50th Anniversary of the “We Demand” protest - August 28, 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Canada’s first gay rights demonstration and held on Parliament Hill. Capital Pride, Ottawa’s yearly pride festival, is typically held in August (2021 dates are not yet confirmed) and will surely commemorate the occasion. A prominent mural on the corner of Bank and Gilmour Streets in downtown Ottawa commemorates the demonstration year-round.
On that note, Capital Pride released their 2021 Winter Pride programming. The third annual WinterPride festival celebrating the diversity of the LGBTQ community – which coincides with Winterlude, our big annual winter celebration - will take place virtually February 8-12, 2021. Programming includes a conversation from a Black queer perspective, a drag family hour hosted by a Drag Performer, and a virtual show hosted by Bob The Drag Queen, Winner of RuPaul Drag Race Season 8 and Emmy nominated for her role on the HBO hit series We’re Here.
Rembrandt in Amsterdam: Creativity and Competition at the National Gallery of Canada: Bringing Rembrandt’s paintings, prints and drawings into dialogue with masterpieces by friends, followers and rivals, Rembrandt in Amsterdam will immerse you in the thriving Amsterdam art market of Rembrandt’s time, revealing the exhilarating and stimulating atmosphere that inspired a young artist from Leiden to become the world-renowned master we know today. This is the first major Rembrandt exhibition in Canada since 1969, as well as the first ever to be presented at the National Gallery of Canada. It runs May 14-September 6, 2021. The exhibition coincides with the start date of Ottawa’s iconic Canadian Tulip Festival. The festival, which runs May 14-24, 2021, will see special Rembrandt tulips (coloured purple/pink/white) in bloom among the 250,000 tulips on display in Commissioners Park along the Rideau Canal.
Interzip Rogers: The world’s first interprovincial zipline will link Ontario to Québec as of spring 2021! Interzip Rogers will send visitors soaring from Ottawa to Gatineau on twinned ziplines 1,400 feet long and 120 feet high. Situated on Zibi properties on either side of the Ottawa River, the zipline offers stellar views of the Ottawa and Gatineau skylines.
Atelier restaurant: In early 2021, the famed and innovative Ottawa restaurant switches from its 12-course tasting menu to a brand-new interactive 44-course tasting menu by the chef-owner and two-time winner of the Canadian Culinary Championships, Marc Lepine.
*This years WinterPride will be virtual. Photos of WinterPride above are from previous events.
Photo Credits: Ottawa Tourism and National Gallery of Canada