.....to Ottawa

Let’s Talk (LT):
Welcome to Ottawa.  It is very well known how gay-friendly Canada is as a country, and that there are several cities that promote themselves extensively throughout the country.  Each city is unique in itself as I’m sure we shall soon learn about Ottawa.  So let’s get started, and tell use in our 100 words or less overview, a little about Ottawa

Ottawa (O):.
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, its fourth-largest city and an intriguing mix of outdoor adventure and rich urban experiences.  It is at the junction of three major waterways and sits on the border between Ontario and Québec, lending it a bilingual, multicultural feel. Home to dozens of embassies and high commissions, the culinary scene has recently exploded, with a real focus on chef-owned restaurants and local products. Cultural attractions abound, including the National Arts Centre, community theatres, world-renowned winter festivals, all types of music, etc. It’s a welcoming, four-season destination that offers activities that allow you to be as active or as relaxed as you want to be.

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LT:
Right on the mark.  Thank you.  Now that you’ve given us a brief overview of the city itself, how about sharing something about the people of Ottawa?  To begin with are the residents of Ottawa, “Ottawans”?

O:
Actually you are exactly right, it is “Ottawans”.  And I guess the first thing I would say about the people of Ottawa is how particularly welcome they are to all non-Ottawans and to all types of people in general.  As an example in the LGBT community, Ottawa was the site of Canada’s first-ever public march for gay and lesbian rights. It took place on August 28, 1971.

While same-sex marriage is legal throughout Canada, Ottawa is the legislative birthplace of same-sex marriages. By the way, for those interested in how this all came about, Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court of Canada, where the debates took place, are open to the public and offer free tours. Here is where you can get a real introduction to the people of Canada. Additionally, the compassion of Ottawans is exemplified with the fact that it is also home to the world’s second-oldest gayline after New York’s.

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LT:
Well, the rest of the LGBT world certainly owes a big Thank You to the Ottawans who made such great legal advancements..  You also touched on something else of interest to our readers.  Touring a Supreme Court may not be at the top of many vacationers “To Do” list but cultural interests are a big draw for many. What else does Ottawa offer to those who are interested in cultural attractions?

O:
Ottawa has much to offer culture-seekers.  Along the same lines as we mentioned above, there are two other LGBT related points of interest.  First, is the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights which is also known as the human rights monument.  On the other end of the scale is the sinister “fruit machine”. During the Cold War, the Canadian government employed a machine similar to a lie detector to identify gays and lesbians in the civil service, making it that much easier to terminate their employment. A version of this notoriously unreliable device—which became known as the “fruit machine”—is on view at the Canadian War Museum, one of several must-see cultural attractions in the capital. Other great options include admiring the artwork at the National Gallery of Canada; traveling through 1,000 years of Canadian history at the Canadian Museum of Civilization or admiring flying machines at the Canada Aviation Museum.

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LT:
The “fruit machine”?  Wow, Canada has certainly come a long way.  There are many other destinations that could take a lesson.  Ah, but I digress……  Ok, there is certainly lots to occupy a visitor inside, now let’s hear about the outside.  You mentioned in the beginning that Ottawa is also filled with outdoors adventure.  Can you tell us about some of that?

O:
Of course.  I think that Ottawa is known for outdoor activities—whether it’s skating 7.8 km (4.8 miles) down the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest skating rink in the winter or cycling on hundreds of kilometres of pathways in the summer. The Rideau Canal was named Ontario’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. For those interested in team activities, there are gay volleyball and hockey associations, the Rideau Speedeaus swim club, the Lesbian Outdoor Group and many other “active” LGBT sports groups.

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LT:
Sounds like a lot of opportunities to experience an active holiday in Ottawa.  But of course outdoor activities can make you really work up an appetite.  What are the dining options like in Ottawa when its time to go inside?

O:
They are great.  Definitely gay-friendly and after you’ve worked up an appetite, you can splurge on a visit to Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa’s Signatures restaurant or Le Baccara at the Casino du Lac-Leamy across the river in Gatineau, Québec. Both are designated five-diamond restaurants, of which there are only nine in all of Canada.

For a more casual approach, it’s fun to experience one of the many chef-owned restaurants that have recently sprouted up around the region. I think it is also interesting to note that there is an initiative called Savour Ottawa  in place here in Ottawa that encourages more local products be included on local menus.

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LT:
That’s a great idea.  It is a wonderful way for visitors to truly get a “taste” of the local culinary expertise.  Ok, so now that we have sufficiently fed ourselves, where of interest to our readers would they go for fun?

O:
Well, now that they’ve dined on local foods its time to meet the local community.  The place to go is the growing gayborhood around Bank and Somerset Streets, which is home to many institutions serving the LGBT communities.

When you work up a thirst, a great place to grab a pint is the Lookout Bar in the ByWard Market.  This is an eclectic neighbourhood that features a farmers’ market by day and more than 120 places to eat and drink by night.  A good way to also find out what’s going on in the area is to get a copy of Capital Xtra, a free community newspaper available extensively.

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LT:
How about special occasions and events throughout the year?  Are there opportunities for our readers to time their vacation here in Ottawa at any special times?

O:
Ottawa has a full slate of festivals and events.  Most important to our readers here is Capital Pride.  This multi-day event celebrating Gay Pride occurs in mid to late August each year. The parade on the last day  features an inspiring march past the Supreme Court of Canada and Parliament Hill, ending at a blowout at Ottawa City Hall.  Another very popular event in the community is the Mr. Leather Ottawa competition. This has recently changed its dates from November to October, but remains one of the social highlights of the year.

Other city events that are fun to experience begin with Winterlude in February which celebrates all things winter and passing through the Canadian Tulip Festival in May, with the 3 million tulips that bloom in the region. The largest Canada Day celebration in the country is here each July 1—it’s a pilgrimage every Canadian should make at least once in their lives and a great experience for our non-Canadian visitors!

Music festivals abound in the summer months: the world’s second-largest blues festival after Chicago’s is the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest in early July, just after the Ottawa International Jazz Festival in late June and just before the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, the world’s largest such festival, in late July / early August.  The Ottawa Folk Festival rounds out the fun, in late August. The Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival fills the skies over Labour Day weekend, a series of fall fairs and culinary events fills the autumn and the Christmas Lights Across Canada program lights up the capital each December.

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LT:
Well, that listing just emphasizes that there is truly no bad time to come visit Ottawa.  It sounds like there is always something to here besides enjoying the beauty of the area. Thanks so much for sharing Ottawa with us.  You have done a great job of highlighting the many reasons why Ottawa can be a great vacation destination for our readers.  And of course if they need to know even more, they can visit Ottawa on line at www.ottawatourism.ca/lgbt.

To our readers, we hope you enjoyed getting to know the great Canadian gay-friendly destination of Ottawa a little better.

Until we “Talk” again…..Get OUT and Travel!