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Destination:
Canadian Tulip Festival: More than meets the
eye
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More than meets the eye
From May 14to to 24th Ottawa/Hull will be hosting THE CANADIAN
TULIP FESTIVAL, and talk about tip-toeing - there are more than
3,000,000 tulips blooming right now in Canada's capital region.
For a sneak preview of the flowers, as seen through the lens of
Ottawa's Peter Waiser, check out our
photo gallery.
There is, however, a heart-warming story hidden amidst the dazzling
colours and spring sunshine - for many Canadians and Europeans
tulips have become a recognized symbol of friendship between our
countries. This stems from the origin of Ottawa's prolific spring-time
colours. Fifty years ago, after returning from a forced exile
during World War II, Holland's royal family sent Canada a gift
of 100,000 tulip bulbs as thanks for providing a temporary haven.
The bulbs took naturally to our soil, as have their offspring,
and the notion of associating tulips with friendly relations between
countries was rooted. One can only hope that international peace
flourishes so well.
Within the flowers of the Canadian Tulip Festival itself is hidden
a busy schedule of family-oriented events. There's the Barn Dance,
the Parade on Water - a hundred decorated boat 'floats' parading
for a crowd of 100,000 people - an 11-day concert series including
regional flavours such as Randol's Cajun Fest and the Big Apple
Swing during a Canada-U.S. party, a sculpture contest which, on
closer inspection, reveals the artists' medium to be flowers -
and much, much more.
It is a little-known fact that freshly-cut tulips will continue
to grow if placed in water. So it is with the Canadian Tulip Festival
when finished and put on the shelf until next year - you can count
on the tulips to multiply their variety and numbers during the
off-season, and likewise festival organizers will be hard at work
expanding the schedule of events.
CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL/FESTIVAL CANADIEN DES
TULIPES
Place de ville, Tower/tour "B"
112 rue Kent
Street, Suite 1908
Ottawa, ON K1P 5P2
tel/tel : (613)
567-5757
fax/telec : (613) 567-6216
To Photo gallery
E-mail the Canadian Tulip
Festival
Check out the official website
www.summer
holiday.info
www.winter holiday.us 
