15 Dec 2015
Canada's capital city hosts an eclectic range of festivals, concerts and shows each year that cater to almost every taste imaginable. In addition to the much loved annual events, 2016 will be a landmark year for special anniversaries and one-off celebrations and experiences. Ottawa Tourism looks ahead to 10 not to be missed.
1. OTTAWA TO COMMEMORATE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF PARLIAMENT HILL FIRE: On 3 February 1916 a fire ripped through the city's historic Parliament Buildings destroying most of the Centre Block. Many important documents and paintings were amongst the items lost but, thanks to a quick-thinking librarian, the ornate Library of Parliament was saved. The Bytown Museum, which is in possession of the original Union Jack flag that flew over Parliament that fateful day, is hosting a special exhibition about the fire. Called Forged in Fire: The Building and Burning of Parliament, the exhibition runs 29 January through 31 October 2016.
2. LORD ELGIN HOTEL CELEBRATES 75 YEARS: Ideally located in the heart of downtown Ottawa, overlooking Confederation Park and the National Arts Centre, the beautiful Lord Elgin hotel is just steps away from the historic Rideau Canal. In 2016 it commemorates the 75th anniversary of its opening. The 355-room hotel will celebrate throughout the year with special events. http://lordelginhotel.ca
3. TIM HORTONS BRIER RETURNS TO OTTAWA: The Brier is Canada's premier curling championship in which 15 teams, representing each of Curling Canada's 14 member associations as well as the defending champion Team Canada, compete for the converted Brier Tankard. Dating back to 1927, the annual event was first held in Toronto and has since been hosted by more than 30 cities across Canada. From 15 – 23 March the Brier comes to Ottawa for the fourth time and for the first time since 2001. Curling is a very popular sport in Canada so expect there to be an electric atmosphere at the 9,500-seat TD Place Arena. www.curling.ca/2016brier
4. KLINGON TO YOUR SEATS AT THE CANADA AVIATION & SPACE MUSEUM: The Canada Aviation & Space Museum will host a world premiere exhibition from May to September of particular interest to Star Trek fans: The Starfleet Academy Experience will provide visitors with an immersive experience, explaining the science behind the science fiction: tricorders, warp drive theory, phasers and teleporters. Ottawa is the first stop on a multi-city North American tour. www.casmuseum.techno-science.ca
5. ELISABETH LOUISE VIGÉE LE BRUN EXHIBITION: Considered the most important female painter of her time, Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun was a student of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture in Paris and the official portraitist of Queen Marie-Antoinette. The exhibition, which comes to the National Gallery of Canada from 10 June – 11 September, traces her career through pictorial work on loan from the Château de Versailles, the Louvre and the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, as well as from major private collections. www.gallery.ca
6. DINOSAURS LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE:Meet T. Rex's bigger, badder cousin at an exhibition that will showcase large dinosaurs of the southern hemisphere. 'Ultimate Dinosaurs' is set to run from 11 June – 5 September at the Canadian Museum of Nature and will introduce visitors to 20 newly discovered and exotic dinosaurs that evolved in isolation in South America, Africa and Madagascar. The exhibition will transform full-scale dinosaur skeletons into flesh-covered animated beasts using state-of-the-art augmented reality technology. www.nature.ca
7. OTTAWA HOSTS PREMIER CYCLING RACE: The Global Relay Canadian Road Championships are the road cycling section of the world famous Canadian National Cycling Championships. Set to take place in Ottawa and Gatineau from 25 – 29 June, they will showcase the para-cycling, junior and elite categories over five consecutive days. Cycling enthusiasts and holidaymakers are invited to line the streets of Ottawa to cheer on the competitors is what is expected to be a hotly contested competition. www.cyclingcanada.ca
8. 25 YEARS OF OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL BUSKERFEST: The busker festival on Sparks Street is a street performer extravaganza attracting world class entertainment from around the globe. Each year, crowds of over 225,000 come to experience one of Canada's oldest and largest street festivals. The 2016 event, which takes place 28 July – 1 August, is expected to be a bumper edition with Buskerfest celebrating its 25th birthday. http://ottawabuskerfestival.com
9. OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL TURNS 40: From 21 – 25 September, downtown Ottawa will become centre stage for the world's most cutting-edge, thoughtful, funny and provocative animation filmmakers. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, visitors to the festival will have the opportunity to mingle with some of the most celebrated stars, studios and characters from the world of animation. www.animationfestival.ca
10. OTTAWA PREPARES FOR THE ONE YOUNG WORLD SUMMIT: One Young World was founded in 2009 and is a UK-based not-for-profit organisation that gathers together the brightest young people from around the world, empowering them to make lasting connections to create positive change. They stage an annual summit where the most valuable young talent from around the globe are joined by international companies, NGOs, universities and world leaders. In July last year Ottawa won the right to host seventh One Young World Summit thanks to its world class infrastructure, outstanding hotels and top class exhibition space. The summit will take place at the downtown Shaw Centre and other locations throughout the city from 28 September – 1 October 2016. www.oneyoungworld.com
For more information about Ottawa visit: www.ottawatourism.ca
