TOUCH OF DUTCH Dutch Heritage Month Public Events Listings - May 2016
More than one million Canadians are of Dutch descent and almost every Dutch family has relatives in Canada. Both countries share the same values and a vison for the future: two countries, one spirit, working together in many fields.
Spring is the best time to celebrate the friendship between the Netherlands and Canada. Each May the City of Ottawa is coloured by the blooming tulips from the Netherlands, as a sign of gratitude for the hospitality that was extended to the Dutch Royal Family during the Second World War.
Since May 2011 the month of May has been declared Dutch Heritage Month in Ontario. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ottawa and the Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver organize activities with a Touch of Dutch in partnership with local organizations throughout Canada. The public events, listed below, all celebrate and renew the lasting bonds of friendship between Canada and the Netherlands.
WWW.DUTCHMISSIONS.COM
Dutch Heritage Month Ontario– Public Events Listings 2016– www.dutchmissions.com MAY 1 – 31 | DUTCH HERITAGE MONTH, ONTARIO
Through the month of May, Ontario celebrates its Dutch heritage and pays tribute to the close bonds of friendship our two countries have developed since 1945, when Canadian Forces played a pivotal role in liberating the Netherlands. After the Second World War Canada became a popular destination for Dutch immigrants and many settled in Ontario.
MAY 1 – 29 | OPERATION MANNA AT AVIATION MUSEUM, OTTAWA
Remembering Operation Manna In the spring of 1945, a team of dedicated airmen took part in the famous Operation Manna. In Lancaster, Mosquito and others bombers, they flew the skies of the German-occupied Netherlands to drop food supplies into Dutch towns and villages. Join us as we remember this difficult time and the courage of these airmen and the Dutch people.
Print Making Workshop Sundays in May from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Make a print of images depicting scenes of the historical Operation Manna food drop of which took place in the spring of 1945 in the Netherlands. This special compilation of works commissioned from artist François Gauvreau honors the courage of these airmen and the Dutch people during this time of hardship.
Manna from the Sky Saturdays in May at 11 a.m. Meet Pilot Bob and learn about the Lancaster named Bad Penny, which flew the first food drop of Operation Manna in 1945, in the Netherlands. Then, take part in a parachute candy drop! (Presented in collaboration with the Netherlands Embassy).
Discovery Cart Sundays from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Visitors of all ages will enjoy this close-up look at authentic items used by airmen during the last century. Examine rarely seen items such as objects from a German pilot’s survival kit, silk maps, RCAF sweetheart pins and lockets.
Every Saturday and Sunday in Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa www.casmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/whats-on/children-programming.php www.museeaec.techno-science.ca/fr/a-voir/programmation-enfants.php www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wky08Dw-QRQ
MAY 1 – 29 | SUSSIE’s COAT AT CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM, OTTAWA A kind gesture by Canadian gunner Robert Elliot in the Second World War, to a 10-year-old Dutch girl namen Everdina (‘Sussie’) Cretier, became a beautiful love story. Come see the coat that symbolizes the national and personal bonds arising from Canada’s liberation of the Netherlands in the Second World War. Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa www.warmuseum.ca
MAY 4 | REMEMBRANCE DAY WREATH LAYING CEREMONY Ambassador Kole will lay a wreath and pay homage to those who gave their lives for our freedom. At 2 pm – the same time the Netherlands (8 pm) is silent - we will observe one minute of silence. All are welcome to Remember with us. Veterans are invited to be part of this commemoration event and reception. RSVP @ 613 670 6033
Wednesday, May 4, 1:45 - 2:15 pm (reception: 2:15 – 3:15 pm) Beechwood, the National Cemetery of Canada, Ottawa www.dutchmissions.com; www.beechwoodcemetery.com;
Dutch Heritage Month Ontario– Public Events Listings 2016– www.dutchmissions.com MAY 5 | 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF THE NETHERLANDS, OTTAWA In honour of Dutch Heritage Month and to celebrate the colourful tulips from the Netherlands in Ottawa, the Dominion Carillonneur, Dr. Andrea McCrady, will feature Dutch and tulip-themed songs in her noon recital on the Peace Tower Carillon. So bring your lawn chairs and enjoy!
Thursday, May 5, 12:00 – 12:15 pm Parliament Hill Lawn, www.parl.gc.ca/About/House/Collections/carillon-e.htm www.parl.gc.ca/About/House/Collections/carillon-f.htm
MAY 5 | LIBERATION, HAMILTON Celebrate the Dutch Liberation Day in Hamilton together with the Canadian Veteran Association at Elizabeth Village with a church service, starting at 11:00 a.m. and a reception afterwards.
May 5, 10:45 a.m (TBD) St. Elizabeth Village, 393 Rymal Road West, Hamilton (ON) www.veterans.gc.ca; www.stelizabethhomesociety.org
MAY 7 | CANADA – THE NETHERLANDS FRIENDSHIP DAY, BURLINGTON Join mayor Rick Golding, Elizabeth Witmer, Chair of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and Consul General Anne van Leeuwen at the annual Canada Netherlands Friendship Day celebration at Burlington City Hall Civic Square. The Canada Netherlands Friendship Association is dedicated to strengthening the ties between Canada and the Netherlands through trade, commerce, arts and by commemorating our history. Alexanders school students and parents will participate, as well as the Burlington Teen Tour Band. A flag raising ceremony is on the programme. Coffee and Dutch cookies will be served afterwards.
May 7, 11:00 a.m. Burlington City Hall Civic Square, Burlington www.burlington.ca; www.cnfa.com;
MAY 9 | DUTCH FLAG RAISING CEREMONY AT LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ONTARIO, TORONTO To celebrate Dutch Heritage Month in Ontario, the Consulate General in Toronto in partnership with the Legislative Assembly of Ontario organizes a ceremonial flag raising ceremony at the Legislative Grounds in the presence of Members of Provincial Parliament. Rain or shine, come and celebrate with us and show off your orange.
May 9, 11:45 a.m. The Ontario Legislative Grounds, Toronto www.ontla.on.ca
MAY 12-23 | CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL, OTTAWA More than half a million visitors are expected to view the tulips of the Nation’s Capital. The 2016 edition of the Canadian Tulip Festival runs from May 12 - 23. The Festival has a well-known and royal history, originating in the gift of tulips from the Dutch Royal Family for Canada's role in the liberation of the Netherlands in WWII, and for providing a safe haven in Ottawa for members of the Dutch Royal Family during the war. Since then, the tulip has become Ottawa's official flower and, each spring, the National Capital Region blooms with magnificent tulip beds from the Netherlands and planted by the National Capital Commission, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors.
At Dow’s Lake, the Netherlands Embassy will install a photo exhibition with the them ‘Canada and the Netherlands – Two Countries One Spirit”. Come and see the exhibition, Twitter a selfie using #FriendshipNL, and post it on Twitter or Facebook.com/thenetherlandsincanada
May 12 – 23 Canadian Tulip Festival, Ottawa www.tulipfestival.ca
Dutch Heritage Month Ontario– Public Events Listings 2016– www.dutchmissions.com MAY 24 – JUNE 3 | CANADA – THE NETHERLANDS FRIENDSHIP CONCERTS, BURLINGTON & TORONTO
48th Highlanders of Holland Pipes and Drums have been invited by the Canadian Regiment 48th Highlanders of Canada to celebrate the 125 anniversary. A number of concerts are in cities such as Burlington, Toronto, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and others. For more details: www.48highlanders.nl
MAY 26 – 28 | EU FILM SHORT FESTIVAL, OTTAWA The European Union Film Festival is screening great examples of recent short films produced in Europe. The Netherlands has submitted the short animated film A Single Life, which is directed by Job, Joris & Marieke. The movie is about Pia who is suddenly able to travel through her life when playing a mysterious vinyl single. A Single Life was produced as part of a special project known as Ultrakort by the Dutch Film Fund and the Pathe cinema group and has been nominated for both an Oscar and an Academy Award. Keep an eye on the Festivals website for detailed information of screenings in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.
May 26 – 28, show times to be announced. Arts Court Centre, 2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa Ottawa: www.cfi-icf.ca
JULY 15 | SEND-OF “NIJMEGEN VIERDAAGSE”, OTTAWA
Every year a large contingent of Canadian Forces personnel participate in the “Vierdaagse.” This march, known as “The King of Walks,” takes place in the area around the city of Nijmegen. Participants from all over the world fly to the Netherlands to walk 40 kilometers on each of four days. Last year, 46,000 participants started and 39,396 finished. The 2016 walk is from July 19 to 22. Everyone who undertakes such a challenge deserves our respect, so join us in cheering on this year’s Canadian contingent at their official send-off!
Thursday, July, , by invitation only Canadian War Museum, Ottawa www.4daagse.nl
JULY 21 - 23 | FORTISSIMO TATTOO, OTTAWA Do you know that the word ‘tattoo’ comes from the Dutch word taptoe? It is said to have derived from the Dutch “die den tap toe,” which is translated as “turn off the taps.” It probably originated from campaigns in the Low Countries in Europe in the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and is associated with the practice of a drummer being detailed to beat an order to the tavern and innkeepers to stop serving ale, and for the soldiers to stop drinking and parade for a final muster before returning to quarters.
Don't miss this year’s Fortissimo, a free military band event on Parliament Hill featuring massed military bands, pipes and drums, guest performers and the soldiers of the Ceremonial Guard - Garde de cérémonie. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets and then stay for Mosaika afterwards. Embassy staff members will be present.
July 21 – 23, 7 pm Parliament Hill, Ottawa www.parl.gc.ca/Visitors/springsummer-e.asp
JULY 23 – NOVEMBER 29 |WORLD PRESS PHOTO EXHIBITIONS: OTTAWA, MONTREAL, TORONTO, CHICOUTIMI World Press Photo, a travelling exhibition of the world’s best press photographs, will once again be exhibited. The independent, non-profit organization was founded in 1955 in Amsterdam, where its offices remain to this day. Its main aim is to support and promote internationally the work of professional press photographers.
Dutch Heritage Month Ontario– Public Events Listings 2016– www.dutchmissions.com July 22 – August 17, Ottawa, Canadian War Museum, www.warmuseum.ca August 28 – October 1, Montreal, The Old Port (Marché Bonsecour), www.worldpressphotomontreal.ca/ October 4 – October 25, Toronto, Brookfield Place, www.brookfieldplacenewsandevents.com/ November 3 – November 27, Chicoutimi, La Pulperie, www.worldpressphoto.org
NOV – DEC 2014 | EU FILM FESTIVAL, OTTAWA The European Union Film Festival is an annual showcase of the best of contemporary cinema produced in the European Union. The Festival will bring a wide selection of award-winning, never-before-seen films selected by EU member states. Keep an eye on the Festivals website for detailed information of screenings in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. Dates and show times to be announced
Ottawa: www.cfi-icf.ca Toronto: www.eutorontofilmfest.ca Vancouver: www.eufilmfestival.com
Other News and Events
TOUCH OF DUTCH EDUCATION PROJECT 2016 Canada and the Netherlands share a history, but in what ways can they share a future? In May 2016 over 180 Dutch and Canadian high school students will find out! In three interactive lessons they will learn more about each other’s country and focus on the subjects of United Nations Peacekeeping and Sustainable Innovation. The project concludes with a transatlantic Skype session in which the students discuss the Dutch-Canadian friendship of the future. The best idea wins a prize! Hashtags:#touchofdutch, #CAN-Nlfuturefriendship, #CAN-NLschoolproject2016
DUTCH AGRO & FOOD “FOOTPRINT” IN CANADA AND THE US Interested in an overview of Dutch agriculture and food companies working in Canada and in the United States? Visit: www.hollandaginvest.com
OTHER SOURCES - DUTCH NEWS Stay on top of dutch-canadian news with: Dutch, the Magazine at www.dutchthemag.com De Krant at www.mokeham.com/dekrant De Nederlandse Courant at www.denederlandsecourant.com DutchNews.nl at www.dutchnews.nl Netherlands Investment News at www.nfia.com/newsletter Read frequent updates from the fairly new newsletter from De Nederlandse Vereniging on: www.deNederlandseVereniging.nl
How do I submit a new event to the Touch of Dutch calendar? Send your event information to Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with a request to enter the event into the Touch of Dutch calendar, e-mail to [email protected]
What types of events are appropriate for the Touch of Dutch events calendar?
Events entered on the calendar will be displayed to the general communities in Canada, and are accessible by the general public, so it's best to only enter events that you are comfortable sharing with a wide audience. If you are not sure, just ask by sending an e-mail to [email protected]
Dutch Heritage Month Ontario– Public Events Listings 2016– www.dutchmissions.com