WHAT’S UP IN OTTAWA 2019 AND BEYOND
Jantine Van Kregten Ottawa Tourism
May 14, 2019 AGENDA
• Changes on Parliament Hill • Corporate News • Upcoming Exhibitions and Museum News • Food and Drink • Festivals • Other News • Looking Beyond 2019 • Major Takeaways CHANGES ON PARLIAMENT HILL CHANGES ON PARLIAMENT HILL
Centre Block has closed for decade-long total renovation
February 1, 2019: Free tours of “temporary” House of Commons began within newly renovated West Block …. CHANGES ON PARLIAMENT HILL
…as did free tours of the Senate in its “temporary” location within the Senate of Canada Building (former train station, across from Fairmont Château Laurier hotel) CHANGES ON PARLIAMENT HILL NEW! Visitor Welcome Centre • Entrance is between Centre Block and West Block • More security lines; room for groups to congregate before their tours; larger gift shop • Walk-ins welcome CHANGES ON PARLIAMENT HILL
Visitor Welcome Centre Centre Block
Senate of Canada
West Block East Block CHANGES ON PARLIAMENT HILL FREE tours of both new spaces available via NEW online booking engine (one for groups of 10 or more, one for individual travellers) visit.parl.ca CHANGES ON PARLIAMENT HILL
The Capital Information Kiosk (90 Wellington Street) remains open for general visitor information throughout renovations. Tour tickets no longer issued here – online only, or in person (if space available) at the Visitor Welcome Centre or at the Senate of Canada Building CHANGES ON PARLIAMENT HILL
Use the correct terms: “Tour of the House of Commons” or “Tour of the Senate of Canada” as opposed to Tours of Parliament. Do not tell anyone that “Parliament Hill is closed”… there are still lots of great ways to explore! CHANGES ON PARLIAMENT HILL Monuments • Famous Five moves to near the Senate of Canada Building • Queen Elizabeth II will move to near entrance to Rideau Hall CHANGES ON PARLIAMENT HILL
Summer 2019: no changes to outdoor programming! • Changing of the Guard • Yoga on Parliament Hill each Wednesday at noon • Zumba on Parliament Hill each Sunday at 4:00pm • Nightly Sound and Light Show • Canada Day celebrations will continue as per usual 2019
CORPORATE NEWS 2019: ATTRACTIONS PASSPORT
New Look! • Gives two people free admission to the attractions listed on the passport • User must present his/her business card to attraction; some need pre-registration • For industry use only: Travel Trade, Media and Conventions clients 2019: FLASH YOUR BADGE PROGRAM
FLASH YOUR BADGE • Various businesses offer deals to delegates in town for conferences • For use by any conference in Ottawa • https://www.ottawatou rism.ca/fyb/ 2019: GOMEDIA CANADA
GOMEDIA CANADA 2019 • Ottawa is set to host this major international travel media conference August 11-15, 2019 • 130 top travel media from around the world and 200 industry members • Host hotel: Westin Ottawa • Conference venue: Shaw Centre • Receptions across Ottawa and a full day of tours • Want to show off the best of the destination • #GoMedia2019 and #MyOttawa / #MonOttawa 2019: WEEKLY EMAILER
Things to Do in Ottawa this Weekend • Weekly emailer sent on Thursday mornings • Shareable online in French and English • Shared by Ottawa Tourism on Facebook and Twitter • Content mostly pulled from Event Calendar • www.ottawatourism.ca/ottawa- insider/things-to-do-in-ottawa-this- weekend/ • Sign-up option today SOCIAL MEDIA
FACEBOOK • www.facebook.com/VisitOttawa • 111,000+ “likes” • Posts are in English; interaction is in English and French SOCIAL MEDIA TWITTER @Ottawa_Tourism: general info • 50.5k+ followers @TourismeOttawa
@OttawaJantine: more for media (story ideas, more culinary info) Hashtags #MyOttawa #MonOttawa SOCIAL MEDIA
INSTAGRAM @OttawaTourism
76.8K+ followers
Hashtags #MyOttawa #MonOttawa UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
National Gallery of Canada • Gauguin: Portraits (May 24-September 8, 2019) • International Indigenous Art Exhibition 2019 (November 8-April 5, 2019) UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS
2017 legacy: The National Gallery of Canada integrated the Canadian and Indigenous Galleries UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS
Canadian Museum of History • Neanderthal (May 17, 2019-January 26, 2020) • Unceded: Voices of the Land (until March 22, 2020) UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS
Canadian Museum of History • Launched new voyageur canoe experience with Rabaska Canoeing • Groups of 15 or more, includes 60-minute guided museum tour, 90-minute guided paddle on Ottawa River OTHER NEWS
Indigenous Experiences (formerly Aboriginal Experiences) Relocating to outdoor space at the Canadian Museum of History • Groups only (May and June) • Open to general public as of July 2 UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS 2017 legacy: new Canadian History Hall opened at the Canadian Museum of History UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS
Canadian War Museum • The Wounded (until June 2, 2019) • Highland Warriors (May 31, 2019-January 12, 2020) UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS
Canadian Museum of Nature: • Butterflies in Flight (until October 14, 2019) • Pterosaur: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs (June 15-September 2, 2019) UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS
2017 legacy: New permanent Arctic Gallery opened at the Canadian Museum of Nature UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS
Bank of Canada Museum: • A Noteworthy Woman: Viola Desmond exhibition (until September 2, 2019) UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS
2017 legacy: Bank of Canada Museum (formerly the Currency Museum of the Bank of Canada) reopened in a totally renovated building on Sparks Street. FREE admission! UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS Canada Science and Technology Museum • Leonardo Da Vinci (until September 2, 2019) UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS
2017 legacy: Canada Science and Technology Museum reopened after $80.5 million in building repairs and upgrades, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS National Arts Centre • 50th anniversary in 2019 • Introduces NEW! Indigenous Theatre program in 2019-20 season • NEW! Bee hives added to the roof of the NAC, and compostable single-use plastics introduced later this summer UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS
2017 legacy: National Arts Centre unveiled a dramatic new Elgin Street entrance and public / reception spaces. The Kipnes Lantern is North America’s largest transparent LED screen UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS Ottawa Art Gallery: opened April 2018, large collection of A.Y. Jackson (Group of Seven member), trendy Jackson restaurant, admission to gallery space always FREE! UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS + MUSEUM NEWS
Bytown Museum • NEW! Admission now $2 for all visitors! • The Gallant Thousand: Ottawa and the South African War – May 17, 2019-February 17, 2020 FOOD & DRINK FOOD AND DRINK: DOWNTOWN
• Tavern on the Falls: licensed bar selling gourmet hotdogs overlooking Rideau Falls (sister restaurant to Tavern on the Hill, overlooking Parliament Hill at Major’s Hill Park) FOOD AND DRINK: DOWNTOWN
• NEW! Queen St. Fare: Ottawa’s first food hall, two blocks south of Parliament Hill • DJ events, jazz brunches, live music options throughout the week • Cocktails, noodles, coffee shop fare, pizza, burgers, Mexican, veggie options FOOD AND DRINK: DOWNTOWN
• NEW! Rabbit Hole: trendy, Instagrammable “underground” bar on Sparks Street, opened early 2019 FOOD AND DRINK: DOWNTOWN
• NEW! Wolf Down: Doners (Berlin street food) on Bank Street FOOD AND DRINK: BYWARD MARKET AREA
• Jackson: mostly plant-based, located inside the new Ottawa Art Gallery – trendy and Instagrammable FOOD AND DRINK: BYWARD MARKET AREA
• Lollo Salads: quick, healthy lunch options from La Bottega Nicastro folks FOOD AND DRINK: BYWARD MARKET AREA
• C’est Bon Cooking: Walking neighbourhood food tours and cooking classes – expanding their main space late summer 2019! NEW! FOOD AND DRINK: BYWARD MARKET AREA
• 7 Tapas Bar: open in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Canada – stellar views! FOOD AND DRINK: BYWARD MARKET AREA
• SmoQue Shack (formerly on York Street) has taken over the space previously occupied by the Clocktower on Clarence Street FOOD AND DRINK: ELGIN STREET
• NEW! Zak’s Diner to open on Elgin Street in fall 2019, in the building where Dunn’s once was! FOOD AND DRINK: THE GLEBE
• NEW! JAM: “Just Add Milk” is a new cereal café in the Glebe neighbourhood FOOD AND DRINK: THE GLEBE
• Eldon’s: seasonal and local-focused cooking • Banditos: Tacos, cocktails, street food • Bowman’s on Bank: second location for craft beer-forward bar FOOD AND DRINK: CHINATOWN
NEW! Corner Peach: hip vibe, small menu serving “elevated comfort food” FOOD AND DRINK: LITTLE ITALY
New restaurants include: • Gray Jay, headed by Dominique Dufour (opening mid-2019) • Farinella, pizza, gelateria and bar (opening spring 2019) • Eldorado tacos, Mexican cuisine specializing in tacos and ceviche FOOD AND DRINK: WESTBORO + WELLINGTON WEST
• NU Grocery, Ottawa’s first zero-waste grocery store • NEW! Terra20 relocated next door FOOD AND DRINK: WESTBORO + WELLINGTON WEST
Briana Kim: Owner/Chef of Café My House won 2017 Gold Medal Plates in Ottawa. Café My House is now closed, but Kim plans to open a new vegan venture in Ottawa, Alice, in spring 2019 FOOD AND DRINK: OTHER
Chef Yannick LaSalle of Les Fougères restaurant in nearby Chelsea, Québec won the 2019 Canadian Culinary Championships! FOOD AND DRINK: OTHER
NEW! Canadian Culinary Championships come to Ottawa! January 31 to February 1, 2020 FOOD AND DRINK: OTHER
The Ministry of Coffee and Social Affairs has opened a satellite location at the Ottawa Train Station FOOD AND DRINK: NEW CRAFT BEER AND DISTILLERIES FOOD AND DRINK: CRAFT BEER AND DISTILLERIES CRAFT BEER CRAFT BEER: UPDATES
Kichesippi: NEW! expanded location with taproom, outdoor beer garden, event space, free parking, and more in Bells Corners (end of May 2019) FESTIVALS FESTIVALS
Canadian Tulip Festival • May 10-20, 2019 • Commissioners Park / Dow’s Lake only • One million tulips bloom in public areas throughout the city • Fireworks Sunday, May 19 FESTIVALS
Canadian Tulip Festival • 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and the first gift of tulips FESTIVALS
Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival • June 20-23, 2019 FESTIVALS
MUSIC • TD Ottawa Jazz Festival: June 20- July 1, 2019 • Escapade Music Festival: June 22- 23, 2019 FESTIVALS
MUSIC • Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival: June 20-23, 2019 • RBC Bluesfest: July 4- 14, 2019 • Music and Beyond: July 4-17, 2019 FESTIVALS
MUSIC • Ottawa Chamberfest: July 25-August 8, 2019 • Nordstock: August 9- 11, 2019 • Nostalgia: August 21- 24, 2019 • CityFolk: September 11-15, 2019 FESTIVALS
Winterlude • January 31-February 17, 2020 • NEW! Sparks Street and ByWard Market now official sites, Confederation Park no longer an official site FESTIVALS
Winterlude • New vision will continue for future years • Indigenous focus: Pow-wow at Canadian Museum of History • LGBTQ2+ focus: first-ever Winter Pride in 2019 • Come See and Hear the World • Big Bang Festival SPORTING EVENTS
Recent Wins • 2019 CSI2 and CSI3 Ottawa International Horse Show • 2019 PGA Seniors Championship of Canada • 2019 FIBA 3x3 Satellite • 2019 – 2021 Super League Triathlon • 2020 Ontario WAG Level 4/5 Gymnastics Ontario Championships • 2021 Sport Event Congress OTHER NEWS OTHER NEWS: ANNIVERSARIES
• Music and Beyond: 10th anniversary • Escapade: 10th anniversary • Ottawa-Beijing sister-city agreement: 20th anniversary OTHER NEWS: ANNIVERSARIES
• La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins: 20th season • Ottawa Bluesfest: 25th anniversary • Ottawa Chamberfest: 25th anniversary • Fulton’s Pancake House & Sugar Bush: 50th anniversary OTHER NEWS: ANNIVERSARIES
• Rideau Canal Skateway: This coming winter will be the 50th season of skating OTHER NEWS: ANNIVERSARIES
• The NAC celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2019, and launches its Indigenous Theatre Department during the 2019-20 season • Changing of the Guard: 60th anniversary • St. Albert Cheese Cooperative: 125th anniversary OTHER NEWS: CONSTRUCTION
Opening in 2019: Ottawa’s Light Rail Transit line! Phase 1: Confederation Line OTHER NEWS: CONSTRUCTION
Ottawa’s Light Rail Transit line Phase 2 begins construction in 2019. Includes extensions east, west, and south (including the airport). OTHER NEWS: CONSTRUCTION
Elgin Street is still open for business during construction! • Renewal program lasting until 2020 • Free indoor parking at the parking garage at Ottawa City Hall on weekends • Fun promotions: Lyft coupon, Game of Cones, fun signs OTHER NEWS: NEW PRODUCTS
NEW! The Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Show arrives in Ottawa, live on stage June 28-September 14 with Canadian classics and Canadian dishes at the RA Centre! OTHER NEWS: NEW PRODUCTS
NEW! The owner of Pub Italia has opened a Vintage Italian Moto Museum in Wellington West - Bikes, scooters, cars OTHER NEWS: NEW PRODUCTS
NEW! Cannabis now legal in Canada 3 retail shops in Ottawa: • Superette, Wellington West • Fire & Flower, York Street • Hobo, Bank Street OTHER NEWS: NEW PRODUCTS
NEW! Rolling Greens golf course (formerly Lombard Glen) near Smiths Falls has rebranded and is cannabis-themed, complete with after- dark mini putt OTHER NEWS: NEW PRODUCTS
NEW! Brew Donkey Tours to offer Cannabis Tours • Visit Canopy Growth, a brewery, and a distillery on Rideau Valley High tour (no cannabis samples) • Begins June 29 OTHER NEWS: NEW PRODUCTS
NEW! Bouncy Castle Festival: Let your inner child free! Food trucks, family activities, and more than 19 bouncy castles.
June 8, 2019 OTHER NEWS: NEW PRODUCTS
NEW! Ottawa Christmas Market at Lansdowne • November 29- December 22, 2019 • European-style • www.OttawaChristmas Market.com OTHER NEWS: NEW PRODUCTS
European company Le Boat docked in North America for the first time in 2018 with luxury self-drive boats offered on the Rideau Canal (headquartered in Smiths Falls) • 4 NEW! boats (Horizon 5, sleeping up to 12 people) • New base at Seeley’s Bay allowing for one-way cruising OTHER NEWS: NEW PRODUCTS
NEW! A new pedestrian and cyclist bridge over the Rideau Canal connecting the neighbourhoods of Old Ottawa East and the Glebe will open in mid-2019 OTHER NEWS
Cirque du Soleil: ALEGRIA returns to Zibi August 2- September 1, 2019 OTHER NEWS
Canada Army Run NEW! location for the 2019 run: the Canadian War Museum
September 22, 2019 OTHER NEWS
OTTAWA sign in the ByWard Market area – perfect for a selfie! OTHER NEWS
Yoga on Parliament Hill: Wednesdays at 12:00noon, May 15 through August 28
Zumba on Parliament Hill: Sundays at 4:00pm, through September 22 OTHER NEWS: MISCELLANEOUS Sports teams • Ottawa Senators National Hockey League at Canadian Tire Centre • Ottawa 67’s Ontario Hockey League at the Arena at TD Place • Ottawa REDBLACKS Canadian Football League at TD Place at Lansdowne • Ottawa Fury FC United Soccer League at TD Place • Ottawa Champions Can-Am League (baseball) at RCGT Stadium LOOKING BEYOND 2019… LOOKING BEYOND 2019: 2020
50th season of skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway LOOKING BEYOND 2019: 2020
75th anniversary of the end of World War II and the first gift of tulips (1945)
75th anniversary of the start of the Cold War LOOKING BEYOND 2019: 2020
NEW! Camp Fortune plans to open a luge attraction in summer 2020
Pictured: Revelstoke Mountain Resort LOOKING BEYOND 2019: 2020
NEW! Alt Hotel scheduled to open by end of 2020 at the Ottawa International Airport LOOKING BEYOND 2019: 2020 AND BEYOND
Expansion of the Ottawa International Airport planned with updates including: • Enlarged food/retail court • New screening facility • New concessions LOOKING BEYOND 2019: 2020 AND BEYOND
Construction of a reimagined Nepean Point begins in 2020, including parks and space for prorgamming and animation LOOKING BEYOND 2019: 2021
Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity announced plans for a museum dedicated to LGBTQ2+ history LOOKING BEYOND 2019: 2021
Hard Rock Casino takes over Rideau Carleton Raceway—a $320 million investment including (eventually) a new hotel, live entertainment venue, and more LOOKING BEYOND 2019
• Plans to convert 100 Wellington Street (former U.S. Embassy) into an Indigenous Centre (at least five years away) • National Aboriginal Day now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day (as of June 2018) MAJOR TAKEAWAYS MAJOR TAKEAWAYS
Parliament Hill changes in 2019; transitioning to new icons MAJOR TAKEAWAYS
Ottawa offers the complete capital experience MAJOR TAKEAWAYS
Ottawa is a walkable and bike-able city MAJOR TAKEAWAYS
Share your experience – Ottawa gets people talking! Thanks for listening! Questions? www.OttawaTourism.ca