Canadian Tulip Festival announces change of venue to community business locations, new Tulip Legacy initiatives
The Canadian Tulip Festival, which celebrates its 60th Edition this Spring from May 4th – 21st, today updated its stakeholders and supporters on plans to facilitate long-term sustainability, enlarge program offerings for the visiting public and expand community engagement.
Change to community venues
The Festival announced that future programming and pageantry will be distributed throughout community locations instead of being concentrated at Major’s Hill Park, and will be done in collaboration with Business Improvement Area (“BIA”) organizations wherever possible.
“When the Board of Trade created the Festival in 1953 the idea was to animate the Capital in a way that created more economic value for local business,” said David E. Luxton, volunteer Chair and financial patron of the Canadian Tulip Festival. “I’ve been pleased to support the Tulip Festival for this reason, having seen independent studies showing that it generates tens of millions of dollars in economic value to the local economy every year. It makes sense therefore to see the Festival migrate to an operating model that creates even more value for local business by driving visitor traffic to their locations with programming attractions.”
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 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
Winterlude Weekend 2 Highlights
Second weekend of exciting activities includes:
an interactive hockey zone, ice carving challenges,
the Great Canadian Beaver Cup Pond Hockey Championship,
cool science, electrojazz and 24 hour screenings of The Clock
Canada’s Capital Region – The National Capital Commission (NCC) wishes to remind residents and visitors that the second weekend of the 34th edition of Winterlude, the Capital’s winter celebration, promises to be an exciting one. Winterlude continues in the Capital Region until February 20, 2012.
Here is a sampling of some of the activities taking place during the second weekend of Winterlude.
Rogers Crystal Garden in Confederation Park
This Saturday, visitors will learn the secrets of ice carving techniques and how the carvers use their tools to create a work of art from a block of ice. On Sunday, professional ice carvers face off in an ice-carving championship. Kids and adults are invited to make their mark on an ice graffiti wall, using ice-carving tools.
Visitors to the Rogers Crystal Garden can take in a majestic ice sculpture to mark the 20th anniversary of Canadian military service in the Balkans. Also new this weekend, a unique ice sculpture specially made to celebrate the upcoming 41st Annual JUNO Awards to be held in Canada’s Capital, March 26 – April 1.
Ice sculpture enthusiasts will also want to take in the crystalline masterpieces created at the 25th Rogers International Ice-Carving Competition during the first weekend of Winterlude and vote for their favourite sculpture for a chance to win a round trip for two people to any scheduled WestJet destination in Canada.
Confederation Park will also be a popular evening destination this weekend, thanks to the
Sub-Zero Music Series which will get the audience dancing and moving.
Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau
Presented by the Ville de Gatineau and the NCC, Snowflake Kingdom is North America’s biggest snow playground. It is the ideal destination for the young and the young at heart. This family friendly paradise features giant snow slides and an outdoor amphitheatre.
On Winterlude’s second weekend, visitors will have the chance to:
•find their way through the A-maze-ing Fort Wellington;
•learn about the life of the people who lived in 1812 through interpretation, demonstrations and games;
•take part in a day in the life of a Coast Guard employee;
•test their physical fitness in the Canadian Forces Winter Obstacle Course;
•experience downhill skiing with qualified instructors;
•feel the rhythm at the Snowflake Stage featuring talented performers and acrobatic stunts;
•visit the Adventure Zone, where they can try Jumpaï trampolines and rock climbing;
The Rideau Canal Skateway
Open for its 42nd season on January 15, this fantastic 7.8-kilometre ice surface offers families and fun-seekers alike a wide variety of services including rest areas, food concessions, skate and sleigh rentals, skate sharpening, and boot check services this weekend.
Skaters at Dows Lake are invited to visit Eco Art at Dows Gallery, an outdoor space in Canada’s Capital where youth express themselves through art. The exhibit features photographic artwork with an environmental theme. These works of art will be exhibited for the duration of the skating season.
While at Dows Lake, visitors can test their skills at the hardest shot, most accurate shot, obstacle course — and much more at the Giant Tiger Interactive Hockey Zone.
This Saturday, the Canadian Paralympic Committee presents a Winter Parasport Festival. Visitors can try sledge hockey and wheelchair curling, and meet members of the National Sledge Hockey Team.
Also this weekend, teams from across Canada will compete in the 4th Annual Great Canadian Beaver Cup Pond Hockey Championship at Dows Lake.
Programming Partners
For the 34th edition of Winterlude, more than 50 programming partners, from Ottawa and Gatineau’s private and public sectors, have come together to offer visitors a wide-range of indoor and outdoor activities aimed at animating the Capital like never before.
Here is just a sampling of what takes place on the second weekend of Winterlude:
•Cool Science Saturday at the Canadian Museum of Nature;
•free, all-night screenings at the National Gallery of Canada of Christian Marclay’s most ambitious video installation to date: The Clock;
•Electrojazz Evening with Misteur Valaire presented by the Ville de Gatineau;
•Shenkman Arts Centre Presents “New” Orleans Dinner and Show With Zydeco Loco;
•Fête Frissons, a celebration of winter that includes an outdoor skating rink, crazy toque fashions, entertainment and ice/snow sculpting;
•an afternoon of classical music with the award-winning Ottawa Junior Youth Orchestra;
•winter-themed activities, secret snow codes, and winter scavenger hunt at the Diefenbunker Museum;
•Downtown Rideau CHILL FACTOR.
For more information about Winterlude, please 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 Winterlude.gc.ca.
Media Information:
Denise LeBlanc
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5750 (office)
613-851-9465 (cellular)
denise.leblanc@ncc-ccn.ca
Charles Cardinal
NCC Media Relations
613-239-5227 (office)
613-851-6924 (cellular)
charles.cardinal@ncc-ccn.ca
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).
Winterlude’s Sno-Bus offered Free of Charge: OLG becomes the title sponsor of the Sno-Bus service
The National Capital Commission (NCC) and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced today a new partnership that will provide residents and visitors to Winterlude, access to the Sno-Bus service, FREE OF CHARGE, during Winterlude’s three weekends, February 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19.
“The NCC is pleased to welcome OLG as the title sponsor of Winterlude’s Sno-Bus, and to offer visitors free access to this key service operated by the STO and OC Transpo”, said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer at the NCC. “This partnership is especially important because it encourages visitors to use public transit, and contributes to reducing Winterlude’s carbon footprint.”
Ms. Lemay was accompanied by Rod Phillips, OLG President & CEO, Yasir Naqvi, Ottawa Centre MPP and Jim Watson, Mayor of the City of Ottawa, at a news conference held today at one of the Sno-Bus stops on Elgin Street.
“The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is proud to be part of Winterlude, a great celebration of winter and to continue our commitment to community partnership by sponsoring the Sno-Bus,” said Rod Phillips, OLG’s President and CEO. “As part of this sponsorship, we are excited that this year, the Sno-Bus will be free for all passengers participating in Winterlude.”
“I want to thank the OLG for sponsoring this great initiative,” added Mayor Watson. “Winterlude is a marquee event in the national capital region and having a free and reliable mode of transportation for residents and visitors makes it that much more enjoyable.”
OC Transpo and the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) offer this shuttle service linking Winterlude’s official sites: along Queen Elizabeth Drive and the Rideau Canal Skateway to Dow’s Lake; Rogers Crystal Garden at Confederation Park; and Winterlude’s Snowflake Kingdom, located at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau. Sno-Bus stops are clearly indicated on Winterlude signs along the way.
About OLG: OLG is proud to work with communities in Ontario and be part of bringing over 200 local events to life each year through our Sponsorship Program. From business events to cultural and music festivals, OLG is an involved and contributing partner in community events and festivals across Ontario. Providing sponsorship support to worthwhile community events is another way that OLG makes life better for people across Ontario.
NCC diversifies Winterlude, making it less dependent on cold weather
Mark Brownlee, The Ottawa Citizen
Photo courtesy Ottawa Citizen, by Pat McGrath
Unpredictable February weather will force Winterlude to focus less on its winter theme in the years to come, organizers say of the festival that has traditionally drawn tourists by celebrating Canada’s cold climate.
Fluctuating temperatures have wreaked havoc on the event in the past few years. Temperatures went as high as 10 C on the Friday before the last weekend of the 2011 edition, forcing organizers to change some marquee events such as the ice sculpture competition and to temporarily close the Rideau Canal to skating.
The event’s organizer, the federally-funded National Capital Commission, has already moved to diversify its lineup from such traditional winter-themed activities to those not dependent on weather. This year’s events include a jazz festival in Confederation Park and a beer and ice wine festival in Gatineau.
Full story on the Ottawa Citizen Website: NCC diversifies Winterlude, making it less dependent on cold weather
Winterlude 2012 will remember the War of 1812
Alicja Siekierska, The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA — Feb. 3 will mark the start of Winterlude 2012, the 34th edition the city’s popular three-week long winter festival.
The National Capital Commission unveiled new details about the annual winter extravaganza Tuesday, which will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 as well as the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Coast Guard. There will be various activities honouring the anniversaries throughout the festival.
The NCC will work with more than 50 programming partners — more than ever before — to bring a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities to the event.
NCC CEO Marie Lemay says the increase in partnerships will not only make for a “bigger and better” Winterlude, but it will also bring more community involvement.
“We want the community to take ownership so it’s not just the NCC’s Winterlude,” says Lemay. “Community groups have really taken part in it, building it and taking ownership of it. So it’s everybody’s Winterlude.”
One of the new partners is the Ottawa Jazz Festival, which will launch the first annual Winter Jazz Festival with a series of concerts Feb. 2 to 4, most at the NAC’s Fourth Stage.
Read more on the Ottawa Citizen website: Winterlude 2012 will remember the War of 1812
NCC Launches Request for Expression of Interest for Programming along the Rideau Canal
NCC seeks pilot projects that will enhance the “Capital Experience” on these urban spaces
Canada’s Capital Region ─ The National Capital Commission (NCC) is seeking innovative projects that will animate the shorelines of the Rideau Canal and enhance the “Capital Experience”.
These projects would be implemented as of the summer 2012 by the person or organization that proposes, as a pilot project, to develop or animate the Rideau Canal shorelines. Each selected project will be assessed after the duration of the pilot, which is for a maximum of three years, in order to decide on its future.
“We are hoping that the breadth of this request for expression of interest will result in proposals of creative uses of the Capital’s underutilized urban spaces,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the NCC. “These spaces represent an enormous opportunity to contribute to the vibrancy of our region.”
Projects will be evaluated by the NCC in light of their overall contribution to the goals of this request for expression of interest and their feasibility.
The request for expression of interest can be found at www.canadascapital.ca . For more information, 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).
