Celebrate Canada 150 in Ottawa

   One-Tank Trip for Jan. 28-17

   (c) By Jim Fox

  

 Happy Birthday Canada!

   It’s a milestone year as our nation marks the 150th anniversary of Confederation with celebrations from sea to sea to sea.

   Join a nation of flag-wavers at local, provincial and national events to “celebrate all that makes us who we are as a country.”

   Ottawa and throughout the National Capital Region is a hotbed of activities and special events, with a major highlight around Canada Day, July 1.

   The party’s here, says Mayor Jim Watson, adding: “We look forward to seeing the year unfold and to welcoming residents and visitors for all the great experiences ahead.”

Sky-high dining is among the 150 special events in Ottawa this year. (Ottawa Tourism photos)

    Things got underway on New Year’s Eve with the lighting of the Ottawa 2017 Cauldron after a First Nations sacred fire ceremony kindled the flame that has been shared from Ottawa City Hall to Parliament Hill.

   For the 100th celebrations in 1967, the Centennial Flame was lighted on Parliament Hill by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson and torches were sent to all parts of the country for “Fires of Friendship.”

   A sesquicentennial celebration

   During the year, some 150 events will be held by the Ottawa 2017 Bureau.

   “We invite all Canadians to join us to celebrate our past, explore and discover our present and together, ignite our future,” said Guy Laflamme, executive director.

   “Many of the events are first-time happenings, like Kontinuum and Inspiration Village, or first-time-in-Ottawa happenings, like Red Bull Crashed Ice and Sky Lounge/Dinner in the Sky,” said Jantine Van Kregten, director of communications for Ottawa Tourism.

   Kontinuum is called “an ultimate underground experience with a futuristic and immersive multimedia production” created by Moment Factory and projected in one of Ottawa’s future Light Rail Transit stations during the summer.

   Inspiration Village is a series of special exhibits and performing arts events housed in converted shipping containers on York Street in ByWard Village, showcasing Canada’s provinces and territories from May 20 to Sept. 4.

Crashed Ice is a high-intensity sport on skates set to hit the ice in Ottawa in March.

   Red Bull Crashed Ice on March 3 and 4 is called the “fastest sport on skates,” with participants challenged by a massive ice track filled with drops, hairpin turns and gaps at speeds of more than 50 km/h.

   The final showdown is on the iconic locks of the Rideau Canal, overlooking Parliament Hill and the historic Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel.

   Sky Lounge/Dinner in the Sky is called a “culinary flight of fancy,” taking diners high into the air “to discover Ottawa’s fine dining like never before.”

Diners can savour the food of Chef Stephen La Salle and the view high in the sky in Ottawa.

   Chef Stephen La Salle and his team from Feast + Revel – the restaurant at the Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market hotel – provide appetizing creations while guests enjoy a spectacular view of

Canada’s capital from July 7 to 22.

   Signature events

   - Ignite 150 involves 17 epic stunts and gatherings throughout the capital, including a yoga session on a barge floating down a local waterway accompanied by a live orchestra, a movie on a downtown terrace rooftop and more.

   - Stanley Cup’s 125th anniversary tribute, gala and events, happen March 15 to 18 and the Juno Awards for the best in Canadian music are March 27 to April 1.

   - As part of Canada Day, Ottawa’s Urban Camping Program will turn 11 municipal green spaces and parking lots into camp sites from June 29 to July 4.

   - The Interprovincial Picnic on the Bridge will offer picnic spots overlooking Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River on July 2.

Astonishing creatures, including a fire-breathing dragon, will invade the nation’s capital.

   - Downtown Ottawa will be taken over by La Machine’s roving, larger-than-life mechanical creatures including a fire-breathing dragon and giant spider for a North American first from July 26 to 30.

   - Throughout the year, Ottawa Welcomes the World is a program where 75 high commissions and international partners highlight their culture in a series of free, world-class cultural events in heritage buildings at Lansdowne Park.

   To find out more about Ottawa events: ottawa2017.ca; Canada events: canada.ca/150 and Ontario activities: ontario.ca/150

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca