Communities · what you take on
Eight things.One year.
They decide whether a pavilion works. Read them with the people who would actually do them, and count the weekends between now and September 2027.
The eight things.
A kitchen that clears the law
Cooking happens in an approved kitchen. On the field you reheat, hold, assemble and serve, with a certified food handler on the stand every operating hour. A restaurant partner inside your community or a rented commercial kitchen both work; the office helps you find one.
The menu, and one shared portion
Your dishes, your prices, agreed with the office before the gates open. Every pavilion also serves one small tasting portion.
Hours of programme, both days
Dance, music, a demonstration, a craft made in front of a crowd: at least five hours of programme in your pavilion each day.
An exhibition that teaches
Objects, panels and a theme for the year, explained in English and French. It keeps the festival inside its educational purpose.
Two people on the phone
A pavilion coordinator and a deputy, reachable for the whole event and kept off the cooking rota.
Your crew, recruited by you
Your own volunteers, briefed by you, scheduled across two days and a build day.
Your certificate of insurance
Commercial general liability of $2,000,000 with the City of Ottawa named as additional insured, plus your Ottawa Public Health filing for food service. The deadlines for both publish with the September dates.
One line on what you took
After the weekend each pavilion reports its turnover. The money stays with you; the number goes into grant reporting and next year's planning.
The kitchen is the hard part.
What the field asks of everybody.
- No position on conflicts between states. The festival and everyone speaking for a pavilion keep political conflicts off the field.
- Instructions on the day are followed on the spot. From the event director and from security, with any disagreement taken up afterwards.
- No alcohol. The first edition serves none.
Questions.
How many volunteers does a pavilion need?
It depends on the kitchen and the programme. The application asks how many people you can field over two days, and that answer predicts more than any other on the form.
Can our restaurant run the pavilion for us?
A restaurant can be your kitchen partner. The operator of the pavilion is still your community organisation.
Does the exhibition have to be in both languages?
Yes, English and French. The office helps with translation.