Photo courtesy Kashmera on Flickr
Post by Vera Grbic
Where do culture and the Canadian project meet? Some would say that the easy answer is in multiculturalism. That’s been the go-to answer for decades, ever since Trudeau presided over its recognition in the Charter and Mulroney oversaw the enactment of a Multiculturalism Act. And even though the topic has lately hit a contentious snag internationally and even in Canada, Canadians can’t deny that we’re still the more unique for it – a veritable jumble of nth generation and first generation Canadians. We not only make it work, we make it look good.
So when Apartment613 writes about Ottawa summer fests, we can’t help but include that bit of Canadian tradition in the festival write-ups. I’m talking about the different cultural festivals that invade the city as the temperature rises above freezing. The proof is in the pudding: Ottawa is home to more than 35 folkloric dance ensembles, and that’s not including the numerous Latin dance studios around. This “student city” is also host to a ton of diverse cultural student groups.
Some of these festivals are also supported by CHIN Radio, the first multicultural/multilingual radio station in Ontario, one that carries more than 18 different language programs. An undeniably amazing fact is that, aside from Toronto, the only other such station in Canada is here in Ottawa. And the fact is that Ottawa’s population growth is based largely on immigration. The 2006 census tells us that foreign-born residents make up about 22 percent of our Ottawa’s demographic. Who knew that the capital actually represents?
All those stodgy facts result in Ottawa being an unquestionably awesome venue for multicultural celebration. Over the past half-decade, the city has expanded to about 10 cultural festivals annually – give or take one or two, depending on the year. And here’s why you should attend five taking place the rest of the summer.
Ottawa Turkish Festival (July 15-24)
The festival started Friday with a flag raising ceremony. And even though the major attractions aren’t until next weekend, some of the much more interesting festivities take place during the week. For the foodies out there: who can resist learning how to make an authentic ethnic meal with a Turkish cooking class? Luckily, there’s one tonight. The crafty can learn how to do traditional “water marbling” painting on the 20th, and on the 21st there’s a showing of the Turkish film The White Angel. Turkey’s film culture is one of the fastest growing in the world, and this film has received some top accolades. There are also some gems on the weekend festival grounds too: my pick would be the crafts and decorations section, where you can find traditional jewelry, pillow, rugs, and all kinds of other goodies. Plus, every single event (except a concert night on the 22nd) is free – giving the festival my highest seal of approval.
Ottawa Lebanese Festival (July 20-24)
With this year being it’s 21st iteration, the Ottawa Lebanese Festival is one of the longest-running cultural festivals in town. And that longevity’s evident by the star power they can attract: this year’s big name is Lebanese-Canadian pop musician Karl Wolf. If you plan on going, don’t wait until the festival nears its end, because he’s part of the opening night celebrations. My time at the festival would probably be spent with the folk dance troupe, Jabalna Zaffe Group, learning traditional Lebanese dance. Just don’t confuse the lessons (July 21-22 at 7:30, and July 24 at 4pm) with the professional performances (every evening from 8:30pm on). Admission is free before 4 each day (yay!), but you probably won’t mind paying the measly $2 if you come after that.
Haiti en Fete Festival (July 22-24)
Want to get a sense of this festival’s mood? Just click on the above link and take a listen to some of the featured bands. Haiti en Fete is more of a music festival, as the organizers bring in 12 groups with Caribbean and African rhythms, both local and international. In fact, starting on the 22nd at 10pm, the fest gets that party vibe going. To me, this is a true summer festival, where the music is meant to make you feel – for even a few seconds – like you’uve been lifted out of this winter-lover’s land and are instead lying (or dancing!) on a beach somewhere. The rest of the festivities are on Petrie Island in Orleans, where the fest takes on a more sporty vibe with volleyball and soccer competitions dominating the days.
Ottawa Greek Summer Festival (August 10-21)
I shouldn’t start off a review this way, but I have to: Opa! Aside from the cheese-factor of that line, its spirit pretty much embodies the vibe of the entire Ottawa Greek Summer Festival. This fest almost needs no introduction, as – like the already-concluded Italian Week of Ottawa – it’s been a festival mainstay. So if you haven’t checked this one out yet, I say to you: “Huh?”
But if that’s the case, there’s no time like the present (well, the very near future) to get acquainted with the event. One hint: plan your days around the Greek Zorba dance performances. Many times, other Eastern European folklore groups (like a Serbian dance group) will join in, and then it becomes a day of cultural eclecticism. It’s also just a day to enjoy the atmosphere: lively musical performances turn into dance parties, where – even if you’ve never danced a step in your life – you’re going to want to join in. This year, they also have a prize for a trip to Greece. Need I further gush?
Ottawa Serbian Festival (Date not set yet, but it’s usually the Labour Day long weekend)
Last but definitely not least, the Ottawa Serbian Festival rounds out the summer cultural fests. (Disclosure time: in addition to writing for Apt613, I’m also acting as the festival’s public relations officer this year.) This event is really quite different from the other festivals, because it showcases the rich history of general Balkan cultures while at the same time specifically promoting Serbian culture and heritage. Until recently, the Balkans hadn’t been showcased in Ottawa in any major interactive way – which is too bad, since Balkan “dance parties” and brass bands made the region popular on this side of the Atlantic (Beirut and Gogol Bordello, anyone?).
This is the one time you can see what the culture is truly about, dance party included. Some of my festival faves – since I’m your Serbo-Canadian guide – include the traditional folk group dances, the gorgeous traditional folk ensembles called “nosnje”, and just the amazing Serbian barbeque: “raznjic”. Like at the Greek festival, what eventually wins you over is the atmosphere and the people. It’s a constant party.
