Let’s Go Ottawa

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, 23 December 2009 03:52

  Written by Jantine Van Kregten

I’ll be taking a break for the holidays, enjoying some great food and drink and admiring the Christmas Lights Across Canada in downtown Ottawa.

Stay well, everyone, and see you in 2010!

Ottawa welcomes Yummy Mummy Club!

Tuesday, 22 December 2009 03:52

  Written by Jantine Van Kregten

Ottawa Tourism and the National Capital Commission welcome members of the Yummy Mummy Club who are planning to visit Ottawa during the Winterlude festival in February 2010. The festival runs February 5-21, 2010 and the mummies are coming February 12-15 — which also coincides with Valentine’s Day and the newest Ontario holiday — Family Day.

Watch the video below to see the famous Ice Hog mascots, check on the status of the Rideau Canal Skateway and get valuable tips for enjoying your Winterlude experience!

Fun at the Christmas party!

Thursday, 17 December 2009 03:52

  Written by Jantine Van Kregten

What do Ottawa Tourism staffers do at their Christmas party?

Well, we started with a mini-Urban Quest, a sort of scavenger hunt that sent teams of two scurrying throughout the Novotel Ottawa for info to solve a puzzle. The solution was the combination to a safe, with great prizes inside.

We visited a guest room, the lobby, a meeting room, even the pool to gather the clues. The competition was fierce, with Katie accidentally sustaining injuries to her foot (!), before the winners came up with the right combination. Yes, it was Jerry and I who were the first to key in the correct numbers! Karen & Erica, Misty & Tristan, Caroline & Craig, and Alison & Dominic also received gifts.

After a four-course meal, with a rotation of seats after each course to encourage mingling, and before the karaoke (!), we enjoyed another contest, hatched weeks before. The goal was to create the best rap song about the Rideau Canal Skateway. Winners were Janet & Karen, and you can see why here:

Olympic torch video

Wednesday, 16 December 2009 03:52

  Written by Jantine Van Kregten

Chris Wheeler is a videographer / blogger who has been following the 2010 Vancouver Olympics torch relay as it winds its way through thousands of kilometres of Canada. He shot some video on Saturday, December 12 of the torch arriving in Ottawa and then produced this video:

Enjoy!

Olympic Torch Relay visits Ottawa and region

Tuesday, 15 December 2009 03:52

  Written by Jantine Van Kregten

On Saturday, the Olympic Torch Relay visited Ottawa, after spending Friday night in neighbouring Gatineau, Québec. The torch crossed into Ontario over the Alexandra Bridge. And who was waiting to run the torch up to the statue of Samuel de Champlain at Nepean Point? None other than Bryan Murray, general manager of the Ottawa Senators. Here he is waiting for his big moment:

As Mr. Murray scaled the hill, we circled around to the front of the National Gallery of Canada and the iconic 9m bronze spider sculpture known as Maman. There we witnessed another “passing of the torch” moment:

The torch ran off past the Royal Canadian Mint (where they’re busy making the medals for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games), 24 Sussex Drive (where the Prime Minister’s wife and children were waiting to greet it), Rideau Hall, Rockcliffe Park and Vanier neighbourhoods, then to the ByWard Market district.

We caught another glimpse just before the torch passed the original BeaverTails stand in the Market, on its way to Ottawa City Hall, through more neighbourhoods, before ending up at a huge party on Parliament Hill at 7:00pm.

We had to miss the Parliament Hill celebration, complete with fireworks and the launch of the Christmas Lights Across Canada program, as we were attending our Ottawa Tourism Christmas party that night!

Bryan Murray, general manager of the Ottawa Senators, waits for his chance to carry the flame!

Passing the torch under Maman outside the National Gallery of Canada.

The torch proceeds down William Street in the ByWard Market, just before passing in front of the original BeaverTails location.