Top 5 activities to do in French in Ottawa
The city of Ottawa is full of interesting activities that you can do. But it is not always easy to find where the events in French are hidden. The Alliance Française d’Ottawa has prepared a Top 5 activities to do in French in Ottawa, to facilitate your research and allow you to practice your French!
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Arts
The AF Book Club meets approximately once a month to discuss a pre-selected book. A B2 level of French is recommended, but the club is open to everyone! During the meetings, you will have the chance to discuss with the other participants and the teacher to share your opinions on the book.
Tea and coffee are available to all for this informal style discussion. Most of this activity takes place at your own pace (you read the book on your own) and includes a small discussion portion at the end. Do not hesitate to register if you are interested in this activity!
The National Gallery is in downtown Ottawa and offers a variety of exhibits for art lovers. All descriptions of works and exhibits are translated into both official languages, which will allow you to have your visit in French.
There’s something for everyone: contemporary art, Canadian art, Indigenous art, abstract art, religious art, and more! Don’t forget to look at which exhibitions are present at the Gallery during your visit, perhaps you will be even more interested in going to visit it!
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Culture
The Alliance Française offers you a Cineclub activity every month. A film in French (subtitled in English) is shown in our office and you can eat snacks during the film. The films chosen will allow you to practice your French or simply to decompress after a long day.
This is the perfect opportunity to check out new movies that may not be on Netflix! In addition, after the film, discussions between people are possible. It’s a perfect opportunity to socialize and eat popcorn!
The National Arts Centre is Canada’s bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts. This is what you can read on the NAC website. If you love the performing arts and want to attend fabulous shows, the NAC is for you!
Whether it’s dance, music, theater performances, family activities or even workshops on all subjects, you will be served. All NAC activities are offered in both languages, so you can easily do all these activities in French.
Members of the Alliance française even have a 50% discount on plays in French, which makes it a less expensive activity!
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History
During your visit to Ottawa, why not be tempted by a visit to Parliament, the place where Canadian government decisions are made. Tours can be done in French, making this a great family or solo activity for anyone interested in Canadian politics!
Do you want to discover Canada’s military history? Visiting the Canadian War Museum will be the ideal activity for you. The museum specializes in the study of human conflict and war. The Museum is one of the most respected in the world in this field.
The exhibitions focus on Canada’s military history, from its beginnings to today, in addition to offering many activities for everyone. You can easily follow everything the Canadian War Museum has to offer in French, making it a great activity to do in Ottawa.
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Social
Do you want to chat over a good beer? Then the Pub Night is the activity for you. The Alliance Française organizes relaxed evenings several times a year where everyone can meet to chat in French. This is the perfect opportunity to practice your French, or simply to chat and meet new people. Stay tuned, Pub Nights are quite popular, you don’t want to miss it!
If alcohol is not for you, but you still want to attend a chat activity, the Discussion Café is for you. A few times a year, the Alliance française offers mornings where you can come and enjoy a tea or coffee while chatting with the people present. Led by a French teacher, it’s the best way to start your day!
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Festivals
Several festivals are present on the Ottawa scene throughout the year. Here we offer two festivals centered on the Francophonie.
Franco-Ontarian Festival
Why not let yourself be transported by the Franco-Ontarian culture of the region during the Franco-Ontarian Festival? Open to all Francophones and Francophiles, this festival offers numerous musical concerts, activities for the whole family and even culinary tastings of Francophone dishes from around the world. You will be able to discover the richness of Franco-Ontarian culture and celebrate with your peers.
Poutinefest
Although the origin of poutine is often disputed, most people agree that this dish was invented in Quebec. The poutine festival travels to the four corners of the province in the summer, and even comes to Ottawa! If you want to try all sorts of variations of poutines you didn’t even think were possible, this festival will have your mouth watering.