\\WE ARE VOLUNTEERS AND PRIVATE CONTRIBUTORS

OHHH Canada Kids Festival Jeunesse is an entirely volunteer-run event largely funded by the generosity of your local businesses and organizations -- and you may even see a hat or two going around to help pay for things like porta-potties. Contrary to popular belief, the City of Ottawa does not organize or fund this event; in fact, there are several costs incurred by the City of Ottawa.

 

Led by co-chairs Adam Polka and Zybina Richards from Kiwanis Club of Eastern Ottawa Est, a dedicated troupe of unpaid workaholics has worked tirelessly to give Eastern Ottawa a fantastic family-friendly celebration. We answer inquiries between work calls and daycare pickups. We coordinate shuttles and stage setup by taking a vacation day. We spend our Saturdays putting out signs and adapting the program to last minute changes. We hope we meet your expectations, but if we fall short, we offer you a Canadian "sorry". Remember that these volunteers are giving up their holiday so you can have a good time, so please be kind, be respectful and have fun.

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\\GENERAL ADMISSION

Admission is free - no tickets necessary! Many of the activities are also free of charge. There are several food vendors for your enjoyment, which all carry costs.

 

\\PROGRAM 2024

We're doing things a little differently this year. We've moved locations to Millennium Park and are reimagining our event as a kid-centric spectacular. Our ever popular KidZone from Petrie Island will be expanded and run all day (11 to 5) so the little ones will never run out of things to do. Not only will the games be aplenty, you'll have full access to the park, the splash pad, and all the amenities of the Millennium grounds. The concessions will line the park and we'll be serving up Canada Day cake at 1 PM. It's going to be a blast!

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\\WHY NOT PETRIE ISLAND?

In addition to ongoing construction on Petrie Island, the location presents several logistical challenges that are complex and costly to accommodate. If you've been in the past, you'll know that access to the island and associated shuttle woes, limited resources like drinkable water, lighting on the causeway, egress in the event of emergency, and other parameters, are less than ideal. We came to the conclusion that for 2024, we would try to refocus our event on Kiwanis' mission of youth-oriented programming at a venue that lends itself to that type of event without the added costs and challenges.

 

\\FIREWORKS

Our program ends at 5 PM and we will not be holding fireworks this year. We do not know what fireworks may or may not be planned in the vicinity, including at our old stomping ground on Petrie Island. 

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\\DIVERSITY, LANGUAGE AND REPRESENTATION

As a volunteer-led organization, our scope and reach is at times limited by the volunteers we are able to attract. Throughout our program, we have endeavoured to include representation from various communities from across the Canadian tapestry, but we also are very aware that try as we may, we can always do better. While our program is designed to be bilingual, inclusive and sensitive to First Nation communities, we welcome any interested party in actively helping us to shore up those areas where we have fallen short; your volunteerism is key to our success in this effort. That said, portions of our communications (such as the website and some social media presence) are not available in French; should you be, or know of, a resource that can help our small volunteer crew, we would love to hear from you.

 

\\FOOD AND DRINK

As far as food, feel free to bring your own and have a picnic, buy some from the food concessions, or do a combo (bring some sandwiches and buy an ice cream?) As a bonus, all the proceeds from the food you buy directly from Kiwanis go towards community programs like OHHH Canada Kids Festival Jeunesse, hosted by Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est!)

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\\WEATHER

We wish we could control the weather, but we cannot. If it rains, it rains. We ask that everyone remain respectful and understanding, especially for matters outside of our control.

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Please ensure that you are aware of the Air Quality Health Index and forecasted weather conditions. We are monitoring these conditions throughout the day. Per Environment Canada, air quality and visibility can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour. For more information on protecting yourself from outdoor air pollution including wildfire smoke, visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca

 

\\THESE THINGS ARE NOT ALLOWED

We will be abiding by the same rules that are always in effect at Millennium Park. You may not consume your own alcohol, and dogs are not permitted off leash. You will be expected to show respect for the volunteers, other guests and authorities. Failure to do so may result in being asked to leave the premises.

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