Ottawa Festivals (Festival Network)

Location

Ottawa Festivals has been working to make local events world-class and promote Ottawa as an exciting tourist destination while also making a significant impact on the local economy and greatly enhancing the region’s image.

Ottawa Festivals, a not-for-profit member-based organization, was established in 1996 in response to festival organizers, politicians and the tourism industry recognizing the need for Ottawa’s events to be carefully scheduled, properly planned and effectively promoted. At present, there are over 45 not-for-profit festivals, special events, and fairs that are members of Ottawa Festivals . As a cohesive body, Ottawa Festivals is able to advocate on issues affecting festivals and assist events of varying sizes attain their goals. Ottawa Festivals is dedicated to providing support, presenting a united voice, and creating an effective networking environment

Vision

Ottawa Festivals will lead festivals, special events, and fairs in the National Capital Region by providing an extensive range of programs and services to support their goals, while acting as a centralized resource for festivals within the tourism industry.

Mission

Ottawa Festivals is a not-for-profit association dedicated to providing support, presenting a united voice, and creating an effective networking environment for festival, special event, and fair members to operate more effectively.

Mandate

• To raise the profile of festivals, special events, and fairs in the National Capital Region
• To market Ottawa ’s events and the National Capital Region as a tourist destination
• To provide a communication link between event organizers
• To gather and disseminate information which aids in the development of festivals, special events, and fairs
• To act a central resource for the public searching for information events
• To advocate, as a cohesive group, on issues affecting festivals, special events, and fairs

Further Goals

• To realize the potential of festivals, special events, and fairs as an economic generator for the City of Ottawa
• To build festivals, special events, and fairs as a part of the branding of the City of Ottawa
• To unify all tourism partners to strengthen the community and to increase the potential of the tourism industry

Ottawa Festivals

• Endorses festivals, special events, and fairs in art, culture, entertainment, and sport
• Represents over 45 not for profit festivals, special events, and fairs
• Represents an industry with combined budgets of over $27 million
• Achieves over 3 million attendees throughout the festival season
• Partners with over 580 local and national organizations to support the festival industry through sponsorship
• Celebrates industry with its inaugural “Launch of the Festival Season”
• Employs over 150 employees as support staff on an annual basis
• Channels over 15,000 festival volunteers on an annual basis
• Negotiates on behalf of, and creates meaningful partnerships with organizations that service the needs of festival members
• Provides marketing and publicity aids to festivals, special events, and fairs
• Acts as a centralized resource centre
• Provides support, presents a united voice, and creates an effective networking environment
• Advocates on issues affecting festivals, special events, and fairs
• Assists events in attaining their goals
• Contributes to the growth and development of the local economy