One-Tank Trip for April 7/18
(c) By Jim Fox
Everything’s coming
up tulips – one million of them – in Canada’s capital.
Go ahead, count
them at the 66th annual Canadian Tulip Festival, May 11 to 21, paying homage to
an ongoing gift from the Netherlands after the Second World War.
Tulips became Ottawa’s
official flower after the Dutch Royal Family took refuge there and Canadian
troops played a pivotal role in the liberation of the Netherlands.
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| Tulips bloom on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. |
When the war ended
and the family returned to Europe, they sent a gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs to
Ottawa.
This lasting gift continues and is known as
the “Tulip Legacy.”
New is the Tulip
Trail linking Commissioners Park and Lansdowne, a 20-minute
stroll by “beautiful residential and city gardens, with interpretation markers,
animation and entertainment along the way.”
Also new is Rendez-vous
des saveurs at the Zibi community in Gatineau with tulip-inspired culinary offerings.
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| There are some 250,000 tulips blooming in Commissioners Park near Dows Lake. |
The theme is A
World of Tulips with the main flower beds at Commissioners Park at Dows Lake,
also the location of a Victoria Day fireworks show on May 20.
There’s also tulip
art in the ByWard Market; fun family events at Lansdowne; and tulips sprouting
along the Garden Promenade. tulipfestival.ca;
1-800-668-8547
Fox trots
Publicist Beth
Merrick says “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines” as Monster Jam roars
into Hamilton, April 14 and 15.
 |
| Monster Jam’s Jailbird, driven by Kaylyn Migues, flies through the air. |
There’s a “mega
line-up” of seven new trucks plus father/daughter drivers making their debut at
FirstOntario Centre.
Presented by Feld
Entertainment, the competitors are Monster Mutt, Storm Damage, Hurricane Force,
Stinger Unleashed, Master of Disaster, Nitro Menace and Jailbird, along with fan-favourite Grave Digger vying
for the championship title.
 |
| Oops, sorry about that. Nitro Menace just crushes two cars and keeps on going at Monster Jam. |
Fans can see a
father and daughter compete against one another with Nitro Menace piloted by Darren Migues and Jailbird driven by Kaylyn Migues.
Along with the two 1
p.m. shows, there will be pit parties before the action.
Curtain rising
Stratford Festival executive
director Anita Gaffney said its 66th season will welcome the 28-millionth
patron.
So far, 70 per cent
has been raised of the $100-million Spirit of the Tent campaign to build a new
Tom Patterson Theatre Centre.
The new theatre,
designed by architect Siamak Hariri, is to open for the 2020 season.
 |
| The curtain will rise April 17 for Music Man at the Stratford Festival. |
This season starts
April 17 with the Music Man and continues until October.
Featured are The
Tempest; Comedy of Errors; Coriolanus; Julius Caesar; Rocky Horror Show; Long
Day’s Journey Into Night; An Ideal Husband; To Kill a Mockingbird; Napoli
Milionaria!; Bronte; and Paradise Lost. stratfordfestival.ca;
1-800-567-1600
Vimy remembered
Georgia Sifton of
the Elgin County Heritage Centre in St. Thomas says the 8th annual Vimy Lecture
will honour those in the First World War combat in France.
The event at the
centre (460 Sunset Drive) on Monday (April 9) at 2 p.m. will recall how 600
Elgin County soldiers fought at the Battle of Vimy Ridge including Lance-Sergeant
Ellis Sifton, a Wallacetown native.
Killed in action
eliminating a German machine gun emplacement, he was posthumously awarded a
Victoria Cross to be displayed that day.
Guest speaker is Tracy
Gordon of Dutton, an historical seamstress and war re-enactor. Info: (519)
631-1460, ext. 193
Golden Age
The Woodstock
Choralaires will celebrate “The Golden Age of the Silver Screen” at the
Marathana Christian Reformed Church (735 Frontenac Cres.) on April 28.
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| Woodstock Choralaires |
With performances
at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., conductor Geoffrey Warder will be accompanied by
pianist Susan Barta with the Showtime Orchestra.
They will perform
songs from Hollywood movies such as The Jazz Singer, The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me
in St. Louis, State Fair and Singin’ in the Rain.
Tickets are $25, adults,
and $12 to age 12. Info: (519) 536-7630
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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