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TULIPS, TULIPS, TULIPS

© Mary M. Alward

May 3rd to the 20th 2002, Canadians in Ottawa will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Canadian Tulip Festival. This year the festival is expanding the event to take in three weekends. Activities will include a 50th Anniversary Tulip Ball, a Tulip Explosion floral design and flower show, Tulipmania exhibits and an International Floral Gown Competition.

The Tulipmania Exhibition will be open to the public from May 10th to the 20th in Major's Hill Park. View twenty magnificent tulip displays that are designed and built by Canadian artists. The display is sponsored by VIA Rail Canada. The artists will present live tulips in unique, breathtaking displays.

Festival Plaza in front of City Hall will have a commemorative display of 260 five-foot fiberglass tulips in the 50th Anniversary Community Tulip Garden. This garden will be unveiled at the Tulipmania Kickoff Breakfast on April 26th. In hopes of spreading Tulipmania throughout the region, tulips will be available for purchase.

May 4, 2002, the L' Hotel Hilton du Lac Leamy will be the location of the 50th Anniversary Tulip Ball. This is the social event of the year in Canada's Capitol. The Ball includes cocktails, dancing and the International Floral Gown Competition. This event brings fashion and floral designers together to create exquisite gowns, which reflects their talents. A fashion show takes place during the Tulip Ball.

The Dutch tulip arrived in Canada in 1945. In 1953, the first Canadian Tulip Festival was held. With assistance of renowned photographer Malak Karsh, the Ottawa Board of Trade founded the Canadian Tulip Festival. Over the next ten years, the festival displayed over two million tulips. The event always coincides with the tulip's annual bloom in the spring.

Over the years, many dignitaries have attended the Festival. In 1961, US President John F. Kennedy met with Prime Minister John Diefenbaker during Tuilip Month. In 1967, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands attended. In 1968, with a stem of a golden melody tulip in his teeth, Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau cut the ribbon to officially open the Festival.

In 1972, Dutch Canadians celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Liberation of Holland. Canada was presented with a 1500-pipe concert organ for their part in the Liberation. In 1972, Liberace opened the Festival with a piano concert. In 1987, Alanis Morisette, at twelve years old made her debut at the Festival.

Pasadena, California honored Canada by sending a "Tournament of Roses" float in 1993. The Rose Queen joined the Rideau Canal Flotilla.

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