OTTAWA — Prince William and his new bride will be entertained by a coast-to-coast roster of Canadian talent on Canada Day.

Performers for the royal couple on Parliament Hill include the Newfoundland band Great Big Sea, Quebec’s Sam Roberts Band and Winnipeg’s Maria Aragon.

The 10-year-old Aragon gained fans around the world after a video of her performing a Lady Gaga song was posted on YouTube. She’s since played with Lady Gaga herself, as well as with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Other featured artists at the noontime show include Dan Mangan from B.C., Elisapie Issac from Nunavut and folk singer Jenn Grant from P.E.I.

Altogether, there are more than 105 acts performing for Canada’s 144 birthday, which is also being billed a celebration of the centennial of Parks Canada and the 120th anniversary of the Canadian invention of basketball.

Exposure provided by the royal guests drove the show’s producers to put on the biggest spectacle they could, said Marie Lemay, the chief executive officer of the National Capital Commission, which is overseeing the show.

There are an estimated 85 international media travelling to Canada to cover Prince William and Catherine’s trip.

“It’s a time for Canadians to show the world how proud we are,” Lemay said.

An average of 300,000 people attend the festivities on the Hill each year, but Lemay said a much bigger crowd is expected this year to try to catch a glimpse of the royals.

Extra screens are being set up in nearby locations for people who don’t want to brave the crush, and additional security will be in place.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they are now known, arrive in Canada on June 30 for an eight-day visit. It’s their first official tour since their April wedding.

They’ll also visit Montreal, Quebec City, Yellowknife, Calgary, Charlottetown and Summerside, P.E.I.

While they will attend the noon show on Parliament Hill, the details of their itinerary have not yet been made public.

Magnetic North Industry Series 2010
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario

Magnetic North Theatre Festival – June 9 – 19, 2010

The Magnetic North Theatre Festival is the premiere festival of contemporary Canadian theatre in English. Moving between Ottawa and another Canadian city in alternating years, we will celebrate our 8th festival in Kitchener-Waterloo. We will host 9 professional productions from across the country, a student show from Toronto, and myriad ancillary events to enrich your experience. The productions range tremendously in scale and address an array of subjects, in many different styles. What they share is the ability and desire to tour, a notion that is at the very core of Magnetic North.

Pitch Session - Wednesday, June 16, 1pm – 3pm

The Pitch Session is an ideal opportunity for artists to take their project to the next level, find new collaborators and extend touring opportunities, by presenting their shows, or their ideas in development, to producers, artistic directors, festival curators, presenters and other cultural industry representatives. The pitches take place in a theatrical setting, this year at the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts. We encourage theatricality in your presentation, though it is not mandatory. The rehearsal the day before the actual event will allow for feedback and revisions if you so require.

For a list of Pitch Selection Criteria and Submission Guidelines, see Call for Submissions:  Pitch Sessions.

The deadline to submit your completed application is March 29, 2010.

Successful applicants will be notified by April 5, 2010.

For more information, contact Naomi at 416 703 5491 or naomic@interlog.com.

www.magneticnorthfestival.ca

“We are thrilled to support the Canadian Folk Music Awards as a keystone event in the recognition of the tremendous talent and creative community of folk music in Canada,” said Winnipeg Folk Festival executive director and Host Committee member, Tamara Kater.

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