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Every year the City of Ottawa hosts the Canadian Tulip Festival; a commemoration of the sacrifice made by over 7,500 Canadian soldiers for the liberation of the Netherlands in WW2.
During the liberation the Dutch royal family sought refuge in Canada and during that time Princess Margriet of the Netherlands was born at the Ottawa Civic Hospital on Jan. 19, 1943.
As a thank you for Canadian hospitality the Dutch has been sending countless tulip bulbs to Canadian soil annually since the second world war.
Despite Ottawa being the nearest large city, it’s still at least an hour’s commute from many communities in the Valley.
In partnership with various organizations in the County, the Eganville & District Seniors have organized a County-wide bus trip so locals are given a chance to check out the vibrant tulips in May.
On May 11 buses will pick up passengers from across the Ottawa Valley and bring them to Commissioner’s Park for the festival, and then to Buffet de Continents for dinner.
Tickets cost $80, fare includes a dinner ticket and registration/payment is due by April 22.
The person to contact about ticket information is dependent on the area:
Renfrew and Area
First pick up will be at the visitor’s centre located at 190 Mask Rd.
Then the Calabogie Community Hall at 574 Mill St. in Calabogie.
Finally the Nick Smith Centre at 77 James St. in Arnprior.
Contact the Golden Age Activity Centre for more info at 613-366-4848 or debbie@renfrewhomesupport.ca
Upper Ottawa Valley
First pick up will be at Jan’s Valu-Mart at 75 Deep River Rd. in Deep River.
Then the Petawawa Civic Centre at 16 Civic Centre Rd. in Petawawa.
Finally the County of Renfrew offices at 9 International Dr. in Pembroke.
Contact the Upper Ottawa Valley Seniors Friendship Club at 613-401-3452 or 23uovsfc55@gmail.com
Eganville/Whitewater
First pick up is at Tennisco Manor at 1669 Mishomis Inamo in Pikwakanagan.
Then the Echo Centre at 30 Bell St. in Eganville.
Finally the Cobden Arena at 43 Astrolabe Rd. in Cobden.
Contact the Echo Centre at 613-628-2354 or info@eganvilleseniors.com
Madawaska Valley
First pick up will be at the Madawaska Community Complex at 25198 Hwy. 60 in Madawaska Valley.
Then the Champlain Gardens at 23 Mahon St. in Barry’s Bay.
Finally the Visitor’s Info Centre at 177 Queen St. in Killaloe.
Contact the South Algonquin Senior Active Living Centre at 905-351-4657 or gloria.beauclair@crc-renfrewcounty.com
(Written by Mik Horvath)
