FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RIDEAU CANAL FESTIVAL LAUNCHES LANDMARK ANNUAL EVENT
Community rallies around bold initiative
for Ottawa’s newest and free festival
OTTAWA, Ontario—The
Rideau Canal Festival Committee today announced Ottawa's first celebration
of the Rideau Canal as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The inaugural
edition of the Rideau Canal Festival starts August Civic Holiday long
weekend (August 1st – 4th, 2008) coinciding with Ottawa's Colonel
By Day(Also known as Simcoe Day). Book
Ottawa Hotel Rooms. The inaugural edition of the Rideau Canal
Festival is slated for the August Civic Holiday long weekend (August
1st – 4th, 2008) coinciding with Ottawa’s Colonel By Day.
“I used to bring my kids to the canal when they
were little to watch the hand-cranking of the locks. They’d
sit for over an hour, mesmerized, watching the whole procedure. The
kids were on to something – what an amazing feat of engineering,”
said Henry Storgaard, the first Volunteer Chairman of the Rideau Canal
Festival, a group of prominent local citizens who pooled their time
and resources to make the festival a reality. “It was important
to the committee to honor the heritage of the canal and the enjoyment
that it brings to each of us individually, as well as to our whole
city,” he added.
This free festival is packed with myriad activities:
Colonel By Heritage Fair, the first Rideau Canal Night Flotilla, World
Heritage Flotilla starting from Fort Henry in Kingston, the world’s
largest parade of bicycles (aiming for a Guinness World Record), Ecosphere
– The Green Rendez-vous, and more.
The Ontario Government was instrumental in bringing
the festival to fruition. “The McGuinty Government is proud
to be a partner in this exciting festival that celebrates our rich
culture and heritage and commemorates the Rideau Canal as Ontario’s
only UNESCO world heritage site,” said Madeleine Meilleur, M.P.P.
for Ottawa-Vanier.
The festival has partnered with Toronto-based environmental
group Zerofootprint for insight on maintaining the eco-friendly character
of the festival. Organizers are encouraging people to participate
in the Adopt-A-Meter campaign. For a price of twenty dollars, participants
will be able to adopt a meter of the canal, which will contribute
to a carbon fund set up to offset carbon emissions resulting from
the festival. Organizers are aiming to minimize the festival’s
environmental footprint.
“We are excited to be helping the Rideau Canal
Festival reduce its environmental impact,” commented Deborah
Kaplan, the Executive Director of Zerofootprint. “As a World
Heritage Site, it is important that we help preserve the Rideau Canal
and ensure that those attending this event are aware of how they can
act to help preserve the area for future generations.” For further
information: www.rideaucanalfestival.ca
