Ottawa comes to life for a weekend of festivals
The summer festival season in Ottawa kicked off this weekend with thousands gathering for events across the city.
Many in attendance are looking to get back to a sense of normal, not seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
At Ottawa’s Jazz Festival, people were taking a minute to dance and celebrate the return of the event to Confederation Park.
"It’s really nice to get back out there and see that Ottawa can be a vibrant city and just get into it," said Kabir Bhatia, who was enjoying the event on Saturday afternoon.
For Bhatia, life is starting to feel like it did pre-pandemic.
"I’m concerned about COVID, but I’m triple vaccinated," said Bhatia. "At the end of the day, I’m looking to live my life to the fullest so I’m excited to be here, but I’m obviously taking my precautions."
At Mooney’s Bay Beach, the Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival was back for the first time in years.
"It’s nice to see all the energy and meet people who are finally back out paddling," said Joan Barrett, who was at the event on Saturday.
A jubilant atmosphere of paddlers who were ramping up for the first race in years.
"It’s nice to be able to have a dragon boat festival in person again," said William Sagle, who was watching his friend compete. "I think it’s important for the racers to be able to come out and race some of the best competitors in their field."
Meanwhile, the electronic music festival Escapade brought in people from all over the province and Quebec.
The three-day concert is being held at Lansdowne Park and TD Place in the Glebe.
On Bank Street, artists gathered for the Cranium Festival.
"It’s an opportunity to network and have conversations about producing and what’s going on in the music industry right now," said Naledi Sunstrum, who is an artist.
The group showing support for each other, but not without acknowledging the challenges the pandemic brought the industry.
"It’s almost like we are learning again how to communicate with each other after two years of lockdowns and two years of isolation," said Sunstrum.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.