City of Ottawa - Develop Culture - October 2026

 

Applications Opening Soon for the Commemoration Working Group As the first term of the City of Ottawa Commemoration Working Group comes to a close, the City is preparing to welcome a new cohort of members and invites interested individuals to apply.  The Commemoration Working Group is a department-led advisory body that collaborates with the Recreation, Cultural and Facilities Services Department on commemorations and commemorative names on municipal land. The group brings together experts in memory studies, individuals with extensive knowledge of Ottawa’s collective histories, and people with lived experience in commemorative practice.  Members play an important role in supporting the implementation of the City’s Municipal Commemoration Policy. The group provides advice on commemorative and naming practices that are fair, equitable, and inclusive, while respecting human rights, mutual respect, truth and reconciliation, and principles of sustainable development. Through its work, the group helps ensure that Ottawa’s commemorations reflect the city’s diverse communities, and their histories, stories, and legacies.   Applications for the next membership cycle will open soon. Individuals interested in contributing their expertise and perspectives are encouraged to learn more about the opportunity.  For information on the application process and timeline, please contact Yadollah Parmoun at yadollah.parmoun@ottawa.ca.

Events

Recap Anishinabe Algonquin Days

Written by: Dylan Whiteduck

Kwey! Pìjàshig kakina!   The first-ever Anishinabe Algonquin Days were held on September 18 and 19 at Lansdowne Park. The event was developed in collaboration with the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation, which designed the event format and content, and supported by the Indigenous Relations Branch, Cultural Development and Initiatives Unit, Special Events, and the Lansdowne Park (RCFS) teams, with additional support provided by the Conseil des Écoles Catholiques du Centre-Est and the Conseil des Écoles Publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario. The free event featured more than 90 Anishinabe Algonquin facilitators, vendors, artists, leaders and community members, and welcomed 1,147 registered guests, including 438 secondary school students from all four school boards and more than 170 City staff. The event was open to the public and saw additional visitors across both days.   Friday began early with a sunrise ceremony, attended by members of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation and City staff. The sacred fire was lit, and the Horticulture Building was smudged by Elder Francis Sarazin (Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation), who also smudged students, teachers and visitors who wished to participate. There were a variety of speakers across both days, including Grand Chief Verna Polson (Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council), Chief Greg Sarazin (Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation), Chief Jean-Guy Whiteduck (Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg), Chief Vicky Chief (Timiskaming First Nation), Elder Fred McGregor (Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg), Elder Albert Dumont (Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg) and Kyrstin Dumont (Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg). Both days featured drumming by Eagle River Singers, Spirit Wolf Drummers and Mokasige Drum Group.     Friday’s programming also included Ottawa’s first ever Anishinabe Algonquin musical showcase, featuring musicians and singers from across the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation. The evening featured live performances by Lyle Odjick, Alicia Kayley, DJ MKWA and Makhena. Some guests were able to spend the time between the event and the concert by participating in an RCFS-led Public Art bus tour to the opening ceremony of two Anishinabe Algonquin artist designed benches featured along the Byron Linear Park.  As a proud Anishinabe Algonquin from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, it was truly an honour to be part of this event and to work alongside the City of Ottawa. This event brought joy, respect and pride to our people. Events like this, grounded in a Nation-based approach, provide meaningful opportunities to learn about the territory, strengthen relationships, and deepen understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. I look forward to future events that continue to create the same sense of connection, respect and pride.  If you were unable to attend the event, please watch APTN’s coverage of the event or read Elder Albert Dumont’s reflection.

Events

Celebrating Vanier’s Francophone Heritage  As part of the Vanier Culture in Action strategy, the City is working with community and cultural partners to turn shared priorities into action.  Starting in October, the City and community are celebrating Vanier’s Francophone heritage, strengthening local cultural partnerships and creating new opportunities for residents to connect with the community’s stories with three connected initiatives highlighting an important chapter in Vanier’s Francophone history.  On October 16th, a new commemorative plaque recognizing St-Charles Church will be unveiled. The church holds a special place in the community’s history as the founding site of the Ordre de Jacques-Cartier in 1926.  That history will also be explored through Muséoparc Vanier’s temporary exhibition, L’Ordre de Jacques-Cartier : 100 ans de mystère et d’influence, opening October 29, 2026, and running until spring 2028.  The story is also taking the stage in Patenteuses, a new musical comedy from Créations In Vivo inspired by the Ordre. Through music, humour and satire, four women infiltrate the historically male-only organization, exploring questions of heritage, identity and inclusion. The City is supporting the production through a strategic cultural partnership, helping bring programming to Vanier, local schools and the broader community.  Patenteuses premieres at MIFO on October 22. Learn more about Patenteuses and upcoming performances at Créations In Vivo

New cultural places and spaces data coming to Open Ottawa  On October 19, the City will publish the next round of cultural data on Open Ottawa, featuring more than 800 cultural places and spaces across Ottawa.  Available in both English and French, the dataset brings together information about the physical places that make up Ottawa’s cultural landscape. Places are organized into broad categories such as venues, studios, heritage, community and learning spaces, with additional subcategories and tags providing more detail about each location.  This release focuses on cultural places and spaces; data on cultural organizations and groups is already available through Open Ottawa.  This is the first phase of an evolving cultural inventory, and the data will continue to be refined and expanded.  Explore Open Ottawa: https://open.ottawa.ca/

Join AHDB at the Creative Opportunities Conference The Arts and Heritage Development Branch (AHDB) team will be attending the Creative Opportunities Conference (COC) on Sunday, November 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ottawa Art Gallery, 10 Daly Avenue, Ottawa.  This event brings together artists, students, cultural workers, and community organizations from across Ottawa-Gatineau to explore opportunities in the arts and culture sector.   AHDB staff will be participating in the Creative Opportunities Info Fair, where attendees can learn about City programs, funding opportunities, and initiatives that support Ottawa's cultural community.  Whether you're an artist, student, or community member interested in arts and culture, we invite you to stop by the AHDB table, ask questions, and connect with our team.   We look forward to meeting members of Ottawa's creative community and sharing information about the work happening across the sector.  Sunday, November 8  10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Ottawa Art Gallery, 10 Daly Avenue, Ottawa  Visit the AHDB team at the Creative Opportunities Info Fair!

Upcoming Fall 2026 deadlines Grow Grant deadline: October 21, 2026  Funding for individuals and organizations that are from or support Indigenous and/or equity seeking communities.  A great category if proposing a festival or a celebratory event with artistic programming, arts workshops, arts services or capacity building opportunities.  Learn more about this program:  Program information and deadline dates - Equity and inclusion in the arts fund | City of Ottawa   Arts funding program deadline (Fall deadline): November 4, 2026   This program supports the creation, production, presentation, exhibition and dissemination of the arts for Ottawa’s local not-for-profit arts and festival sectors.    Eligible applicants can either apply for a project, annual operating funding or multi-year funding.   Learn more about this program:  Program information - Arts funding program | City of Ottawa    Creation and production fund for artists: December 2, 2026   This fund supports local artists for the creation and production of new work or the completion of works in progress.   Creation projects: Creation projects are the development and realization of new artistic work.   Production projects: Production projects are focused on the preparation and presentation of completed artistic work.    Learn more about this program:  Program information and deadline dates - Creation and production fund for artists | City of Ottawa

City of Ottawa - Accessibility Spotlight - Special Edition

 

Trick or Treat with the Mayor 2026

Join the Mayor of Ottawa at the annual Trick or Treat with the Mayor event, scheduled on Saturday, October 17 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Ottawa City Hall.     This safe and accessible Halloween event will again be in support of the Ottawa Food Bank's Baby Basics Program. The Baby Basics Program supports the most vulnerable members of our community by providing items such as formula, baby food and diapers to families in need.     The City of Ottawa is proud to partner with Treat Accessibly again this year to help make trick-or-treating accessible and inclusive for everyone. In this spirit, the event will include many features to make it more accessible, including several non-edible treats, wheelchair accessible queues and entrances, and reduced sound levels and lighting effects. Additional information is available on the event webpage at Trick or Treat with the Mayor.

City of Ottawa Recreation - Celebrating Indigenous culture

 

Immerse yourself in Indigenous culture by visiting an exhibit, a show or workshop

She Carries a Song   An intimate and powerful evening of folk music, story-telling, and spirit from three celebrated Indigenous voices on Wednesday, October 14 at Shenkman Arts Centre. Celeigh Cardinal (Cree), Mimi O’Bonsawin (Abenaki), and Lacey Hill (Oneida/Mohawk) — come together in this intimate and moving performance that weaves voice, story, and song into a shared circle of strength.

Cultivating Community: Agriculture Rooted in Ottawa’s History  Take a trip to the Barbara Ann Scott Gallery to discover the rich agricultural heritage of Ottawa through stories of resilience, innovation, and connection. Cultivating Community explores how farming has shaped—and been shaped by—both Indigenous and settler communities. From traditional practices to modern urban agriculture, this exhibit highlights the power of community in cultivating the land and a shared future. This exhibition runs until Friday, November 13, 2026. Note: Exhibition closed on September 30.

Exhibition: Decolonize This Place Decolonize This Place is currently exhibited at Shenkman Arts Centre until Friday, November 13, 2026. This exhibit brings together Indigenous artists from Kitigan Zibi and Timiskaming First Nations to explore and challenge the boundaries between what Western institutions have historically categorized as fine arts and crafts. Through a decolonial lens, the exhibition questions hierarchies that have often separated Indigenous cultural and artistic practices from dominant definitions of contemporary art. Featuring beadwork, moccasins, digital illustration, painting, sculpture, traditional tools, and other forms of artistic expression, the exhibition presents these practices alongside one another without imposing colonial distinctions of value or artistic legitimacy. Instead, the works highlight the relationships between art, culture, identity, land, knowledge, and community.   The exhibition recognizes Indigenous artistic practices as living and evolving forms of expression. Traditional knowledge and techniques exist in conversation with contemporary materials, experiences, and approaches, demonstrating cultural continuity while resisting expectations of what Indigenous art should look like. By centering the voices and practices of Indigenous artists, Decolonize This Place seeks to reclaim institutional space for Indigenous expression and resurgence. The exhibition invites audiences to reconsider established artistic categories and engage with art as a space for cultural revitalization, dialogue, self-determination, and cross-cultural understanding. Note: Exhibition closed on September 30.  Image: Jay Odjick

Beading Workshop with Stephanie Tenasco Join Algonquin beadwork artist and language advocate Stephanie Tenasco for a hands-on introduction to the art of beading on Saturday, November 14. Beyond learning a new skill, this workshop offers an opportunity to deepen participants’ understanding and appreciation of beadwork as a living Indigenous art practice, connecting creativity, culture, knowledge, and community.