Ottawa reggae festival
Encyclopedia
The Ottawa Reggae Festival is a non-profit, volunteer driven music festival held annually in Lebreton Flats, Ottawa. Founded in 2008, it is led by Benjamin Williams--Founder, CEO, and President of the festival.
first originated in Jamaica but it has grown to become a worldwide cultural and musical expression that touches everyone no matter what age, culture, or ethnicity. The lyrics deal with varying subjects such as faith, love, relationships, poverty, injustice, and other broad social issues
in our present world today.
The inaugural event of 2008 was the result of a full year of planning and preparation by founder and President Benjamin Williams
. Drawing upon his knowledge of the music along with his business experience the festival held at world renowned Lebreton Flats
Festival Park
in downtown Ottawa
was a resounding success. Slated as a one day event, the festival quickly grew due to the overwhelming response from the local and regional communities further solidifying his resolve that the area needed a festival of this nature.
As a company that recognizes good business potential Heineken quickly jumped on board to be the sponsor of an added day. The added day became the Heineken Dance Party designed to showcase local and regional artists along with Disc Jockeys
all from the reggae industry. Heinekens experience was so rewarding that they have decided to join again this year as one of our major sponsors.
Headliners
The 2008 line-up included internationally acclaimed UK artist Maxi Priest
, Canada’s Spanish Reggaeton sensation El Neggro, Bermudian Collie Buddz and Toronto’s pride Snow.
Regional/Local Artists
Some of the regional artists include; Mackendy Kompa from the Island of Haiti currently residing in Montreal, two time Canadian Reggae Music Awards winner Ras Lee whose strong musical roots are direct relate to the origins of reggae music, two time Juno winner Korexion, Trilla U and Tanya P just to name a few. As you can see from our performance line-up we were able to showcase the many different forms of Caribbean inspired music with the emphasis on the world recognized Reggae.
Festival Offerings
The VIP Lounge offered patrons front stage seating accommodations, a private bar with service and featured Caribbean food
. It also provided front stage accommodations for patrons with disabilities at no extra charge and free admission to the accompanying guest.
The Kids Zone catered to the entire family, supervised by professional early childhood educators, where families could go with their children to play. There was a variety of activities that included a moon bounce, face paintings, the CHEO bear, and more.
There was an assortment of foods from local vendors including Caribbean, Canadian, Japanese cuisine
just to name a few. Along with the artisans and merchants there was the traditional sugar cane
and coconut water
vendors just to set the mood.
Successes
Since the inaugural year, the festival has received much needed support from the community and the various levels of government through the Ontario Arts Council
, the City of Ottawa
and Heritage Canada
. Ottawa Reggae Festival has become a member of Ottawa Festival’s thus being able to use their resources and marketing outreach
In an effort to give back to the community the Ottawa Reggae Festival hosts community events around the nation’s capital throughout the year. These events include the 46th Anniversary Celebration of Jamaican Independence with the Ottawa Rapidz, a Canada Day
Block Party
downtown and Marley Night event celebrating Black History Month
.
Coca Cola
partnered with the festival’s green team, making it possible to recycle over 240 cubic feet (6,796 l) of cardboard, plastic and aluminum.
On August 22, 2010, the last day of the festival, the entire day of performances was cancelled with its headlining acts, Sean Paul and Ky-mani Marley, pulling out. Many of the vendors and performers feared that they would not be paid. Sean Paul's representative, Headline Entertainment, cited a lack of confidence in the festival's ability to pay Paul's $50,000 appearance fee after delays in obtaining a deposit from the festival. Sean Paul took to Twitter to blame the promoters for disorganization and to apologize to his Canadian fans.
L3 magazine, sponsor and publicist of the festival, issued a release blaming the President Benjamin Williams for the festival's financial troubles. The festival's board of directors also released a statement criticising the 25 year-old Williams for his "youth and inexperience" and poor financial decisions.
History
Reggae musicReggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
first originated in Jamaica but it has grown to become a worldwide cultural and musical expression that touches everyone no matter what age, culture, or ethnicity. The lyrics deal with varying subjects such as faith, love, relationships, poverty, injustice, and other broad social issues
Social issues
Social issues are controversial issues which relate to people's personal lives and interactions. Social issues are distinguished from economic issues...
in our present world today.
The inaugural event of 2008 was the result of a full year of planning and preparation by founder and President Benjamin Williams
Benjamin Williams
Benjamin Williams was the 11th and 14th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 1799 to 1802 and from 1807 to 1808. He was the first of two North Carolina Governors since the American Revolution to serve nonconsecutive terms.Williams was born in Johnston County, North Carolina in 1751...
. Drawing upon his knowledge of the music along with his business experience the festival held at world renowned Lebreton Flats
Lebreton Flats
LeBreton Flats is a neighbourhood in Ottawa, Canada. It lies to the west of Centretown neighbourhood, and to the north of Centretown West with "Nanny Goat Hill" as the dividing line...
Festival Park
Festival Park
Festival Park may refer to:* Festival Park in the English city of Stoke-on-Trent, former site of a National Garden Festival.* Festival Park, Ebbw Vale, in Wales, an outdoor shopping centre on the former site of a National Garden Festival....
in downtown Ottawa
Downtown Ottawa
Downtown Ottawa is the central area of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Like other downtowns it is the commercial and economic centre of the city. It is sometimes referred to as the Central Business District and contains Ottawa's financial district. It is bordered by the Ottawa River to the north, the...
was a resounding success. Slated as a one day event, the festival quickly grew due to the overwhelming response from the local and regional communities further solidifying his resolve that the area needed a festival of this nature.
As a company that recognizes good business potential Heineken quickly jumped on board to be the sponsor of an added day. The added day became the Heineken Dance Party designed to showcase local and regional artists along with Disc Jockeys
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
all from the reggae industry. Heinekens experience was so rewarding that they have decided to join again this year as one of our major sponsors.
Headliners
The 2008 line-up included internationally acclaimed UK artist Maxi Priest
Maxi Priest
Max Alfred "Maxi" Priest is a British reggae vocalist of Jamaican descent. He is best known for singing reggae music with a R&B influence, otherwise known as reggae fusion, and became one of the first international successes who regularly dabbled in the genre as well as being one of the most...
, Canada’s Spanish Reggaeton sensation El Neggro, Bermudian Collie Buddz and Toronto’s pride Snow.
Regional/Local Artists
Some of the regional artists include; Mackendy Kompa from the Island of Haiti currently residing in Montreal, two time Canadian Reggae Music Awards winner Ras Lee whose strong musical roots are direct relate to the origins of reggae music, two time Juno winner Korexion, Trilla U and Tanya P just to name a few. As you can see from our performance line-up we were able to showcase the many different forms of Caribbean inspired music with the emphasis on the world recognized Reggae.
Festival Offerings
The VIP Lounge offered patrons front stage seating accommodations, a private bar with service and featured Caribbean food
Caribbean cuisine
Caribbean cuisine is a fusion of African, Amerindian, British, Spanish, French, Dutch, Indian, and Chinese cuisine. These traditions were brought from the many homelands of this region's population...
. It also provided front stage accommodations for patrons with disabilities at no extra charge and free admission to the accompanying guest.
The Kids Zone catered to the entire family, supervised by professional early childhood educators, where families could go with their children to play. There was a variety of activities that included a moon bounce, face paintings, the CHEO bear, and more.
There was an assortment of foods from local vendors including Caribbean, Canadian, Japanese cuisine
Japanese cuisine
Japanese cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes throughout Japan. The cuisine eventually changed with the advent of the Medieval age which ushered in a shedding of elitism with the age of shogun rule...
just to name a few. Along with the artisans and merchants there was the traditional sugar cane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
and coconut water
Coconut water
Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young coconuts . As the fruit matures, the coconut water is gradually replaced by the coconut meat and air. A very young coconut has very little meat; the meat that it has is very tender, almost a gel...
vendors just to set the mood.
Successes
Since the inaugural year, the festival has received much needed support from the community and the various levels of government through the Ontario Arts Council
Ontario Arts Council
The Ontario Arts Council is a publicly-funded Canadian organization in the province of Ontario whose purpose is to promote and assist the development of the arts for the enjoyment and benefit of all Ontarians...
, the City of Ottawa
City of Ottawa
The City of Ottawa is the corporate entity of municipal government in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The corporation is responsible for provision of services to the public as well as enforcement of municipal by-laws...
and Heritage Canada
Heritage Canada
The Heritage Canada Foundation , also known as Heritage Canada , is a registered charity with the mandate to encourage the protection and promotion of the built, natural, historic, and scenic heritage of Canada...
. Ottawa Reggae Festival has become a member of Ottawa Festival’s thus being able to use their resources and marketing outreach
In an effort to give back to the community the Ottawa Reggae Festival hosts community events around the nation’s capital throughout the year. These events include the 46th Anniversary Celebration of Jamaican Independence with the Ottawa Rapidz, a Canada Day
Canada Day
Canada Day , formerly Dominion Day , is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act , which united three British colonies into a single country, called Canada, within the British Empire...
Block Party
Block party
A block party is a large public party in which many members of a single neighbourhood congregate, either to observe an event of some importance or simply for mutual enjoyment. The name comes from the form of the party, which often involves closing an entire city block to vehicle traffic...
downtown and Marley Night event celebrating Black History Month
Black History Month
Black History Month is an observance of the history of the African diaspora in a number of countries outside of Africa. Since 1976, it is observed annually in the United States and Canada in February, while in the United Kingdom it is observed in October...
.
Coca Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
partnered with the festival’s green team, making it possible to recycle over 240 cubic feet (6,796 l) of cardboard, plastic and aluminum.
Controversy
In its third year, The Ottawa Reggae Festival has come under fire for financial mismanagement, artist no-shows, and cancelled performances. On August 21, 2010, monies and receipts were seized from the festival's beer tent following a court ruling against the festival from A. Raoul Nembhard, the festival's former chief financial officer. Nemhard claimed that he had not been reimbursed for his out-of-pocket expenses incurred during the previous year's festival.On August 22, 2010, the last day of the festival, the entire day of performances was cancelled with its headlining acts, Sean Paul and Ky-mani Marley, pulling out. Many of the vendors and performers feared that they would not be paid. Sean Paul's representative, Headline Entertainment, cited a lack of confidence in the festival's ability to pay Paul's $50,000 appearance fee after delays in obtaining a deposit from the festival. Sean Paul took to Twitter to blame the promoters for disorganization and to apologize to his Canadian fans.
L3 magazine, sponsor and publicist of the festival, issued a release blaming the President Benjamin Williams for the festival's financial troubles. The festival's board of directors also released a statement criticising the 25 year-old Williams for his "youth and inexperience" and poor financial decisions.