Dear OCAF Friends,
Today I send you my fondest farewell after 25 years with OCAF, marking its own 25th Anniversary. So far it’s been an action-packed celebration with events in Hamilton, Sudbury, Windsor and others coming up in Mississauga, Thunder Bay and elsewhere. It’s been wonderful to celebrate, with all of you, your successes over the quarter century.
So much has happened in Ontario that we can all be proud of! And more to come! I give my sincerest thanks to the OCAF board and its tireless Chair, Mary Hofstetter, as well as our past board members and staff, mentioned in earlier newsletters. Most importantly I must thank Thomas Vaughan who I am so pleased to have been able to hand over the reins to, and our newest staff member, who you will read more about in the next issue. OCAF is in great hands and everyone involved is eagerly looking forward to working with all of you in the future!
For those of you who wish to be in touch, you can reach me at marykathleensharpe@gmail.com. I shall be following Ontario’s cultural policy and programming with great interest, as always.
All the very best for a fabulous summer of festivals, events and exhibitions!
Kathleen Sharpe
Founding Executive Director Emerita
OCAF Celebrates 25th Anniversary in Windsor!
OCAF staff and Board Chair, Mary Hofstetter, were in Windsor on June 11th to celebrate the 25th anniversary at the Capitol Theatre. Thanks to Barb Kuker, OCAF’s fabulous Windsor Board Member, who handled the organization of the event locally, we celebrated with the theatre and many of OCAF supported Windsor groups which included the Windsor Symphony; Windsor International Film Festival; the Art Gallery of Windsor and many others. We were thrilled to host Windsor MPP, Andrew Dowie, as well as Windsor city councillors. Mingling to the sounds of pianist Mike Karloff, the gorgeous Capitol Theatre, celebrating its 100th anniversary, was a stunning backdrop for the guests from all areas of the cultural sector.
A big thank you to Sheila Wisdom of the Symphony for acting as our charming and knowledgeable host! Earlier in the day we had a whirlwind tour of the downtown area with Vincent Georgie of WIFF. It was exciting to discover all the new cultural and arts shops and enterprises in the area. OCAF hopes that many of you will return to the program again or approach us for the first time!
Events On Now: Opening
Now in its 45th season, the Elora Festival has established a reputation as Canada’s international choral festival, presenting world-class choirs and vocal ensembles over two weeks in July in the artists village of Elora, “Ontario’s most beautiful village”.
The choir performs throughout the two weeks of the festival, both with solo concerts and in collaboration with guest artists and ensembles. The Elora Festival and The Elora Singers are both led by Artistic Director Mark Vuorinen.
Attention music lovers! Four Winds Music Festival features Canada’s best artists, performing at the beautiful Riverstone Retreat in Durham, ON.
This year’s sophomore edition includes BAHAMAS, Joel Plaskett, Boy Golden, Terra Lightfoot and many more!!!
Attendees can also enjoy a variety of other fun activities throughout the weekend, including yoga sessions, African dance classes, drum circles, and guided tours of the Riverstone Retreat grounds. Learn more.
The Hamilton Fringe Festival is back with its 20th Festival, running July 17-28, 2024. This year’s Festival promises to be bolder than ever, featuring over 50 companies and 350+ performances lighting up venues across town.
The Fringe Club Outdoor Stage & Patio is back outside Theatre Aquarius to light up the Fringe nights, while Vintage Coffee Roasters can serve you drinks and snacks in the daytime. Come for the warm and welcoming vibes at this year’s club. And Kids Club Family Fun Day is sure to keep even the youngest Fringers entertained!Learn more
Rock On The River is Timmins’ premier music festival, where the city’s vibrant energy converges with the soulful beats of live performances. With an eclectic lineup featuring local talents and renowned artists from across the country, Rock On The River promises an unforgettable experience filled with rhythm, melody, and unforgettable moments. From the pulsating baselines to the soaring vocals echoing under the open sky, the festival captures the essence of community and celebration, embodying the heart and soul of Timmins’ cultural scene.
Rock out under the northern stars and make memories to last a lifetime at Rock On The River.