Ottawa’s summer party isn’t over yet
As Ottawa heads into the second half of a summer celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday, there are still lots of events to come.
There may not be any spectacles like the giant robotic dragonhorse and spider that entertained an estimated 750,000 spectators downtown. But about 50 of the 200 events the Ottawa 2017 group sponsored or helped organize have yet to be held, says executive director Guy Laflamme.
He’s particularly excited about a free performance that will illuminate Chaudière Falls in a show that debuts in September. It’s a celebration of First Nations Culture mounted by the same company that produced Kontinuum, the popular multimedia installation that is running at an underground LRT construction site downtown. Abstract images accompanied by recorded music will be projected onto the falls, the surrounding buildings and rock outcrops. The show was developed in collaboration with Pikwakanagan and Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition.
Ottawa 2017 officials are also tweaking the “Inspiration Village” in the ByWard Market to make it more inspiring. The shipping containers that line York Street near the farmers’ stalls initially fell short of his artistic vision for performing arts spaces celebrating the provinces, said Laflamme.
Tickets are already gone for Canada’s Table, one of the main singleday events in August. It features dinner for 1,000 served by top chefs outside on Wellington Street. “It sold out in about five seconds,” says Jantine Van Kregten, director of communications for Ottawa Tourism. Several gourmet events in July — a picnic on the Alexandra Bridge and the Sky Lounge dinner served on a platform suspended in the air — were also popular.
Statistics on hotel occupancy and museum attendance this summer aren’t yet available, said Van Kregten. But she has no doubt the city is enjoying an extra influx of tourists. Many hotels were booked around Canada Day, she said, although the driving rain and security lineups at Parliament Hill put a damper on the number of people who participated in the party downtown on July 1.
The New York Times and Lonely Planet travel guide both named Canada as a top place to visit in 2017, which no doubt has helped boost tourism to Ottawa, she said.
More trade and business groups have also chosen Ottawa for conventions this year, which Van Kregten speculates is because the groups want to experience Canada 150 events held throughout the year. There are 45 large conventions — defined as meetings with more than 500 delegates — booked this year in Ottawa, compared to 31 in 2016.
Here’s a rundown of some of the major events that are ongoing or coming up this summer:
KONTINUUM
What: An underground multimedia show at an unfinished LRT station in downtown Ottawa. There is music, there are lights. It’s free and takes about 30 minutes to walk through. About 75,000 people have checked it out since mid-July. What you need to know: You can reserve tickets at www.ottawa2017.ca/events/signature-events/kontinuum. However, unless you have a large group, officials are urging people to simply show up at the site. The online ticketing system is cumbersome, because it’s difficult to quickly see which spots are already booked. And some people book the free spots and don’t show up. Visitors who walk up should be able to take the tour within about 15 minutes, organizers say. Where & when: It starts at the old Place de Ville movie theatre, 300 Sparks St., and ends on Queen Street. The show runs daily until Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
INSPIRATION VILLAGE
What: A collection of sheds set up along York Street, with a stage for performing arts groups at one end. Several of the exhibits celebrating provinces have been improved by making them more interactive. For instance, at the booth celebrating Prince Edward Island, which features a large poster of a beach, a sand-table has been added with a video monitor so visitors can watch themselves tracing pictures in the sand. Another addition is the live DJs performing from 5 to 7 p.m. on Fridays, and more special events such as the interactive treasure hunt on Aug. 5 from noon to 5 p.m. that will have participants roaming the ByWard Market and also includes a giant game of Twister. When & where: Open daily until Sept. 4 from noon to 8 p.m. on York Street between Sussex Drive and ByWard Market Square.
OTTAWA WELCOMES THE WORLD
What: Embassies sponsor celebrations of their nation’s culture, with food tasting, music and artistic performances. Coming up: Ecuador on Aug. 11; and Pakistan on Aug. 16-17. When & where: Single-event days run through December at Lansdowne Park in the Aberdeen Pavilion and Horticulture building.
AGRI 150
What: A series of food- and drink oriented events in rural areas of Ottawa-Carleton. They include a “grain to glass” tour that starts with a grain-milling demonstration at Watson’s Mill and ends with visits to local breweries; a gourmet dinner at the log farm; and several “secret eats” bus tours of delectable foods made in rural areas. When: One day events throughout August.
OYSTER FEAST
What: Feast on the roof of the Canadian War Museum with oysters from five provinces, music and a multimedia show for $169 a ticket. When & where: Aug. 9 at the Canadian War Museum Information: oystergarden.ca
MAGNIFICENCE OF CHAUDIÈRE FALLS
What: A free soundscape and light show projected onto Chaudière Falls that will allow visitors to “immerse themselves in First Nations Culture.” The full concept is still being developed. When & where: Sept. 23 to Nov. 6 at Chaudière Falls off Chaudière Island in the Ottawa River between Ottawa and Gatineau, just north of the Canadian War Museum.
MOSAICANADA
What: Free exhibit of huge sculptures made with flowers and plants, from a logger to a polar bear, a Mountie and Mother Earth. When & where: To Oct. 15, daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in JacquesCartier park in Gatineau. The entrance to the exhibition is at the corner of Laurier and SaintÉtienne streets.