Tulip Festival
The tulip festival was established to celebrate the royal gift of tulips from the Dutch to Canada after the second world war as a symbol of international relations and friendship. Originally in Canada we did not have tulips but thanks to this gift tulips can be found thriving throughout Ottawa.
Rideau Canal
In the winter the Rideau canal is the world's longest skating rink at 7.8km (4.8mi) and a total maintained area of 165 621 square meters (165.621 square kilometers) with heated changing rooms and beaver tail stands everywhere. In the summer this becomes a canal for boats, kayaks, pedal boats, paddle boards and more with a lovely path on the side for pedestrians and bikers. Along the canal there are many special checkpoints including; Lansdowne park, Dow's lake, city hall and the Parliament buildings. Opened in 1832, the Rideau canal is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America and is now a world heritage site.
Diefenbunker
Used as an active military facility until 1994, the Diefenbunker commissioned by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker in 1959 was part of his government’s reaction to escalating tensions in the Cold War. The purpose of the bunker was to house key members of the government and military in the event of a nuclear attack on Canada. The safety of its nuclear roof would allow the Canadian government to operate safely underground for 30 days in order to assist with the governance and rebuilding of the country. The former Montgomery farm in Carp was chosen as the perfect site for a 75 foot underground bunker as it was within evacuation distance of downtown Ottawa, it was in a natural valley, and it had the ideal geological conditions for protection. Now it is a historical site used as a museum to showcase Canada’s former military efforts in the cold war.
Winterlude
Winterlude is a yearly Canadian tradition celebrated by thousands in Ottawa (Ontario) and Gatineau (Quebec) during mid-February. Founded in 1979, by the Department of Canadian Heritage, the endless list of activities span from skating on the Rideau Canal to enjoying outdoor theatrical performances. Over time many non conventional pastimes such as the famous Bed Race, Waiters and Waitresses on Ice and Trotting on the Rideau have been added. On average 600,000 visitors take part in the winter festivities, many of them not Canadian! While there are many legends about the origin of the Ice Hogs (Winterlude mascots), the most realistic one suggests it dates back to the last Ice Age. During the 1970s Papa Ice Hog made its way to the Capital region underneath the Rideau Canal through a secret passageway.
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The Museum of Nature
The museum of nature, established in 1856, has been a part of Ottawa for over a century. The current museum, which in my opinion looks like a big castle, has a whopping 203 500 square feet of space and was built in 1911. The museum has a full skeleton of a blue whale and numerous exhibitions including the bird gallery, mammal gallery, water gallery, fossil gallery and more! It is an important part of our culture in Ottawa and for me, I used to go there with my class to learn!
Byward market
This retail and entertainment district has been the center of Ottawa for almost two centuries! In 1826, the first farmers market was established by Lieutenant-Colonel John By, the man who built the Rideau Canal! The Byward Market houses a multitude of businesses, including restaurants, studios, designer clothes stores, furniture stores and more. It is an important part of Ottawa as it is where we socialize, eat and shop.
The Ottawa Blues Festival
The Blues fest is definitely an important part of our culture and arts in Ottawa. This festival takes place outside every July and features various artists. If you ask someone who has been to it, you will always hear great things about the festival. It was first held in 1994 in Major Hills Park featuring a Saxophonist and Actor, Clarence Clemons. The blues fest is a great example of arts in Ottawa and attracts many people from all over Canada every year.
The Wabano Centre
The Wabano centre is a great part of our history and culture here in Ottawa. It embraces the First Nations Culture in various activities including music and art. The Centre does a really good job of exhibiting their culture in unique ways. It is very important to talk about and learn things about First Nations because we are located on unceded Algonquin territory here in Ottawa.
The National Arts Center
The NAC is a huge part of arts in Ottawa. The NAC showcases theater, dance and musical concerts and event. It is very important for Ottawa, as it is where live classical music stays alive. It was built for Canada’s Centenary and opened its doors first in 1969. Another cool fact is that it sits right on the Rideau Canal which is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Parliament Hill
This is probably the most important one of them all. All of the parliament buildings (centre block, library, east block and west block) were completed in 1876. Tragically, in 1916, centre block burned down in a fire and the new building was further completed in 1927. Although, the Library, completed in 1875, survived and is still standing today. This is a great emblem from the days of the confederation.
The National Art Gallery
The Art Gallery is a great place to find beautiful works of art from all around the world. It is very important to us here in Ottawa as it is a national gallery. The art gallery has housed famous paintings in the past and often has exhibits specific artists. The art gallery is unique in it’s own way and even has a theatre!
Garland Sugar shack
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This family run sugar shack lies in Cumberland, a short drive away from Ottawa. Established in 1978, it has become a popular destination for people wanting to leave their home in the city for a more rustic environment. Garland Sugar Shack is on pace to produce 5000 liters of their delicious maple syrup this year. They can be visited at their farm or at the Kanata Farmers' Market and/or the Westboro Farmers' Market on Saturdays, and the Ottawa Farmers' Market or Barrhaven Farmers' Market on Sundays during the warmer months. |
Museum of History
The recording of history, or past events, has been around for as long as people have roamed the Earth. Here in the capital region, located across the river from the Parliament buildings, the Museum of History continues to “collect, study, preserve, and present material objects that illuminate the human history of Canada and the cultural diversity of its people.” It is one of North America's oldest cultural institutions and has many different exhibits and activities for people of all ages. The larger building includes: Grand hall, which teaches of the history, cultures and beliefs of the First Peoples of Canada’s Pacific Coast, First Peoples Hall, which narrates accomplishments and history of First Nation’s living on what now makes up our country, Canadian history hall, dedicated to the events, personalities and historical ideas that have shaped Canada into what it is today, Children's Museum, a highly interactive exhibit for children including landmarks from around the world, and the CINE+ Theater, an incredibly immersive cinematographic experience with its 180o field of vision showing films in both 3D and 2D. It was created by an aboriginal architect by the name of Douglas Cardinal, a famous Aboriginal architect educated at the University of British Columbia and the University of Texas at Austin. |