Gatineau Riverfest!

Sept 9, 2023

We celebrated the Gatineau River together!

As habitat for wildlife, a source of drinking water, a place to recreate and relax, a provider of emotional and aesthetic benefits, the Gatineau river is a wonderful resource for us all.

This years Riverfest was packed with fun summer activities such as; the Paddle Parade, where many enjoyed a communal paddle down the river, followed by a market and free live entertainment at the Festival Headquarters. Something for everyone!

Music and Dance

Meet Our Artists

Algonquin drum group from Kitigan Zibi, Eagle River, traditional and contemporary pow wow songs and will be accompanied by a dance troupe performing traditional Algonquin dances. Everyone will be encouraged to participate in circle dances. These young artists strive to further the process of education and reconciliation.

Ottawa- and Gatineau-based 9-piece band, The PepTides, is noted for its extravagant live performances featuring thick vocal harmonies, theatrical choreography and colourful visuals drawing on funk, electronic and disco influences. One must simply see them to believe them! https://www.thepeptides.com/

Eagle River Singers

The PepTides

Pickachune is a group of Wakefield area musicians that play the traditional dance music of Ireland, Newfoundland and Quebec. Featuring the sounds of the fiddle, button accordion, bouzouki and bodhran, they bring these old tunes back to life and are sure to get you community square dancing!

Emily Addison is a square dance caller, trad musician and dance organizer with a deep passion for building community, creating connections. She has a knack for explaining the square dance moves so that even novices can join the square dance.

Pickachune

Emily Addison

Chelsea Youth Choir is a bilingual, all-inclusive, non-audition choir of young singers from Chelsea They are joyfulness and fun - both inspired by choir maestra Stephanie Sewell.

Ian Tamblyn has been playing music and writing plays since the age of seventeen. He has recorded over forty albums, and has produced albums for over thirty other artists. A multi-award winning songwriter and playwright, Ian was named an officer of the Order of Canada in 2021. https://www.iantamblyn.com/

Chelsea Youth Choir with special guest Ian Tamblyn

Important Voices

Meet Our Speakers

Indigenous social justice and education trailblazer, Gilbert Whiteduck was band council member and chief in Kitigan Zibi and is currently Treatment Co-ordinator at the Wanaki Treatment Centre and president of the Gatineau Valley Historical Society. He is particularly passionate about upholding the rights of the Gatineau River.

Canadian activist Maude Barlow co-founded the Council of Canadians and chaired its board for over three decades. Advisor for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and chair of Food and Water Watch and Blue Planet Project, she has led the campaign to have water recognized as a human right by the UN.

Gilbert Whiteduck

Maude Barlow

Ottawa Riverkeeper, Laura Reisenborough, has been a community organizer and change-maker focused on delivering positive environmental and social change. An adept non-profit leader in food security, Laura founded Toronto’s Not Far From The Tree and led Food For All New Brunswick. https://ottawariverkeeper.ca/

The hill’s brilliant performer Sheena Turcotte will be RiverFest’s illustrious bilingual MC. She’s a comedian, an actor, a singer, and has the knack for keeping things fun and moving along while engaging the audience with her personal flare.

Laura Reinsborough

MC Sheena Turcotte