April showers bring May flowers
This spring, we are bringing some additional flowers to Westboro, even before our annual flower
baskets overtake the street posts. Westboro Village is hosting our own Canadian Tulip festival Friendship Tulip Garden. At Westboro Station, the corner of Golden and Richmond Avenues, you will find nearly 500 official tulips of the Canadian Tulip Festival â the China-Canada Friendship Tulip.
It is our goal to bring more nature and beauty to Westboro BIA that represents Ottawa, and more specifically our surrounding community.
This spring, Westboro Village will be hosting two new events:
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday May 5, Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa (BBBSO) will be at Winston Square for a fundraising initiative called âThe Big Spring Clean-up: Clothes for Kidsâ Sake.â Theyâre accepting donations of clothing, shoes, and textiles. Every pound of clothing donated generates income for BBBSO mentoring programs. Clean out your closet, stuff it in a bag, and drop by! Weâll be there handing out special goodies and hosting fun activities the whole family can enjoy. Itâs also Cinco Di Mayo, and Westboro businesses will have some special menus on, too!
On the June 1-2 weekend, Westboro will be hosting a âSHOP THE VILLAGEâ event and we invite everyone to come to Westboro to sip, savour, and save. Merchants will take to the street with special offers for visitors in this limited time frame! There wonât be any street closure, and free parking will be offered in special marked areas. There is also free parking on-street as usual (where available!). We will be handing out special eco-friendly bags with exclusive deals and more! Look for more information online soon at westborovillage.com, or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/westborovillage for the latest news about whatâs happening in Westboro.
Mark your calendars! Westboro FUSE Street Festival returns this August 17 and 18. Thereâs lots of exciting new stuff being planned! Food, fun, and entertainment thatâs family friendly and free!
Travel in Style
Whether youâre booking a weekend getaway, business trip, or family vacation, get your fashion fix and expert help in Westboro Village. Fashion-minded travellers will definitely want to check in at Fashion United (435 Richmond Rd.) â itâs one stop shopping here, with bonus parking in the back! If you havenât been before, GO. Itâs been a long winter and your heart and soul will thank you for the pop of colour youâll find here.
You wonât find fashion or service like this anywhere else in Ottawa, in fact, 90% of the brands in the shop are exclusive to Fashion United. The focus here is on natural fibres and everything is wash and wear. VP and buyer Olenka Stepchuk can help you find the perfect mix ân match wardrobe that will take you from day to night… right down to the shoes. Olenka has lots of travel packing tips (too many to list here!) but says that lightweight cotton and cotton-blend sweaters are big this year. Theyâre ideal for layering and can be dressed up or down. Ask Olenka about the sleek and lightweight raincoats by Tafani. Theyâre ultra light with stylish zippers, and can easily be stuffed in a bag.
âIf youâre ready to revamp your wardrobe, thatâs what we specialize in,â says Olenka. âJewelry, shoes, clothes for work or weekend, thatâs what we do.â
For more fun fashions and accessories, drop by Ebb & Flo (373A Richmond Rd.) one of Westboroâs newest shops. Ask about their linen tunics! They make a great addition to any travel wardrobe, especially if youâre heading to a beach or a pool. Made of 100% natural linen in a bright array of colours, this flowy and breathable garment can be worn as a cover up, dress, or tunic.
Hereâs a bonus: they have pockets too. Pair it with some fun accessories (Ebb has lots in stock!) and youâre ready to go. If weâre talking about the sporty side of travel fashion we definitely canât forget MEC (366 Richmond Rd.) This is the time to drop by and check out their new arrivals. Cozy hoodies, packable puffy jackets, shorts, and tees, will help make your travel adventures a little more comfortable.
Start in Westboro, see the world
If you are over 50 and have a hankering to check something off your travel bucket list, youâll definitely want to speak to the experts at Senior Discovery Tours (392 Richmond Rd.). This tour operator offers some pretty amazing packages to many different kinds of destinations, especially for fit and active seniors, such as walking and hiking tours of Wales, Scotland, and the Azores.
âWeâve been around for a long time and we have a lot of good relationships with a lot of travel suppliers all around the world,â says branch manager, Aisling Keenan. âQuite often weâve been to the travel destination so we have good knowledge about the destination as well.â
âWe do tours all over the world, and all kinds of different tours,â says Aisling. They plan everything, right down to the details. âThis is travel made easy.â
Aisling says Newfoundland excursions are âhugely popularâ right now. Rail tours are also at the top of a lot of bucket lists. Senior Discovery Tours is currently booking excursions for the Oberammergau, a Passion Play performed since 1634. (Itâs performed every decade and the next is scheduled for 2020.)
Whether youâre interested in a relaxing riverboat cruise, a walking holiday, or a coach tour to really get the feel of another country, youâll definitely want to speak to one of the pros at Senior Discovery Tours.
Merit Travel Group is leading a Canada-wide campaign to raise funds and awareness for WaterAidâs Tanzania: Deliver Life Program with a special 30-day online auction that opened March 22. The program aims to reach over 660,000 people, including 211,000 mothers and surrounding communities to provide them with vital clean water. Over the next year, WaterAid plans to construct sustainable, solar-powered community water pumps.
Darren Prashad, branch manager of the Merit Travel location in Westboro (375 Richmond Rd.) is also the Merit Travel Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Merit Travel. He says some great prizes are up for grabs including holiday packages, lift tickets, golf passes, and travel vouchers. All proceeds will go towards new water and sanitation services at 12 obstetric and neonatal care clinics across rural Tanzania, Africa.
Check out the auction and place your bids until April 23 at MeritTravel.com/Auction4Action.