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CAPITAL NEWS
2023 Spring Edition
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Learn about initiatives and activities from our Canadian Capitals.
Share your news and achievements throughout the CCCO network.
| | Photo credit: National Capital Commission |
Thank you to Canadian Heritage for
its financial contribution enabling the translation.
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In this 2023 Spring edition of Capital News, you will find articles from our Capital Cities along with information on different initiatives and programs.
And, most importantly, we want to hear about your Capital: please contact us at secretariat@ccco-occ.ca to share information from your city, legislature, provincial commission, organization throughout the CCCO network.
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2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE: SAVE THE DATES | |
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Save the dates of October 1-3 for our 2023 Annual Conference to be held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. We are planning for a robust schedule of presentations and exchanges of capital interest, along with networking opportunities with colleagues and partner organizations.
Registration and conference details will be available in June.
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NEWS FROM OUR NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION | |
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OUR NATION'S CAPITAL IN FULL BLOOM
Spring in Ottawa is a much-anticipated time of year, as the city awakens from its winter slumber. While the snow melts away, Ottawa's parks and gardens burst into life, with colorful and fragrant blooms adorning the city. Ottawa visitors and residents can look forward to a range of exciting events this spring season.
- For those interested in Ottawa's rich cultural heritage, the Canadian Tulip Festival is not to be missed. This celebration of Ottawa's Dutch roots takes place from May 12-22, 2023, at Commissioners Park. Over a million tulips are expected to be in full bloom, creating a stunning display of color and beauty.
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Foodies will delight in the Ottawa Ribfest on Sparks Street from May 31st to June 4th, 2023. Sample some of the best BBQ chicken and ribs you’ll ever taste!
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To stay up-to-date on all the upcoming festivals, exhibitions, sports events, and more, visitors can browse the Ottawa Tourism event calendar for more information.
Overall, spring is a delightful time to enjoy Ottawa, with a renewed energy in the air and a plethora of activities and events to enjoy.
Information and Photo credit: Ottawa Tourism
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NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION URBANISM LAB | |
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The National Capital Commission’s (NCC) Urbanism Lab is an innovative space where Canadians and leaders in urbanism, design, heritage and conservation, sustainability, and placemaking get together to inspire the future of the National Capital Region.
Next at the NCC Urbanism Lab on May 24: Urban Design Challenge 2023
Urban planning and design have the potential to dramatically transform our collective surroundings, influencing and enabling the way we use public spaces. The Urban Design Challenge is a competition that invites students from across the country to come up with design concepts for sites in the National Capital Region.
This year’s competition will focus on repairing and re-stitching the urban fabric in the Core Area of the region. It will address vacant and under-utilized street lots where improvements from an urban design perspective can enhance the public experience.
Stay informed! If you are interested in receiving updates about this Urbanism Lab event or future events, please sign up for the newsletter.
Photo credit: National Capital Commission
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THINGS TO DO IN THE OUTAOUAIS IN MAY | |
Information from Tourisme Outaouais / Photo credit: Richère David - Parc de la Gatineau | |
May is a colourful month that’s full of firsts! The first bike ride. The first patios. The first fishing trip. The first leaves on the trees. The first spring flowers. The first warm days.
If you haven’t already, it’s time to get out your road bike. With a vast network of internationally recognized cycling trails, the region is a favourite with cycling enthusiasts. Gatineau Park, the Véloroute des Draveurs, the Cycloparc PPJ and the City of Gatineau’s urban network offer a number of challenges, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned cyclist! Beginning May 13, explore the nation’s capital in a safe and environmentally friendly way thanks to NCC Weekend Bikedays. On foot, on your bike, on in-line skates, in a wheelchair, on a scooter or even pushing a stroller, enjoy an outing on a 20-km stretch of car-free roads along the Ottawa River.
Visit the Tourisme Outaouais Website Blog for more information and things to do to make the most of the month ...and more !
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Fredericton Celebrating 175+ Years of History in 2023
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Fredericton was incorporated as a city on March 30, 1848. To mark that milestone, as well as the thousands of years of history that came before and the bright future that lies ahead, New Brunswick’s Capital City is holding a year-long Fredericton 175+ celebration. The addition of the plus symbol reflects that broader approach to recognizing all that Fredericton is and has to offer.
Activities so far have included an event to celebrate the actual anniversary, the installation of celebration banners around the city, the announcement of $50,000 in grants to community groups to organize events, the launch of an Ode to Your Postal Code poetry challenge, and the installation of two special horticultural displays.
Planning is also underway for a legacy project, as determined by Fredericton City Council, and two weeks of special festivities in August, which are being coordinated by the City. Fredericton 175+ has its own website, as well as a Facebook page, where followers can read stories about the city’s history and accomplishments. Here are the links:
Wayne Knorr, APR
Communications Manager
City of Fredericton
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FROST REGINA: A SUCCESS STORY TO SHARE | |
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Regina has embraced its status as a winter city with a successful wind up of its second annual Frost Festival, held February 3-12 in the Saskatchewan capital.
Four partners organized dozens of activities at four hubs in the city over the ten days that brought over 88,790 residents out of their homes to have winter fun. Attendance at Frost was up by over 30,000 people from the inaugural year in 2022.
The municipally-owned Regina Exhibition Association Ltd (REAL) worked with the Provincial Capital Commission (PCC), the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District (RWBID) and the Regina Warehouse Business Improvement District (RWBID) to organize fun winter activities. A major financial sponsor of the festival was the Federated Cooperative Ltd.
By the provincial legislature in Wascana Centre, the PCC organized dog sled and horse carriage rides, and set up skating rink and hockey games at the rink on Wascana Lake. People could learn to crokicurl, watch snow sculpting, listen to Indigenous story telling or skate on a rink in the city’s downtown. In the Warehouse District, festival goers could enjoy music in the many venues, firepits and an ice bar, and pow wow dancers.
The REAL grounds featured the spectacular GLOW exhibit with over 3 million lights, evening fire works, an ice slide and snow maze, an Indigenous village and skating performances by Elvis Stojko and others.
With the Globe and Mail listing Frost as one of the top ten winter festivals in Canada, Regina has shown it can shine at making winter fun. Canada’s best winter festivals from coast to coast - The Globe and Mail
Cheryl Stadnichuk,
Regina City Councillor and member of CCCO
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On the hunt for the best things to do in Edmonton? You've come to the right place. Lose yourself in the immersive experiences at the Royal Alberta Museum or the Art Gallery of Alberta, breathe in the glory of the Northern Lights from our dark sky preserves, or embrace the fun (and shopping) at West Edmonton Mall. |
Celebrate Ufest: May 26-27
Western Canada's largest multi-day Ukrainian festival returns! UFest Edmonton Ukrainian Festival is a celebration of Ukrainian culture, and a whole lot of fun. This free two-day festival, set in beautiful Borden Park, features a main stage with ongoing musical and dance performances, beer gardens, a food fair, vendors, and so much more.
May 26-27
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Information and Photo Credit: Explore Edmonton | |
INFORMATION FROM PARKS CANADA | |
PUBLIC PROGRAM OF HISTORICAL COMMEMORATION | |
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National historic designations illustrate the defining moments in the story of Canada. They tell the stories of who we are and connect us to our past, enriching our understanding of ourselves, each other, and our country.
The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes nationally significant persons, places, and events as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster understanding and awareness of Canada’s rich and diversified heritage.
The designation process under Parks Canada’s National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,200 designations have been made nationwide.
To nominate a nationally significant person, site or historical event in your community, please visit the Parks Canada website for more information: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/ncp-pcn/application
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INFORMATION FROM THE CANADIAN GARDEN COUNCIL | |
2022 was the Year of the garden ...Live the garden life in 2023 | |
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2022 was the Year of the Garden in Canada and we thank all those of you that proclaimed 2022 the Year of the Garden in your municipality and committed to being a Garden-Friendly City. In fact, 125 Canadian municipalities representing close to 50% of Canada’s population embrace the Year of the Garden celebration. It is our pleasure to share with you the Year of the Garden report via this link: Year of the Garden Report
In the spirit of legacy of the Year of the Garden, the Canadian Garden Council is excited about collaborating with Canada Capital Cities Organization to develop a strategy and plan to support the Capital cities and Canadian cities to be Garden-Friendly Cities. A Garden-Friendly City is a municipality committed to reducing air, land, and water pollution and to increase the quality of life of its residents via the use of living green landscape and the celebration of its garden culture.
Looking forward to pursuing together the development of this very special Year of the Garden 2022 legacy.
Michel gauthier, Executive Director, Canadian Garden Council.
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2023 Winter Meeting | Ottawa/Gatineau, National Capital Region
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The 2023 Winter Meeting was our first in person meeting since January 2020 …and what a pleasure it was to finally meet again to learn from excellent speakers and panelists, to exchange ideas between Capital Cities, Provincial Legislatures and Commission and to visit our Nation’s Capital.
Please visit the CCCO website for photos and presentations
Thank you to the National Capital Commission, Ville de Gatineau and the City of Ottawa for hosting us so well.
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Discover Canada's Capitals | |
Canada's capitals are special places filled with memorable experiences. They reflect our identities as residents of provinces and territories and our national capital reflects our identity as Canadians. The capitals are where we learn about our provinces, our territories, and our country. | |
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador | |
Victoria, British Columbia | |
To discover all of Canada's Capitals,
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The Canadian Capital Cities Organization (www.ccco-occ.ca) is a uniquely positioned organization that works to create celebration, education, connection and pride across Canada through the diverse story of each Capital City. This national level network of capital cities will serve Canada’s residents through relationships and initiatives highlighting the symbolic and substantive role of the Capitals.
Visit us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest news and join in the discussion.
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