Canada 150 Kickoff
The beginning of year-long celebrations for Canada’s 150th birthday began on December 31st 2016 in to January 1st 2017 on Parliament Hill. Celebrations included performances from Radio Radio, Brett Kissel and Carly Rae Jepsen, pyrotechnical fireworks at 8:17 (20:17) and more fireworks at midnight to ring in the New Year.
Winterlude (February 3rd to 19th)
Winterlude is Ottawa’s favourite winter festival and 2017’s Winterlude was no exception. This year’s celebration had a star-studded concert lineup with performers like Coleman Hell, Trevor Guthrie and Scott Helman throughout the three week festival. Other festivities included The Crystal Garden, Snowflake Garden, and North America’s first Ice Dragon Boat Festival.
Red Bull Crashed Ice (March 3rd-4th)
For the final leg of its 2016/17 Ice Cross Downhill Championships, Red Bull Crashed Ice took over Ottawa. The icy and intense course was on display for all of Ottawa to see the competitors skate their way up and down bumps and around turns in the finale of the tour.
The JUNOS (April 2nd)
The celebration of Canada’s music took over the Capital for a week leading up to the JUNO Awards on April 2nd at the Canadian Tire Centre. Events preceding the awards included performances at venues all across Ottawa and JUNO FanFare at the Rideau Centre. The prestigious Canadian music awards were hosted by comedian Russell Peters and singer Bryan Adams and included performances from Sarah Mclachlan, Shawn Mendes, Alessia Cara, Arkells, and finished in a celebrity-filled performance of Summer of ‘69.
Senators Eastern Conference Finals (Spring 2017)
Ottawa’s finest hockey players made the city proud by defeating the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers in the playoffs before landing a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Ottawa Senators were paired against the Pittsburgh Penguins and put up a fight until Game 7 of the series, where they were ultimately defeated in a heartbreaking double-overtime loss.
Canada Day on Parliament Hill (July 1st)
Visitors from all over the city, and all over the world, were pulled to the Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill by the thousands, just a part of the half a million visitors to downtown Ottawa to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Visitors to the hill included Bono, Prince Charles, and his wife Camilla. Entertainment was provided by Walk Off The Earth, Gordon Lightfoot, and Serena Ryder. The celebrations were capped by an outstanding 20 minute and 17 second firework show.
WE Day Canada (July 2nd) (No Pic)
The most successful youth initiative in history had a special WE Day Canada on Parliament Hill, open to the public and attended by thousands. Speakers included Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former Governor General David Johnston, Olympic swimmer Penny Oleksiak, astronaut Chris Hadfield and the late Canadian rock legend; Gord Downie. Just to name a few. Performers included the Barenaked Ladies, Nelly Furtado, Alex Nevsky and an electric grand finale was provided by Hedley, whose performance finished with lead singer Jacob Hoggard being carried off the stage.
RBC Bluesfest (July 6-16)
Ottawa’s biggest music festival was one of the city’s biggest events of 2017. Held at Lebreton Flats and spanning just over a week, this year’s festival had some notable performers including 50 Cent, Fetty Wap, Migos, Tegan and Sara, July Talk, and headliners P!nk and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.
La Machine (July 27- 30)
Over half a million people attended the four day event of La Machine, which had the robotic dragon-horse Long Ma and the robotic spider Kumo roaming through the streets of Ottawa. Paired with music and visual effects of smoke and fire, the two robots mesmerized the city and produced possibly the biggest Ottawa 2017 audience for an event.
Cityfolk (September 13-17)
Ottawa’s second-biggest music festival is held at Lansdowne on the Great Lawn and this year’s had the lineup and weather to impress. Each day of the festival had sunshine and beautiful temperatures, which made the festival so much more enjoyable. Performers included Ruth B, Allan Rayman, Post Malone, Amanda Marshall and Scott Helman.
The 105th Grey Cup (November 26)
The Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders faced off in the 105th Grey Cup, held right here in Ottawa at TD Place Stadium. The snow throughout the first half didn’t slow down the players and the Toronto Argonauts won the cup by three points with a field goal in the final minutes of the game. Shania Twain gave a performance to remember at halftime by making her entrance on a dogsled being pulled across the snowy field and then led to the stage by an RCMP officer in the most “Canadian” Grey Cup yet.
Outdoor NHL Game At Lansdowne (December 16)
One of the biggest rivalries in the NHL took to the outdoor ice for the 100th anniversary of the league. On a rink at the football stadium at TD Place the Ottawa Senators faced off against the Montreal Canadiens for the winter classic, as well as the 100th anniversary of the first game in NHL history played between the two teams.
