Royal couple to arrive in Ottawa for Canada Day
Kris Sims, Sun News
Canada Day is the biggest party in the country.
The 2011 celebration is extra special because their Prince William and his new bride, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, will be celebrating along with thousands of their loyal subjects on Parliament Hill.
This year’s theme, “Canada: A proud past, a bright future,” includes a special tribute to citizenship and to the Canadian Armed Forces mission in Afghanistan.
Here is the expected time table for July 1:
11:46 ET - Guard of Honour marches.
12:01 – Prime Minister Stephen Harper & family arrives
12:07 – Arrival of Gov. Gen. David Johnston and his wife **will arrive in a Landau with RCMP on horseback.
Read more on Sun News website: Royal couple to arrive in Ottawa for Canada Day
William and Catherine’s Canadian tour itinerary set to be released
Daryl Bruce, Examiner
With just a little over two weeks to go until the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge set foot on Canadian soil, Canadians can expect to get more details of the tour this week.
A spokesperson from the Department of Canadian Heritage stated that the full itinerary of the couple’s eight day tour would be released this week.
The Duke and Duchess will arrive in Ottawa on Thursday, June 30, and take part in Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill on July 1st. The celebrations on the Hill will see performances by Great Big Sea, Sam Roberts and Maria Aragon, the 11 year old internet star.
Following their visit to Ottawa, the couple will visit Montreal, Quebec City, Prince Edward Island, Yellowknife and Calgary.
James Moore the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the department organizing the royal tour, did reveal a few more details of the visit to the Globe and Mail.
Read more on the Examiner website: William and Catherine’s Canadian tour itinerary set to be released
Ottawa hotels sold out ahead of Canada Day visit by the Royal newly weds
Daryl Bruce, Examiner.com
If you were planning to visit Ottawa on Canada Day to catch a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, you may be out of luck.
Ottawa Tourism is reporting that all of the city’s major downtown hotels are sold out for the holiday long weekend.
“Traditionally, Canada Day is a busy time, but it does fall on a Friday this year and so being on a long weekend is advantageous and with the Royal couple there’s a pretty big buzz in the city,” says Deneen Perrin, spokeswoman for the Château Laurier hotel.
The royal couple will land in Ottawa on June 30 and participate in Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill on July 1.
“We’re sold out,” says David Smythe, General Manager of the Lord Elgin Hotel. “When people call our reservation department they’re asking about Canada Day, William and Kate, how close we are to Parliament Hill and where is the best place to stand to see the Royal couple. Our hotel is a seven-minute walk to Parliament Hill so it is really convenient.”
Read more on Examiner.com: Ottawa hotels sold out ahead of Canada Day visit by the Royal newly weds
Countdown is on to the Biggest Birthday Celebration in the Country
Celebrate Canada Day at the Capital’s official sites
[Source: press release]
Canada’s Capital Region ─ With one month to go until Canada’s 144th birthday, the National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased to announce celebration details for two of the three official sites for Canada Day festivities in the Capital: Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa, and Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau. Celebration plans for the iconic heart of the party, Parliament Hill, with Their Royal Highnesses, Prince William and Catherine, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will be shared soon.
The 2011 Canada Day activities will celebrate the Centennial of Parks Canada, the oldest national parks service in the world, the 120th anniversary of the Canadian invention of basketball and the 150th anniversary of the birth of its inventor, Dr. James Naismith, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the National Ballet of Canada, and will highlight three of Canada’s Cultural Capitals for 2011, the City of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, the City of Lévis, Québec, and the City of Vancouver, British Columbia. The day will culminate in a breathtaking fireworks display.
“Canada’s Capital is an inspiring reflection of the people, values and achievements of this country, and no day is that more evident than on Canada Day,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the NCC. “On July 1, the Capital will undoubtedly be the ideal place to have a memorable, Canadian experience.”
Give your Ottawa trip a royal flair during Kate and William’s visit
Jennifer Ditchburn, The Canadian Press
The newlyweds picked Canada as their first official trip as a couple, arriving in time for the Canada Day festivities in the nation’s capital. Kate Middleton has never visited Canada, so Ottawa at its party-hardiest will be her first taste of Canadian hospitality.
William’s parents, Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, visited Canada for the first time in 1983 while the young prince celebrated his first birthday back home. Diana dazzled the massive crowds — she in a blue-and-white striped dress and feathery white hat, they in their Loverboy-era sun visors and T-shirts.
For those who want to be part of the welcoming party for Will and Kate in the national capital region, there are many ways to give the trip a royal twist and many of the activities are free.
Read the rest of the article: Give your Ottawa trip a royal flair during Kate and William’s visit
PM announces royal wedding gifts: donation, outdoor gear
Source: CTV.ca
Canadians who have yet to send their wedding gift to Prince William and his bride-to-be needn’t fret as the Government of Canada has got it covered with a donation, while the prime minister and his wife have promised to give the couple outdoor gear.
In a statement released Thursday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the government will make a donation to the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary “on behalf of all Canadians.”
The $50,000 pledge, “will allow the organization’s volunteers to carry out their mission, which is to offer — day and night — a permanent search and rescue program to meet the needs of Canada’s marine services, as well as to prevent injuries or loss of human life at sea,” the statement said.
The Auxiliary was chosen because it was the only Canadian beneficiary the couple included on their list of charities well-wishers have been invited to support in lieu of wedding gifts.
In his statement, Harper also said that he and his wife Laureen will give the couple a personal gift of outdoor equipment they can use to, “experience Canada’s natural splendour later this year.”
The royal couple will be visiting Ottawa for Canada Day on July 1, before making stops in Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.
Please visit CTV.ca
EARTH DAY 2011: ACHIEVING CARBON NEUTRAL EVENTS
In celebration of Earth Day, the National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased to highlight a key accomplishment of its Environmental Strategy, “Building a Greener Capital”. Canada Day 2010 was carbon neutral.
The strategy, launched in June 2009, was built on the idea of establishing challenging but achievable objectives, in order to improve the NCC’s environmental performance in five specific action areas: reducing waste, enhancing biodiversity, preventing pollution, leading in environmental practices and combating climate change. The NCC will present the second annual detailed progress report of its Environmental Strategy at its Board of Directors public meeting this June.
“The NCC is proud to be making measurable environmental progress, and achieving a carbon neutral Canada Day celebration is just one example,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer at the NCC. “We are definitely on track and we will continue to put into action our Environmental Strategy while working closely with our employees, partners, stakeholders and the public.”
Canada Day 2010
The NCC is proud to declare Canada Day 2010 as its first carbon neutral event. The NCC implemented several greening initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint. By switching to online media sources to distribute information about Canada Day 2010 events, the NCC avoided the production of over 60,000 paper programs and saved the equivalent of 18 mature trees. The NCC also installed seven water stations on site and encouraged visitors to bring their own reusable plastic water bottles. In one day, the water stations filled the equivalent of 32,000 plastic water bottles. These initiatives helped the NCC reduce its Canada Day landfill waste by 29% and avoid the potential production of nearly two and a half tonnes of carbon emissions from landfills.
To achieve carbon neutrality, the NCC worked with CarbonZero, a renowned Canadian carbon offset vendor. To offset the 415 tones of carbon emissions produced by the Canada Day event, the NCC decided to invest in a variety of Canada-based carbon offset projects, such as energy efficiency, methane gas recovery and tree planting projects. All offset projects achieved high quality standards and represent real and permanent carbon reductions.
With the NCC’s first carbon neutral event under its belt, the NCC looks forward to working with all of its event partners to make the rest of the NCC’s signature events – including Christmas Lights Across Canada 2010-2011, Winterlude 2012, the Rideau Canal Skateway 2012, Fall Rhapsody 2012 and Sunday Bikedays 2013 — carbon neutral firsts!
The Environmental Strategy builds on the NCC’s long-standing commitment to its natural environment and to good environmental management, a commitment embraced by NCC employees. The NCC is dedicated to achieving its Environmental Strategy and to leading the way to a greener Capital.
For more information on the NCC’s Environmental Strategy, 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/greencapital.
Media Information:
Jasmine Leduc
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5410 (office)
613-608-3119 (cellular)
jasmine.leduc@ncc-ccn.ca
Jean Wolff
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5703 (office)
613-797-0279 (cellular)
jean.wolff@ncc-ccn.ca
Best Things to Do in Canada: Month by Month – July: Ottawa’s Canada Day Celebrations
Photo Caption: Canada Day celebrations in the capital city Ottawa.
Photo by Denise LeBlanc
It’s a day to celebrate all that is Canada: that means music, fireworks, fine food and drink, dancing in the streets, parades, marching bands and Mounties. Sometimes, even royalty drops in for a cuppa: the big news for 2011 is that newlyweds William and Kate, just two months after their Westminster Abbey nuptial spectacle, are expected to join the party.
Music rings out all over town: The Ottawa Jazz Festival stages a series of free concerts at Confederation Park 11am-7pm. The National Arts Centre’s musical program is one of the city’s most ambitious on Canada Day — and it’s all free. A typical July 1 begins at 10 am with the 400-voice Unisong Massed Choir, then moves onto a series of hourly kids concerts, a series of stand-out performances by the NAC Orchestra, the NAC Young Artist Programme and African Drummers. July 1 is also a good time to check out the city’s top museums — so long as you don’t mind line-ups — since most offer free admission for the day.
Read more at Frommer’s: Best Things to Do in Canada: Month by Month
“CANADA’S CAPITALS” PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS – Winning photos to be featured in exhibit in Canada’s Capital
The National Capital Commission (NCC) and Canadian Geographic are proud to announce the winners of the “Canada’s Capitals” Photo contest. The winning photos will be part of the exhibit Perspectives: Scenes of Canada’s Capitals which will be featured from May to September 2011 on the lower terrace of the Fairmont Château Laurier.
Over 2,000 Canadians from across the country submitted photographs depicting features and landmarks that reflect the unique character of each of Canada’s 14 capital cities. Young photographers were also invited to share their perspectives of our vibrant nation. Here are the winners in each of the Capital cities:
Jordan Camponi, Edmonton (Alberta) (Grand prize winner)
James C. Patterson, Victoria (British Columbia)
Julia Coombs, Edmonton (Alberta)
Wes Tollefson, Regina (Saskatchewan)
Ken Gillespie, Winnipeg (Manitoba)
Sean Ivans, Yellowknife (Northwest Territories)
Ewa Kaczor-Santos, Whitehorse (Yukon)
Lan Hu, Iqualuit (Nunavut)
Thomas Lee, Ottawa (Ontario)
Doug Bisson, Toronto (Ontario)
Philippe Reno, Québec (Québec)
Emily Jackson, Fredericton (New Brunswick)
Derrick Hefford, St. John’s (Newfoundland)
Gilles Chamberland, Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island)
Chris Gidney, Halifax (Nova Scotia)
Katrina Strickland, Victoria (British Columbia) (winner: children category)
“The long-awaited thaw of the North Saskatchewan River means that summer is on its way and we will soon get to enjoy the art, music and theatre festivals that are the best parts of living in Edmonton,” said the grand prize winner, Jordan Camponi, when describing his photo.
The winners and the winning photos will be published on the Canadian Geographic website and in the summer 2011 issue of Canadian Geographic Travel (on newsstands now), and will also be exhibited in Ottawa in the heart of Canada’s Capital Region during the summer. The grand prize winner, Jordan Camponi of Edmonton, earned a trip for two to Canada’s Capital Region for Canada Day 2011.
The NCC and Canadian Geographic wish to thank the following sponsors: Lowepro, Joby and the Fairmont Château Laurier for their generous contribution and participation.
Horizon 2067: The Plan for Canada’s Capital
The NCC has started to plan Canada’s Capital of tomorrow and needs your ideas and opinions to shape your country’s capital towards 2067, year of the 200th anniversary of Canada. Participate and put more of you in Canada’s Capital. Find out more by visiting www.horizon2067.ca!
For more information about the NCC, 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 website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca.
Media Information:
Charles Cardinal
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5227 (office)
613-851-6924 (cellular)
charles.cardinal@ncc-ccn.ca
Denise Leblanc
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5750 (office)
613-851-9465 (cellular)
denise.leblanc@ncc-ccn.ca
Gilles Gagnier
Director of New Media
Canadian Geographic
613-740-2007 (office)
A New Yorker and a photographer from Québec search for the soul of Canada Day in Ottawa
By Bruce Stutz with photography by Renaud Philippe, Canadian Geographic
MY FIRST CANADA DAY! Bonjour! Bonne fête du Canada! Please pardon my French, for I’m from New York City, where we pretend to all speak the same language. Forgive me, too, for passing up, at eight in the morning, a street vendor’s proffer of a paper plateful of poutine. The celebration is not yet underway. The cobblestone courtyards of the Byward Market are quiet. But the barricades are being set up along the motorcade route and the tide of red shirts and red caps has started coming in: families with folding chairs and coolers vetting vantage points, bright young bénévoles (I’m learning already) bearing fistfuls of little Canadian flags, and vendors at their stations, griddles already smoking.
“Canada Day, eh?” one says to me, as if to mock my New Yorker’s expectations of Canadian brogue. I smile, wave my little flag and explain that I had planned a bicycle ride along the Rideau Canal and am worried that fries and curds might not be the right fuel for the journey.
Full Story on the National Geographic Travel Club website: Canada Day in Ottawa-Gatineau
