

À propos des expositions de photos sur le pont Plaza

La CCN a lancé le programme d’expositions de photos sur le pont Plaza en 2005 pour souligner le 60^e anniversaire de la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Depuis, chaque année durant les mois d’été, des événements et des jalons importants de notre histoire sont reconnus et célébrés à travers des images photographiques.

Au cours des dernières années, l’exposition a commémoré le 70^e anniversaire de l’Office national du film du Canada (2009) ainsi que le 100^e anniversaire de la Marine royale canadienne (2010) et le centenaire de Parcs Canada (2011).

À propos de la Commission de la capitale nationale

La CCN est une société d’État qui a pour mission de susciter un sentiment de fierté et d’unité en faisant de la région de la capitale un lieu de rencontre pour tous les Canadiens et en faisant connaître le Canada aux Canadiens par la capitale. La CCN organise des activités d’envergure dans la région de la capitale du Canada, comme la fête du Canada. Elle est très fière également de planifier et d’aménager la capitale pour les générations futures.

Pour de plus amples renseignements à propos des activités et événements tenus dans la région de la capitale du Canada, veuillez communiquer avec la CCN au 613-239-5000 or 1 800 465-1867 (sans frais), au numéro d’ATS 613-239-5090 ou 1 866 661-3530 (sans frais), ou encore consulter le site www.capitaleducanada.gc.ca.

The National Capital Commission (NCC), in partnership with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), today unveiled the 2012 Plaza Bridge Photo Exhibit. This year’s exhibit celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the Canadian Coast Guard.

“As part of our year-long celebrations of the Canadian Coast Guard’s 50^th anniversary, I am honoured to unveil this new photo exhibit highlighting the Coast Guard’s contribution to safe and accessible waterways,” said Minister Ashfield. “Our government is proud of the Canadian Coast Guard, and of the men and women who provide critical services to Canadians every day.”

Twenty-six eye-catching, large scale images ─ chosen to represent the Canadian Coast Guard’s values, present-day work and dedicated men and women ─ will be showcased in the heart of the nation’s capital from May to October. Situated on the Plaza Bridge in Confederation Square, one of the Capital’s busiest pedestrian corridors, this outdoor photo exhibition offers visitors a unique portrait of this Canadian institution.

“This exhibit will enable residents and visitors to discover more about the important work of the men and women of the Canadian Coast Guard,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital Commission. “These photos, displayed in this iconic Capital space, convey stories of Canadians from coast to coast to coast.”

About the Canadian Coast Guard

The Canadian Coast Guard was created on January 26, 1962. Since then, the men and women of the Coast Guard have been providing important services to Canadians such as marine communications and traffic services, provision of aids to navigation, icebreaking, search and rescue, and environmental response.

Events and activities to celebrate the Coast Guard’s 50 years of service will be held throughout the year in communities across the country. Canadians are encouraged to learn more about the Canadian Coast Guard and join the celebrations.

About the Plaza Bridge Photo ExhibitThe Plaza Bridge Photo Exhibit program was initiated by the NCC in 2005 to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Every year since, for the summer months, important Canadian milestones and anniversaries are recognized and celebrated through photographic images.

Most recently, the exhibit commemorated the 70th anniversary of National Film Board of Canada (2009), the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy (2010), as well as the Centennial of Parks Canada (2011).

About the National Capital Commission

The NCC is a Crown corporation whose mandate is to create pride and unity by making the Capital a meeting place for all Canadians and by using the Capital to communicate Canada to Canadians. The NCC takes great pride in developing and planning a Capital for future generations and in organizing and delivering large-scale events such as the Canada Day celebrations in the Capital Region.

For more information about events and activities taking place in Canada’s Capital Region, the public may contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 1-800-465-1867, 613-239-5090 (TTY) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll free TTY) or visit the NCC’s website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca.