Presenting: Ottawa - Canada's Capital and An Exciting Travel Destination

January 30, 20067. Please give us an overview of the performing arts
Presenting: Ottawa - Canada's Capital and An Excitingon offer in Ottawa.
Travel DestinationThe National Arts Centre is Canada's premier
In anticipation of my upcoming trip to Ottawa nextperforming arts centre, offering English and French
weekend I have started to do some research andtheatre performances, dance, and the National Arts
contacted Ottawa Tourism. Ottawa, as Canada'sCentre Orchestra. Numerous smaller theatres also
capital, is one of Canada's most popular travelabound, in both English and French, including the Great
destinations and it has a great variety destinations,Canadian Theatre Company, La Nouvelle Scene,
activities and events to offer.Ottawa Little Theatre, Third Wall Theatre Company,
I had an opportunity to talk with Jantine Van KregtenOdyssey Theatre (offering outdoor performances
from Ottawa Tourism who was kind enough to givenext to the Rideau River), A Company of Fools, and
me a great general overview of things to see and domany productions at Arts Court, a municipal facility.
in Ottawa.From May 18 to June 11, the Cirque du Soleil will bring its
1. Please provide us with some general informationproduction of Quidam to Ottawa. The Canada Dance
about Ottawa. How large is the city, where is itFestival takes place every two years (June 2-10,
located, what is the weather like?2006) in Ottawa and the Ottawa Fringe Festival (also
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, and its fourth largestin June) is one of the best ways to see new
city. With the neighbouring city of Gatineau in theproductions and new innovations. In
province of Quebec, the region has about 1.2 millionThe Centrepointe Theatre in the west end offers a
people. Ottawa is located in eastern Ontario, aboutvariety of performances, as do the University of
four hours' drive northeast of Toronto; two hours westOttawa and Carleton University.
of Montreal; and one hour north of the border with theLarger events are usually held at Scotiabank Place
state of New York.and the Ottawa Civic Centre.
Ottawa enjoys four distinct seasons, with warmest8. What are some of the shopping opportunities in
temperatures and sometimes high humidity in July andOttawa?
August; a temperate fall with gorgeous fall colours; aSome great shopping centres exist in Ottawa, including
cold and snowy winter; and a wet spring.Bayshore Shopping Centre in the west end, Rideau
2. How can one get to Ottawa and what is the bestCentre downtown, the St. Laurent Centre in the close
way of getting around in Ottawa?east end, and Place d'Orleans Shopping Centre in the
Ottawa is accessible with direct flights from majoreast end. These centres offer the best of the
centres in Canada and several U.S. cities including Newwell-known brands.
York, Washington, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, AtlantaFor more eclectic offerings, the ByWard Market
and more. Ottawa is a major stop along theneighbourhood offers great fashion and housewares;
Windsor-Quebec City corridor of VIA Rail and busas does the Glebe, Westboro, and some small towns
service also links the city with other Canadian cities.on both the Ontario and Quebec side of the Ottawa
By car, major thoroughfares include Highway 416 thatRiver--inclouding Merrickville, Manotick, Perth, Chelsea
links Ottawa with Highway 401. Highway 417 runsand Wakefield.
through the city, while Autoroutes 5, 50 and 148 are9. What are the outdoor, recreational and sports
the major highways on the Quebec side of the river.opportunities in and around Ottawa?
3. Ottawa is Canada's capital and has played aFrom a professional perspective, the Ottawa Senators
significant role in the history of this country. Please tellare particularly beloved by Ottawans, as they march
us more about that and the Canadian Heritageto a Stanley Cup victory! The Ottawa '67s offer a
Experiences offered in Ottawa.window to the Ontario Hockey League. The Ottawa
The story of Ottawa begins with the building of theRenegades provide Canadian Football League
Rideau Canal between 1826 and 1832 by Lt. Col. Johnexcitement while the Ottawa Lynx are part of
By of the Royal Engineers and thousands of mostlybaseball's International League (they're the Triple A
Irish labourers. The Canal stretches 202 km (126 miles)farm team for the Baltimore Orioles).
through eastern Ontario to the St. Lawrence River andBut sports in Ottawa are much more participatory than
was built to ensure a supply line in case of Americanthat. Home to hundreds of kilometres of recreational
attack (which never came). The Canal was neverpathways, Ottawans love to cycle, inline skate and
used for a military purpose and its 49 locks are stillhike. The Ottawa River offers unbelievable whitewater
operated in the same way as when they were built. Inrafting, as well as canoe and kayak adventures for the
fact, the Rideau Canal is Canada's nominee to beadventurous.
named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which isThe highest bungee freefall in Canada is located just
expected in 2007, the 175th anniversary of itsnorth of Ottawa, just outside Gatineau Park.
construction.Year-round, Gatineau Park offers something for the
Queen Victoria decreed in 1857 that Ottawa would beoutdoor lover. Whether it's camping, canoeing, kayaking,
the capital of the country that became Canada. Thehiking, mountain biking or swimming in summer; or
majestic Parliament Buildings were constructed shortlysnowshoeing or cross-country skiing in winter, the Park
thereafter and remain a "must-see" attraction in theis beloved by all in the region.
capital. As the capital, Ottawa is also home to 24As proof of how diverse a destination Ottawa is, it's
Sussex Drive (the prime minister's residence and notthe only location where you can skate on the world's
open to the public); Rideau Hall (home of the Governorlargest skating rink and play in the world's largest
General, with guided tours of residence and gardensbeach volleyball tournament?
available); and dozens of high commissions and10. What type of accommodations options are there in
embassies from governments around the world.Ottawa?
Don't miss Laurier House, home to both Sir WilfridThere are over 11,000 hotel rooms in the
Laurier and WIlliam Lyon Mackenzie King, two formerOttawa-Gatineau region. The major chains (Hilton,
prime ministers, or the Mackenzie King Estate, King'sFairmont, Westin, Marriott, Delta, Sheraton, Novotel,
summer home in Gatineau Park.Holiday Inn, Best Western, Comfort Inn) are
4. Please tell us about some of the major attractions,represented, as well as more unique offerings such as
museums and galleries in the Ottawa area.the boutique ARC the.hotel or Brookstreet Resort.
The latest addition to the national museum scene is theDowntown locations are within walking distance to
impressive Canadian War Musuem, which opened inmany major attractions. Several bed-and-breakfast
May 2005 in a stunning location next to the Ottawaproviders also offer a cosy alternative to hotels.
River. Canada's most-visited museum is Gatineau'sA comprehensive list of options is found at
Canadian Museum of Civilization. The National Gallery11. What are some of the major events and big news
of Canada offers the largest collection of Canadianstories coming up in 2006 and beyond in Ottawa?
art, along with European and American masters. OtherThe Canadian Museum of Civilization celebrates its
cultural facilities include the Canadian Museum of150th anniversary in 2006. It began its life in May 1856,
Contemporary Photography; the Canada Aviationas part of the Geological Survey of Canada. The
Museum; the Canada Science and Technologyyoung museum grew into the National Museum of
Museum; the Canada Agriculture Museum; the RoyalCanada and then, into the National Museum of Man. In
Canadian Mint; the Currency Museum of the Bank of1986, it became the Canadian Museum of Civilization,
Canada; and the Canadian Museum of Nature,moving into its magnificent Gatineau buildings three
currently in the midst of a massive renovation project,years later and continuing to present informative and
to be completed in 2009.entertaining exhibitions for a wide range of interests.
Other museums include the Bytown Museum, whichThe Casino du Lac-Leamy celebrates 10 years of
tells the history of Ottawa's early days, including thenon-stop excitement in March 2006. Originally opened
building of the Rideau Canal; the Billings Estate Museumas the Casino de Hull, it has grown to be one of the
that traces the history of a prominent local family; andtop attractions in Canada's Capital Region, offering
the funky Diefenbunker, Canada's Cold War Museum,gaming each day from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.;
a four-storey underground bunker that wasfive-diamond dining at Le Baccara; an adjoining
constructed between 1959 and 1961 as the location toTheatre offering matinees, musical programming, and
which the Canadian political and military elite would ridevariety shows of all kinds; docking facilities; an adjacent
out the effects of a nuclear attack.Hilton hotel with spa; and conference facilities. The
5. Our readers would like to find out about the festivalsCasino is celebrating with a series of themed activities,
and special events in Ottawa.including the popular 7 Lucky Days promotion which
The festival scene in Ottawa is a robust, year-roundoffers a different promotion each day of the week.
affair. The year kicks off with Winterlude, a hugeEmily Carr is the featured exhibition from June 2
winter festival held over the first three weekends inthrough September 3, 2006 at the National Gallery of
February. In March, the Irish community celebrates IrishCanada. Her paintings of First Nations villages and
week, and in March and April, the maple syrup seasonlandscapes of the northwest Pacific coast, including
spawns a number of delicious festivals and eventsmany images of totem poles, help define Canadian art,
celebrating this tasty treat.especially that of the early 1900s.
May belongs to the Canadian Tulip Festival--threeIn the third Indiana Jones movie, the climactic scene
weeks of celebration of Ottawa's favourite flower.took place in a spectacular desert location carved into
During World War II, the Dutch royal family took refugethe side of a cliff. That venue is part of Petra, located
in Ottawa and Princess Margriet was born here, in ain Jordan, and from April 7, 2006 through January 2,
hospital room designated Dutch soil for the event.2007, you can learn more at the Canadian Museum of
Canadians played a huge role in liberating theCivilization's exhibition PETRA: City of Stone.
Netherlands and when the royal family returned homeThe Seven Years War is the focus of a new exhibit
after the war, as a gesture of friendship, respect andat the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa's newest
appreciation, they sent thousands of tulip bulbs. Thecultural attraction which opened with much fanfare in
bulbs have followed every year since and nowMay 2005. The exhibit Clash of Empires: The War
3,000,000 tulips bloom in Canada's Capital Region.That Made Canada runs from May 18 to November
Late May brings Canada's largest marathon as part of12.
the Ottawa Race Weekend. Over the summerOutdoor activities are a crucial part of Ottawans' lives.
months, festivals abound: Doors Open OttawaThis summer, residents will be able to relish in others'
showcase heritage buildings; Italian Week; the Ottawaaccomplishments, too, as Ottawa plays host to more
Fringe Festival; the TD Canada Trust Ottawathan 3,500 athletes and coaches during the 2006
International Jazz Festival; the Nortel Ottawa DragonOntario Summer Games from August 9 to 13, 2006.
Boat Race Festival; Cisco Systems Ottawa BluesfestQuébec Scene: April/May 2007: The National Arts
(Canada's largest); the Ottawa International ChamberCentre has played host to two previous
Music Festival (the world's largest); the Sound of Light"scenes"-Atlantic Scene in 2003 and Alberta Scene in
fireworks festival; Ottawa Busker Festival; Ottawa2005-and in 2007, it's Québec's turn to shine, as the
GreekFest; CKCU Ottawa Folk Festival; the Centralvery best of its theatre, music, dance, comedy, culinary
Canada Exhibition; and Pride Week.arts, literature and film forms the basis of this cultural
On Parliament Hill, two free activities occur daily in thefestival.
summer: the 10:00 a.m. Changing the Guard ceremonyTreasures from Beijing: May 11-September 30, 2007:
and the evening Sound and Light Show.At the Canadian Museum of Civilization, learn more
In the fall, the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival coloursabout the development of Chinese civilization while
the skies; while the La Vendemmia Harvest Festivalviewing selected treasures from the National Museum
tempts visitors' palates. The Ottawa Internationalof China. There will also be an attempt to provide a
Animation Festival showcases artists from around theglimpse of China's recent history, including economic
world while the Ottawa International Writers Festivalreforms and the Olympic Games bid.
provides a forum for authors' lively debates. FallRenoir's Landscapes: June 8-September 9, 2007: One
Rhapsody celebrates the splendid autumn colours.of the best-loved of all the Impressionists, Renoir will be
The capital lights up for the holidays with the Christmasfront and centre next summer at the National Gallery
Lights Across Canada program.of Canada.
6. What about restaurants and entertainment / nightlifeFIFA World Youth Championship 2007: July 1-22, 2007:
areas in Ottawa?Ottawa has been selected as one of six Canadian
Several neighbourhoods offer entertainment options inhost cities for this three-week, 24-nation, 52-match
Ottawa. The ByWard Market is one of Ottawa'stournament featuring the best youth (under-20) soccer
oldest neighbourhoods and also functions as itsplayers in the world. It is the second largest event
entertainment district, with over 100 food and drinkstaged by FIFA, following the FIFA World Cup.
options in just a four-block-square area. Whether it'sRideau Canal as UNESCO World Heritage Site: The
fine dining, a good diner, a cosy bistro, or a romanticheritage Rideau Canal, stretching 202 km from Ottawa
cafe, you can find it in "the Market."to Kingston, is Canada's entry to be named a
Elgin Street is another popular nightlife area, with anUNESCO World Heritage Site. The designation should
eclectic selection of bars, restaurants and cafes in justbe received in time for the 175th anniversary of the
a few blocks. Bank Street offers three or four distinctcompletion of the Canal in 2007.
areas along its length, including a popular area knownPortrait Gallery of Canada: Following last spring's
as the Glebe. In the near west end, Westboro is alsoopening of the new Canadian War Museum, the next
an attractive option for dinner and drinks.major cultural institution planned for Ottawa is the
Of course, one could also choose to explore thePortrait Gallery of Canada, due to open across the
various options at the Casino du Lac-Leamy--whetherstreet from Parliament Hill in late 2007.
it's gaming excitement or a show at its popular theatreThank you, Jantine, for providing such a great
or a dinner at its five-diamond restaurant Le Baccara.overview of all the things Ottawa has to offer. You
The region's other five-diamond establishment (two ofhave given me some great ideas for my trip next
only 11 across Canada) is Signatures at Le Cordonweek and possible future excursions over the coming
Bleu Ottawa.year.