We knew it – now they know it too!

Last Sunday, July 11, Washington Post writer Michael Kaminer produced a detailed, and rather flattering article about Ottawa, calling our home town Canada’s Cool Capital. Those of us who have grown up in Ottawa suffer from a cultural inferiority complex. I remember when I was barely ten my more cosmopolitan Toronto cousin told me that yoghurt had more culture than Ottawa. At that age, I didn’t really understand what she meant, but after years of having to listen to fellow Canadians describe Ottawa as a boring government town, I started to believe it was true.

Certainly the city has changed over the years, as do all cities. However, as I got older and started to travel to some of these far off and reportedly more cultured locales, I started making my own comparisons. A trip to New Orleans for the Food and Music Festival was hampered by horrible weather, terrible service, and a long bus ride to an open field to fight huge crowds to see some fine musicians. The trip was expensive and they city did not impress me as much as I hoped. Upon my return to Ottawa I saw some of the same musicians for free in Major’s Hill park, without having to suffer the nightly murders, the exhausting heat, and the obvious racial tensions.

After many wonderful trips to New York City, I had to reluctantly conclude that although there were a few memorable meals, generally the quality of food in Ottawa’s finer restaurants rivaled that of New York, at a fraction of the price.

Was it possible that I had been sold a bill of goods by my own countrymen? Could it be that Ottawa was not as dull and drab as I had come to believe?

Finally, a recent trip to the West Coast, a hotbed of locovore activity, revealed to me that Ottawans are every bit as committed to supporting local, seasonal and organic agriculture as our West Coast brothers and sisters. Although interesting things are happening in the west, where they enjoy a much longer growing season, equally interesting things are going on right here in our own backyard.

Now, the Washington Post confirms it. Ottawa is cool!

Thanks to Janteen & Savour Ottawa for getting the word out.