A sweet tradition returns to Ottawa this weekend, celebrating maple syrup tapped in the heart of the nation’s capital. The popular Vanier Sugar Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Vanier Sugar Shack, which sits 5 kilometres from downtown Ottawa. Visitors can enjoy a pancake breakfast, maple taffy, maple syrup production and learn about the history of tapping syrup. Mick Phipps says he brings his family every year, the draw for him is the pancake breakfast and the live music. “We’re enjoying being outdoors. We’re enjoying having maple syrup, mostly,” he says. “And some good songs.” Lidiia Chicherova says her family is enjoying their first experience at the festival, even after living in the Vanier-area for more than 7 years. She says this is the first time her 3-year-old daughter has tried maple taffy. “They’ve had a lot of fun. We were jumping. We watched animals and they got their treats,” she says. “This is a big part of Canadian culture, which we’re really enjoying.” In it’s 41st year, the free event by Vanier Museopark helps residents understand the processes of maple syrup production. Nick Paquin, who is the programming coordinator with Vanier Museoparc, says it also celebrates the tapping season here. Hundreds of trees are tapped, and collection is done with the help of volunteers. “It’s also how we protect this forest because as we know, sometimes forests get cut down,” he explains. “What makes this forest important is that it is being actively used almost every day. And when we have celebrations like this, it helps show how important this forest is to this community.” The 17.5-acre farm is the only sugar shack in Canada to operate within a city. It first opened in 1939 and the festival has been going on decades. Over the two days the festival is on, Paquin says more than 8,000 people enjoy the activities, and the pancake breakfast. Paquin notes that although the festival and the programming is free, the pancake breakfast requires tickets. Marcus and Isobel Mattucci say the festival draws them each year. “We live in the neighbourhood. A location like this is so unique, especially in an urban area,” explains Marcus. “So, we love to come out, support the community,” “We also really like going to the Sugar Shack for the full breakfast,” says Isobel. “It’s very good.” The Vanier Sugar Festival runs March 28 and 29, but the overall maple syrup season at the Vanier Sugar Shack runs until April 19.
