Launch of the Festival Season 2008

April 30, 2008 · Filed Under News, Ottawa Festivals News

Ottawa Festivals celebrates each year with a special event to kick-off the festival season. The “Launch of the Festival Season” is the opportunity to celebrate Ottawa’s multi-million dollar festival industry and the decade-long involvement of Ottawa Festivals in showcasing and promoting art, culture, entertainment, and sport in Canada’s National Capital Region. Ottawa Festivals has been working to make local events world-class and promote Ottawa as an exciting tourist destination while also making a significant impact on the local economy and greatly enhancing the region’s image.This high profile media event brings awareness of the festival season fast approaching and new and exciting activities occurring throughout the industry.

This year’s event hosted over 300 attendees at Jean Pigott Place in Ottawa City Hall which was decorated with local festival pageantry items and decorations representing festivals, special events & fairs. Local bands and various performers entertained, while many door prizes, prize packs and festival giveaways were drawn.

Master of Ceremonies, Luba Goy welcomed guests, acknowledged dignitaries, and festival supporters and sponsors. She presented the itinerary for the event. Mayor Larry O’Brien congratulated Ottawa Festivals for winning the Ottawa Tourism Small Company of the Year Award and spoke about the significant impact festivals have on the City of Ottawa. Julian Armour, President and Chair, Ottawa Festivals, unveiled the 2008 Ottawa Festivals public awareness campaign and guests were provided a sneak peak of the industry video, the unveiling of the winner of the Ottawa Festival’s rebranding contest, and a line-up of the newest festival members.

Carter Brown, KISS FM personality, announced the winner of the full festival season prize pack which consisted of tickets for the 2008/2009 festival season from all festivals, special events & fairs. The contest ran for four (4) weeks on 105.3 Kiss FM & Ottawa Sun. One Hundred semi-finalists attended the event and enjoyed the entertainment and a buffet lunch catered by Carmello’s on Cooper.

Speakers

Barbara Stacey Executive Director, Ottawa Festivals
Luba Goy Celebrity guest and Master of Ceremonies, Royal Canadian Air Farce
Mayor Larry O’Brien Mayor, City of Ottawa
Julian Armour President & Chair, Ottawa Festivals & Director of Celebridée, Canadian Tulip Festival
Carter Brown Announcer, 105.3 Kiss FM

Guests

Dignitaries, City Councillors, business leaders, Festival Member Executive Directors, staff, volunteers and Board of Directors, media, contestant semi-finalists, and industry partners, such as; NCC, NAC, Ottawa Tourism, BIA’s, and festivals sponsors attended.

Winner of the festivals season prize pack Tracey Bissonnette said, “I’m truly excited & can’t wait to attend all the festivals, special events, and fairs that Ottawa has to offer. A big thank you to Ottawa Festivals for such a fantastic prize pack!”
Luba Goy then invited all guests to enjoy the buffet lunch sponsored by Carmello’s on Cooper while the Mayor, speakers, Board of Directors, and distinguished guests participated in various photo opts; and cutting of the cake. Closing remarks from Barbara Stacey ended the event.