Tulip Festival pulls up roots and leaves Major’s Hill Park
Tony Lofaro, The Ottawa Citizen
After 59 years, the Canadian Tulip Festival is leaving the NCC’s parks.
For the 60th anniversary festival, officials say their programming this spring will be staged at community sites around the city. The festival has had a long-standing partnership with the National Capital Commission and has used Major’s Hill Park and Commissioner’s Park, near Dow’s Lake, in the past.
Read more: Tulip Festival pulls up roots and leaves Major’s Hill Park
Ontario’s tourism welcome doesn’t travel to Ottawa
18 visitor centres, but none here
By Mark Sutcliffe, Ottawa Citizen
Ontario has 18 Travel Information Centres, placed strategically across the province and at which, according to the government’s website, “friendly staff” will “help you customize an Ontario itinerary as unique as you are.”
At these centres, tourists can pick up brochures, get answers to their questions and even book hotel rooms. “We are travel experts familiar with local attractions, but also knowledgeable about all that our province has to offer,” the tourism website says.
Read more: Ontario’s tourism welcome doesn’t travel to Ottawa
Winterlude 2012 one of best attended ever
The Ottawa Citizen
Photograph by: Pat McGrath , Ottawa Citizen
Despite the mild weather that closed the Rideau Canal, the National Capital Commission says that Winterlude 2012 was one of the best attended to date.
Preliminary attendance numbers from a Winterlude research study indicate that 695,000 individuals attended the 2012 event. Of this, 62 per cent were area residents and 38 per cent were visitors from out-of-town. Final survey results will be available later this month.
Original Story: Winterlude 2012 one of best attended ever
Ottawa gets ready for the Junos: 100 bands to play area clubs during Juno Week, including Jim Cuddy and Swollen Members
Ottawa Citizen
A two-day “Junofest” of shows in local clubs will feature about 100 bands, including many Ottawa musicians. Organizers also announced a “Song Circle” at Centrepointe Theatre on April 1 hosted by Dan Mangan and featuring David Francey, Lindi Ortega, and Terri Clarke.
And at the Juno awards ceremony itself, Canadian pop-punk band band Simple Plan will be given a special humanitarian award, organizers said. The band will receive the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, becoming the youngest recipient of the award, Juno officials announced at a press conference in Ottawa. The band plays a show at Scotiabank Place tonight, and will be back in Ottawa March 31 for a “Fan Fair” event at St. Laurent Centre to be held as part of Juno week.
The Junos will inject about $10-million into the Ottawa economy, officials from the National Capital Commission said at the press conference.
Full story on the Ottawa Citizen website: Ottawa gets ready for the Junos
Winterlude wraps up: Organizers pleased with new partners
Joanne Laucius, Ottawa Citizen
Photo by Chris Mikula, The Ottawa Citizen
Winterlude wraps up Monday and organizers are already counting it a success.
This is the second year of a five-year plan to draw new partners to Winterlude. Last year’s newcomers numbered about a dozen. This year, more than 50 private and public-sector partners joined forces with Winterlude for events such as Ottawa Fashion Week, Cracking Up the Capital for mental health and Cool Science, a series of Saturday museum programs.
“This is the formula for the future,” said NCC spokeswoman Denise LeBlanc. “It brings a lot of things under the Winterlude umbrella. There’s something for everyone.”
Full story on the Ottawa Citizen website: Winterlude wraps up
Ottawa Fashion Week Kicks Off the Fall/Winter 2012 Season with Opening Cocktail Reception
Ottawa, ON- The kick off of the Fall/Winter 2012 season of Ottawa Fashion Week took place on Monday night at The Loft on Elgin Street. Guests nibbled on sushi, boogied to the sounds of Ottawa’s very own DJ Rob Cosh and toasted in anticipation of a successful season.
The Ottawa Fashion Week Board of Directors would like to extend a special thank you to Mme Marie Lemay, CEO of the National Capital Commission and Olympic silver medalist Elizabeth Manley for their kind words of encouragement during the media portion of the reception.
Tickets for the Fall/Winter 2012 season of Ottawa Fashion Week are selling fast! Visit http://www.ottawafashionweek.ca/consumer.php to purchase your tickets.
A revised calendar of events as well as a list of participating designers is available on our website, www.ottawafashionweek.ca.
About Ottawa Fashion Week
The Ottawa Fashion Week (OFW) mandate is to provide a platform for national and international designers and artists to showcase their talent. Over the course of seven seasons, OFW has grown into an avenue of expression, creativity and innovation. The pursuit of artistic expression in all its forms is a defining element in the success of Ottawa Fashion Week. The fifth year anniversary season of Ottawa Fashion Week will be presented with support from the National Capital Commission (NCC) as the highlight of the Winterlude festival from February 17th to 19th in the Confederation Ballroom of the Westin Hotel Ottawa (11 Colonel By Drive).
Press Contact:
media@ottawafashionweek.ca
Making the Capital the national hub of Canada’s 150th celebrations
The National Capital Commission (NCC), the City of Ottawa and the Ville de Gatineau announced today that they will work together to ensure the Capital region is the national hub of the 150th anniversary of Confederation celebrations.
At their tripartite meeting, Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa and Marc Bureau, Mayor of Gatineau, agreed that they will meet regularly to share information and to establish a host committee environment that will facilitate the local planning of the celebrations in Canada’s Capital in 2017 – the anniversary year of Confederation.
“The Capital is a place that belongs to all Canadians and an important milestone, like the 150th, will need a hub to anchor the celebrations that will take place in communities across the country to celebrate our past and dream of our future,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the NCC. “The NCC has a strong track record of bringing together municipalities and partners to leverage resources and ensure a higher impact for every dollar invested to celebrate Canada, our history, our identity, and our culture and values.”
“Our Nation’s Capital should own 2017 as the premier destination for tourists to visit from across Canada and around the world, which is why earlier this year I announced the creation of the City of Ottawa Taskforce on Canada’s 150th co-chaired by Councillors Rainer Bloess and Katherine Hobbs,” said Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa. “Working together, with the Ville de Gatineau and the NCC, we need to aggressively pursue national and international conferences, sporting and cultural events and conventions and trade shows that can all be a part of the 150th celebration of Confederation.”
“The Destination Gatineau plan provides an opportunity for the City to develop a large-scale project that will turn the spotlight on the many heritage and historical sites spanning several kilometres along the banks of the Ottawa River and this, as early as 2017. These modern recreational and cultural infrastructures will contribute to making Gatineau, as well as the National Capital Region, an international tourist destination,” stated Gatineau Mayor Marc Bureau.
Acknowledging their respective projects and committees, the NCC CEO, the Mayor of Ottawa and the Mayor of Gatineau, added that the celebrations in 2017 will be a regular item on the agenda of their future tripartite discussions.
Skate Safe and wear your helmet during Winterlude
Source: Press Release
The City of Ottawa, the National Capital Commission (NCC) and State Farm®, sponsor of the Skate Safe program, have teamed up once again to make an Ottawa winter tradition more fun for everyone through the Skate Safe program. The Skate Safe tent officially opened on Saturday morning on the Rideau Canal Skateway at the State Farm Zone at Concord.
Visitors to the Skate Safe tent will get assistance with helmet fittings, tips on helmet use and a free 15-minute “tips and tricks” skating session from staff and volunteers from Ottawa Public Health (OPH), Ottawa’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services department and ThinkFirst. The tent will be open Saturdays and Sundays during Winterlude, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., until February 20.
NCC Calls Winterlude Opening Weekend “Very Positive”
Phil Gaudreau
CFRA
The National Capital Commission is quite pleased with the first weekend of Winterlude.
Senior Vice President Guy Laflamme tells CFRA News attendance has been excellent. “If I count the number of smiles I have encountered, I think people were extremely pleased and happy with what they experienced.”
Laflamme is chalking some of the success up to changes in Winterlude’s business plan to focus on arts and culture, educational events, and food. “We still have winter outdoor sports, but we have way more arts and culture…culinary gourmet food activities…as well as scientific activities”.
But he admits the weather was also a big factor this weekend. “This was an A+ type of weather report and hopefully we’ll be able to benefit from the same kind of conditions for the next two weekends.”
Laflamme says over 30,000 people took in Friday’s fireworks at Winterlude’s opening ceremonies, and it was a great kickoff to what he believes is the best edition of the winter festival yet. “Winterlude has grown to a level of quality and sophistication unmatched in past editions.”
OTTAWA FASHION WEEK TO HOST CHARITY SHOW IN SUPPORT OF UNICEF CANADA
The Ottawa Fashion Week Board of Directors is pleased to announce this season’s charitable partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Canada. A runway show, titled “Runway for a Better Way” in support of UNICEF will be organized and co-hosted by Ottawa native, Kevin Carroll (www.allaccesswithkevin.com/) on Sunday, February 19th 2012 in the Confederation Ballroom at the Westin Hotel Ottawa (11 Colonel By Drive). The event will feature celebrity models ̶ Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas/Call Me Fitz), Rosey Edeh (ET Canada), Tré Armstrong (So You Think You Can Dance Canada), Erica Wark (CBC’s Steven and Chris), Leesa Butler (www.f-list.ca), Casie Stewart (www.casiestewart.com), Elizabeth Manley (Olympic Silver Medalist), Gail McInnes (TDot TV), Cory Lee (Degrassi), TL Rader (Professional Ballroom Dancer) and Solange Tuyishime (UNICEF Canada Ambassador) ̶ in designs by Rachel Sin (www.rachelsin.com/) , DeMOYO (www.paidemoyochideya.com/) and Sarah Stevenson (www.sarahstevensondesign.com/) with jewellery by MMCrystal (www.MMCrystal.com).
UNICEF is the world’s leading child-focused humanitarian and development agency. Through innovative programs and advocacy work, they save children’s lives and secure their rights in virtually every country. Their global reach, unparalleled influence on policymakers, and diverse partnerships make them an instrumental force in shaping a world in which no child dies of a preventable cause. UNICEF is entirely supported by voluntary donations and helps all children, regardless of race, religion or politics.
“UNICEF Canada is thrilled to be the charitable beneficiary of Ottawa Fashion Week,” says Susan Larkin, Director of Community Engagement for UNICEF Canada. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the fashion community in Ottawa to show their support of UNICEF’s work delivering life-saving services to children around the world. Our thanks to the organizers, sponsors and participants of Ottawa Fashion Week for helping children survive and thrive.”
$10 from each Sunday and week pass sold will go towards UNICEF and its programming. Tickets are available for purchase online at http://www.ottawafashionweek.ca/consumer.php.
About Ottawa Fashion Week
The Ottawa Fashion Week (OFW) mandate is to provide a platform for national and international designers and artists to showcase their talent. Over the course of seven seasons, OFW has grown into an avenue of expression, creativity and innovation. The pursuit of artistic expression in all its forms is a defining element in the success of Ottawa Fashion Week. The fifth year anniversary season of Ottawa Fashion Week will be presented with support from the National Capital Commission (NCC) as the highlight of the Winterlude festival from February 17th to 19th in the Confederation Ballroom of the Westin Hotel Ottawa (11 Colonel By Drive).
