Lights festivals herald Christmas across Canada
Katrina Heer, Centretown News
When do you know Christmas is just around the corner?
For some, it is opening that first window of the Advent calendar, revealing the stocking-shaped chocolate inside. For others, the first faint notes of Jingle Bells heard over a department store stereo; Michael Bublé crooning a jazzy rendition of It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. Or, it means watching those first few snowflakes make their way to earth, painting the city with a layer of glittery frost.
For those living in Ottawa, it is the annual Christmas Lights Across Canada festival – where the city scape comes alive with thousands of dazzling Christmas lights – that marks the beginning of the holiday season.
The lights are one of many local public art displays – including the Bank Street bike racks or the fire hydrant sculptures on Wellington– that bring art to the streets.
The Christmas Lights program was first introduced in 1985 by the National Capital Commission to “liven up the winter months,” says NCC spokesperson Charles Cardinal, adding a welcome pop of colour to Ottawa’s snowy Parliament Hill.
Read more on the Centretown News website: Lights festivals herald Christmas across Canada
Hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights to brighten Canada’s Capital Region
[Source: NCC press release]
Magical evening will officially kick off the holiday season
Canada’s Capital Region ─ The National Capital Commission (NCC), in collaboration with Manulife Financial, is pleased to invite members of the public and of the media to the launch of the 27th edition of the Christmas Lights Across Canada program. The official illumination ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 6 pm on Parliament Hill.
Russell Mills, Chair of the NCC, Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, and Donald Guloien, President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Financial, will be joined by special guests as they officially switch on the thousands of light bulbs that will illuminate Parliament Hill as well as many institutions, monuments, and other prominent landmarks located along Confederation Boulevard, in the heart of Canada’s Capital Region.
An important national component of the Christmas Lights Across Canada program: many provincial and territorial capitals are also holding their own lighting ceremonies.
“The NCC is proud to work in collaboration with all the provinces and territories to bring their holiday messages to Canadians,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the NCC. “This link of lights is a symbol of peace, respect, and hope.”
Capital culture
Taking a closer look at local artists in the Capital Region
Sarah Brown
Tour the world’s great capitals, and it becomes apparent that they share two key traits. First, their residents are unselfconsciously proud of their culture. Second, these capitals are bold in showcasing art and ideas, in supporting artists who celebrate their nation and in allowing them the stage when they wish to question the “sacred tenets” of what that nationhood means. Great capitals engage their artists and citizens, celebrating the diversity of their creations.
In the past 20 years, the population of Canada’s capital has reached a critical mass that makes it possible for cultural entrepreneurs to develop world-class blues, jazz and chamber music festivals; the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Civilization can count on crowd support for blockbuster international exhibitions; the National Arts Centre has outdone itself with its ongoing “Scene” series of regional artistic exhibitions; and our key cultural buildings are architectural showpieces. Yet, in 2011, our capital city still lacks a certain zing.
Read more on the Canadian Geographic website: Capital culture
Capital culture
Taking a closer look at local artists in the Capital Region
Sarah Brown, The Canadian Geographic
Tour the world’s great capitals, and it becomes apparent that they share two key traits. First, their residents are unselfconsciously proud of their culture. Second, these capitals are bold in showcasing art and ideas, in supporting artists who celebrate their nation and in allowing them the stage when they wish to question the “sacred tenets” of what that nationhood means. Great capitals engage their artists and citizens, celebrating the diversity of their creations.
In the past 20 years, the population of Canada’s capital has reached a critical mass that makes it possible for cultural entrepreneurs to develop world-class blues, jazz and chamber music festivals; the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Civilization can count on crowd support for blockbuster international exhibitions; the National Arts Centre has outdone itself with its ongoing “Scene” series of regional artistic exhibitions; and our key cultural buildings are architectural showpieces. Yet, in 2011, our capital city still lacks a certain zing.
Since its creation in 1959, the National Capital Commission (NCC) has worked with other federal agencies as well as municipal, provincial and other counterparts to handle signature events in a solidly proficient way. I think of this as the “macro” level of our capital’s culture. Remembrance Day is sombre and moving; February’s winter festival Winterlude is a blast of fun in an otherwise miserable month; and Canada Day gathers everyone on Parliament Hill to celebrate together. “Christmas Lights Across Canada” showcases the city’s beauty, and the “Mosaika” sound and light show on the Hill provides visitors with a visually stunning Coles Notes version of our history.
Read more on the Canadian Geographic website: Capital culture
PM launches the Christmas Lights Across Canada program on Parliament Hill
In keeping with Christmas tradition, Prime Minister Stephen Harper today turned on the lights on Parliament Hill as part of the annual Christmas Lights Across Canada program.
“As we light up Parliament Hill, we join with our fellow Canadians, from coast to coast to coast, in communities across our great country in celebrating Christmas together,” said Prime Minister Harper. “It is also an opportunity to celebrate what has been a great year for Canada.”
Christmas Lights Across Canada takes place in capital cities across the country every year. The Ottawa celebration includes over 300,000 lights that will be on display from December 2, 2010, to January 7, 2011.
“As we celebrate Christmas and count our blessings, I hope everyone can take a moment to reflect on how fortunate we all are to live in such a prosperous and peaceful nation,” said the Prime Minister.
Christmas and New Year’s in Ottawa
So maybe you’re planning a visit to Ottawa over the holiday season… or maybe you live here and are looking for some suggestions of what to see and do. This is a starting guide of what awaits — watch for updates as December progresses!
FREE STUFF
Christmas Lights Across Canada – last year’s launch on Parliament Hill
Everybody loves free stuff, especially when there are so many other demands on your wallet! Be sure to wander the downtown Ottawa and Gatineau streets between December 2, 2010 and January 7, 2011 and admire the Christmas Lights Across Canada program — more than 300,000 coloured lights decorate Parliament Hill, the National War Memorial and other scenic sites.
Read more at letsgoottawa.ca
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TO BRIGHTEN CANADA’S CAPITAL REGION
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TO BRIGHTEN CANADA’S CAPITAL REGION
Canada’s Capital Region ─ The National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased to invite members of the public and of the media to the launch of the 26th edition of the Christmas Lights Across Canada program. The official illumination ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 6 pm on Parliament Hill.
Mr. Russell Mills, Chair of the NCC, and Ms. Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, will be joined by special guests as they officially switch on the thousands of light bulbs that will illuminate Parliament Hill as well as many institutions, monuments, and other prominent landmarks located along Confederation Boulevard, in the heart of Canada’s Capital Region.
Ottawa Has the Scoop on Indoor & Outdoor Activities for Winter 2011/2011
This press release from our friends at Ottawa Tourism outlines a number of the winter activites that will take place this season. And don’t forget, for three weekends in February, Winterlude is a great celebration of Canda’s Capital in Winter.
Source: Zone5ive on Flickr, used under Creative Commons
Visitors to Ottawa have plenty of choice this winter whether they want to stay inside or outside. This December, the Ottawa region will be energized by the lights of Christmas, outdoor skating, the Nutcracker and, of course, hockey! And if you book your hotel or getaway package before March 31, 2011 , you can enjoy a 3rd night free at participating hotels. Visit www.ottawatourism.ca for full details on this as well as the other special offers and packages available.
Over the coming weeks, Ottawa will play host to Christmas Lights Across Canada; performances of The Nutcracker and Nativity: a Coyote’s Christmas at the National Arts Centre, The Bell Capital Cup hockey tournament and the 41st skating season on the Rideau Canal Skateway where visitors can skate, for free, on the world’s largest outdoor rink.
ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT TO TAKE IN THE BEAUTY OF THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN THE CAPITAL
The National Capital Commission (NCC) wishes to remind residents and visitors that this is the final week to enjoy the Christmas Lights Across Canada display, which illuminates the Capital Region.The lighting display on Parliament Hill and along Confederation Boulevard will be on from 4:30 pm to 2:00 am nightly until January 7, 2010 (inclusive).
This year, over 70 sites in the heart of Canada’s Capital Region provide the perfect backdrop to more than 375,000 dazzling lights.
The Christmas lights that illuminate many museums, historic sites, embassies and other landmarks along Confederation Boulevard – the discovery route that circles the heart of Canada’s Capital Region – were officially switched on during a lighting ceremony held on Parliament Hill on December 12, 2009. Thousands of spectators were on hand to take part in the annual celebration. This year’s ceremony was twinned with arrival of the Olympic Flame on Parliament Hill, as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.
As an important national element of the program, provincial and territorial capitals held their own lighting festivities, creating a link with the nation’s capital and a spectacular display of colour and light all across the country.
For additional information about the Christmas Lights Across Canada program, members of the public may contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 613-239-5090 (TTY), 1-800-465-1867 (toll-free) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY), or visit the NCC’s website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SHINE BRIGHTER THAN EVER IN CANADA’S CAPITAL REGION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NCCN-09-12-17-NR
December 22, 2009
Canada’s Capital Region – The National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased to announce that the final tally is in, and the 25th edition of Christmas Lights Across Canada is shining brighter than ever in the Capital Region – with more than 375,000 bulbs illuminated.
This year, a total of 377,515 multicoloured lights – an increase of over 77,000 bulbs – adorn Parliament Hill and the many museums, historic sites, embassies and other landmarks along Confederation Boulevard – the discovery route that circles the heart of Canada’s Capital Region. Also on the rise are the number of LED lights incorporated in the display, up this year from 200,000 to 350,000.
The holiday season is the perfect time to admire this luminous spectacle. The lights will be on from 4:30 pm to 2 am nightly until January 7, 2010 (inclusive).
The Christmas Lights Across Canada program began this year on December 12, with the official illumination ceremony on Parliament Hill, attended by a crowd of over 20,000 spectators. This year’s ceremony was twinned with the arrival of the Olympic Flame on Parliament Hill, as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. As an important national element of the Christmas Lights program, all of the provincial and territorial capitals also held their own lighting festivities, creating a link with the nation’s capital, and a spectacular display of colour and light across the country.
For additional information about the Christmas Lights Across Canada program, members of the public may contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 613-239-5090 (TTY), 1-800-465-1867 (toll-free) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY), or visit the NCC’s website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca.
