The twelve festivals benefiting from this year’s funding are the Canadian Tulip Festival, Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, Festival franco-ontarien, Music and Beyond, Tim Horton’s Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival, Ottawa Folk Festival, Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, Ottawa International Children’s Festival, Ottawa International Writers Festival, Rideau Canal Festival, Summer Solstice Aboriginal Arts Festival, and the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival.

“It is very encouraging to see an increased commitment from the province,” says Barb Stacey, Executive Director of Ottawa Festivals, a not-for-profit organization that represents more than 50 not-for-profit festivals, special events and fairs that take place in Canada’s Capital Region, “There is no question that these events have tremendous socio-economic impact on the community by providing affordable access to cultural and community-based activities while also attracting more visitors. These events help showcase Ottawa’s identity while also creating significant economic impact that supports increased prosperity, jobs and opportunities for our community.”

Created to help festivals and events improve their programming and services to attract new audiences, increase visitor spending and create jobs; Celebrate Ontario is investing a total of $20-million in 230 events across the province.

Ottawa is widely known as the city of festivals.

For residents looking for something to do on weekends without having to leave the city, the lineup doesn’t disappoint.

Read the full article on the Metro website to see a run down of a few of the many, many events that will be happening over the course of the next few months: It’s festival season in the capital

Le Richelieu International tient en effet a souligner la contribution importante l’Honorable Jean-Robert Gauthier a la francophonie en Ontario et au Canada. Decede le 10 decembre 2009 a l’age de 80 ans, Jean-Robert Gauthier a consacre plus de 40 ans de vie publique a la defense des droits des francophones au Canada. Chiropraticien de formation, son engagement public debuta dans le domaine de l’education ou il a occupe le poste de commissaire scolaire. Elu sept fois depute federal d’Ottawa-Est, puis nomme senateur en 1994, Jean-Robert Gauthier a ete de tous les combats linguistiques. Travaillant pour un federalisme respectueux des droits linguistiques a travers le pays, il fut un porte-parole de la francophonie et de l’education des francophones en situation minoritaire.

Il a joue un role important dans la mise sur pied de plusieurs initiatives, notamment la Federation des communautes francophones et acadiennes du Canada, le Centre franco-ontarien de ressources pedagogiques et le Festival franco-ontarien. Il a ete president de l’Assemblee parlementaire de la francophonie de 1997 a 1999. Ardent defenseur du dossier des langues officielles, c’est apres une longue et impressionnante carriere que le senateur Gauthier a pris sa retraite le 22 octobre 2004, a l’age de 75 ans. Le 10 octobre dernier, l’Honorable Jean-Robert Gauthier a ete nomme Personnalite Richelieu International 2009.

OTTAWA – The Province has announced the recipients of 2010 Celebrate Ontario funding grants, and more than $1.5-million is being invested in festivals and events taking place in Ottawa.

Twelve Ottawa Festival members that include Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, Tim Horton’s Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, Ottawa Folk Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival, Ottawa International Children’s Festival, Ottawa International Writers Festival, Rideau Canal Festival, Summer Solstice Aboriginal Arts Summer Festival, TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Festival, WESTFEST, Festival Franco-Ontarien, and Canadian Tulip Festival received funding this year.

“This is very exciting news,” says Barb Stacey, Executive Director of Ottawa Festivals, a not-for-profit organization that represents more than 50 not-for-profit festivals, special events and fairs that take place in the National Capital Region, “this represents a substantial investment in our community, especially considering that these investments are leveraged many times over through private investment, sponsorship and funding available from other levels of government.

“This investment will improve our offering to visitors and further Ottawa’s reputation as being Canada’s Festival Capital. This will help attract new visitors to our internationally renowned premier events, and our supporting events will certainly enhance the city’s many tourism and cultural attractions,” Stacey continues, “These events animate the city. They add colour, life and excitement.”

Awarded by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Celebrate Ontario funding helps communities realize the potential benefits associated with increased tourism and visitor spending. “Festivals and events are important drivers of tourism in Ontario. This support will help enhance their offerings and bring more jobs, visitors and spending to communities throughout our province,” said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture.

En plus de ce concert-midi, quelques autres activités sur le campus feront partie de la programmation du Festival franco-ontarien. Le jeudi 11 juin, l’Université accueillera, à une matinée scolaire, 1500 élèves de la 5e à la 11e année des écoles franco-ontariennes de la région. En soirée, l’Université sera l’hôte de la cérémonie d’ouverture du Festival, à laquelle prendra part l’invitée d’honneur, la ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones, Madeleine Meilleur.

Pour la troisième année de suite, le Grand défilé franco-ontarien du samedi 13 juin 2009 partira de l’Université avant de prendre d’assaut le marché By. Tous les francophones et francophiles sont invités à entrer dans le bal!

Pour toute question concernant le spectacle du midi, contacter Marie-Soleil Pinsonnault au 613-562-5800 poste 4705 ou par courriel au mpinsonn@uOttawa.ca.

Pour tous renseignements sur la programmation du Festival franco-ontarien, visiter le www.ffo.ca.

In its 34th year, the Festival Franco Ontarien is not only expanding, it’s returning to its ByWard Market roots.

The festival, which began in the ByWard Market, will expand from its Festival Plaza site to feature activities in the market this year, said Melany Gauvin, director of communications for the festival.

While the Festival Franco Ontarien is the Francophone community’s festival, everyone is welcome, said Gauvin. “In Ottawa, everyone has a colleague or an in-law or a cousin or a friend who is (Francophone).”

Full article: Franco Ontarien fest expands to four days