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Have you walked down Sparks Street lately? What a breath of fresh air! We have three new Green Zones between Kent and Metcalfe! We’ve implemented a new pilot project, greening the spaces in front of the old CIBC, the CBC, and the Bank of Canada. New on the street are wooden planter boxes made from locally sourced cedar that are home to a variety of annuals and vines that will grow up trellis. We’ve also added some honey locust, elm and birch bunch trees! With the help of Ottawa's landscaping experts, Lafleur De La Capitale Inc, along with the City of Ottawa and NCC, we’ve identified plants that are known to thrive in our climate. The vines include Boston Ivy, Virginia Creeper, and Climbing Dipladenia. Other boxes are holding Petunias, Potato Vine, and Dracaena (Spike Plant) as well trees to help provide shade. Interspersed between the plants and trees, we’ve provided seating with our red Muskokas for visitors to relax on their walk up or down Sparks. Fun fact, did you know our Muskoka chairs are made from 100% recycled plastic? That’s 579 recycled milk jugs! We have made a commitment to being as sustainable as possible in all our project planning. Conveniently, our green zone in front of CIBC also has a Public Wifi You can log on to the Sparks Street Public Wifi network for free data while you rest in our mini garden-loft like space! Grab a coffee, have a seat, take a beat, and enjoy the scenery (or the wifi!) while relaxing in our new Green Zones along Sparks! Be sure to tag us into any photos you post on social media! 🌱🌿 The Sparks Street Green Zone Project would not have been possible without the financial support of the Canada Community Revitalization Fund. The CCRF was created by the Government of Canada and managed by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. We thank them for their tremendous support.

Explore the magic of winter on Sparks Street! We are thrilled to be hosting the 45th Winterlude as the official Ontario site on Sparks Street! The beloved winter festival returns to our pedestrian street from February 4 – 20, 2023. There are a variety of activities, events, arts, traditions and of course, ice sculptures planned! Entry to the site is FREE! The annual Winterlude National Ice Carving Championships will take place on Sparks Street the weekend of February 4 – 5 under the theme, ‘Creatures of the Sea’! Visitors will be able to watch the competition live on Sparks with the opportunity to vote online for their favourite sculpture between February 10 – 20. Sparks Street Winterlude 2020 Once you’ve taken in the icy works of art from across the nation, you can walk the rest of the festival on Sparks from Elgin to Bank Streets where you will experience lights, sounds, and a little wintery magic, “Sparks Street in Ottawa will be alive with interactive light features, beautiful ice sculptures and performance art zones for all tastes.” – Canadian Heritage After marvelling over the incredible ice masterpieces, follow your sense of wonder down Sparks Street and walk into the fields of Roseaux, a “particip’active” and playfully interactive installation inspired by “The poetry of a bed of broad-leafed cattails (marsh reeds) lulled by the wind…” – 1ToMn, Creation and Artistic Direction, Co-Owner Composed of individual reeds that rise into the sky, Roseaux invites users to activate the base of the reeds by stepping on sensors, rhythmically propelling myriad colours up the stem. Alone or in a group, the fun and exciting race begins to give the reeds a single, solid colour. The visual parade punctuated by a vibrant soundscape in a perfect synchrony of light and sound creates an energizing sensory experience. In standby mode, gently pulsing light and sound beckon users to activate the reeds and give the space a dreamlike ambiance. Creos Creos, St-Bruno Roseaux Creation and artistic direction: 1ToMn Light and sound design: UDO Design and Serge Maheu Interactive control system design: Serge Maheu Co-Owners: Init and 1ToMn Tour production: Creos Take control of your time on Sparks Street as you explore yet another incredible interactive art installation back for its encore – LAPS! Like stepping back to this summer but forward into the winter version, making the white circular ‘grains of sand’ look less like their popularly nicknamed ‘ping pong balls’ and more like snowballs! The six giant hourglasses, reaching 7.8 feet high, invite you to turn their wheels and steer time to the beat of their lights and sounds. An apt idea considering hourglasses were once commonly used in the navy onboard ships to measure their speed, time the length of watches, and even sometimes measure the full duration of a voyage! “I hope that the people who spin these giant hourglasses will enjoy it as much as we enjoyed developing LAPS. I hope that, for the moment of a rotation, the public will take control of the time that is passing.” – Olivier Landreville, Creator and Artistic Director Pierre Lachaine, Sparks Street Pierre Lachaine, Sparks Street LAPS Creation and artistic direction: Olivier Landreville Sound and light design: Serge Maheu Design of interactive control systems: Serge Maheu Structure and engineering: Maintenance Industries Meca-Fab inc. Owner: Init Tour production: Creos Both exhibits will be adding to the magic of Winterlude the duration of the festival. Find and interact with LAPS between Metcalfe and O’Connor streets and discover Roseaux between O’Connor and Bank streets! The team at Canadian Heritage has been busy preparing and updating their calendar of events. Find all the fun online and plan your visit! “Winterlude is another opportunity to celebrate winter and showcase our art and culture. For 45 years, the event has brought excitement to Canada's Capital Region and allowed Canadians from near and far to gather with family and friends. From February 3 to 20, come and create memorable moments and discover all the unique activities that highlight the cultural and artistic diversity, as well as Indigenous cultures, that make our country so rich. Happy Winterlude!" – The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage Be sure to dress appropriately for your visit! All true Canadians know those base layers are KEY to being able to fully enjoy the outdoor experience! Here’s a quick checklist: Winter jacket Winter boots Snow pants Toque Scarf Gloves Thick socks Long johns / base layers There’s tons of great shops, cafes, and restaurants along your walk, so be sure to pop in for a treat and warm up! Enjoy a specialty hot cocoa or pick up a souvenir to remember your visit by! There's lots of friendly businesses ready to welcome you to our pedestrian street! Bundle up & we’ll see you on Sparks! Sparks Street Winterlude 2020

Experience an all-inclusive Winterlude Sparkscation this February! CONTEST NOW CLOSED - CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER, ASHLEY! We’ve got your chance to WIN an all-inclusive stay on Sparks Street, the official Ontario site for the 45th edition of Canada’s favourite winter festival: Winterlude!! One lucky winner will be drawn at random from our Instagram contest and invited with their family to stay at the Ottawa Marriott hotel, just steps from the main events in the downtown core! Ottawa Marriott Hotel On top of your stay, we’ve got delicious meals, a shopping spree, and of course an exciting festival all planned to make for one memorable weekend! Here’s what’s included: • 1-night stay at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel • Breakfast for 2 adults + 2 children under 12 at Ottawa Marriott Hotel • Parking at Ottawa Marriott Hotel • Lunch gift certificate for 3 Brewer’s Sparks • Dinner gift certificate for D’Arcy McGee’s • One Shopping Gift Card for $100.00 at a Sparks Street Local Small Business* (Retail or Personal Service) of the Winner’s choosing. ENTER HERE!!! ⬇️ Head over to our Instagram page to ENTER for your chance to WIN!! (Linked in the image above!) Follow the instructions on the contest post to enter. The Contest is open NOW until Sunday, January 29 with our winner being announced Monday, January 30 before Winterlude’s kicks off! Good Luck!! Sparks Street Winterlude 2020 *Selection of participating Small Businesses located in our Contest Rules.

#WinterWander Sparks Street! We've decked our halls... or our streets anyway! Come visit our pedestrian wonderland with our large-scale 3D holiday décor bringing magic and light to your winter walks! Here's a fun idea: our life-sized structures create the perfect ambiance, lighting and backdrop to your holiday photos!! Be sure to tag us @sparks_street if you snap some great pics! We love seeing our visitor's adventures on #MySparksStreet! See if you can find each of the installations in your next visit! They include: Two Archways A Star Stack The most perfectly instagrammable Frame A Gift Box An Ornament And of course, a Christmas Tree! Our Light Court will be available again this year for your dance inspired moments! It's located between O'Connor and Bank Streets this year! Our Shed is resembling a Gingerbread House, our garlands are up on our lampposts, our #GreenZones have been converted to give you all the festive vibes and of course, our Christmas Trees are lighting up Sparks! Be sure to check the business hours of operation for any locations you wish to patron for extensions or changes to make sure you have warm shops, restaurants, and cafes to pop into while out exploring our street! There's LOTS of spots to grab a warm cup of coffee, cocoa, or something a little stronger along Sparks! Check out our Hot Cocoa Crawl for inspiration! Local social media content creator and influencer Amy, best known online as @Amyin613, had her own #WinterWander on #MySparksStreet and captured a reel of her experience! You can catch it on her channel HERE! Here's a peek of last year's #WinterWander on our YouTube channel: You can also see visitor's experiences in last year's #WinterWander adventures on Sparks in our Instagram Hightlights! Our Winter Wander will be alight alongside Canadian Heritage's Christmas Lights Across Canada which runs until January 8, 2023! We look forward to seeing your own adventures through #MySparksStreet's #WinterWander and will feature some tagged pics from our Instagram page here! Happy exploring this holiday season!! ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ #WinterWander 2022 @laurajasminephoto @ottawa_gatineau_multicolore @patwoodbury @ottawa_gatineau_multicolore @maynardsmainherd @perfectsnapottawa @smgroulx @minidoodrussell @sidewalks.and.pinetrees @BLouTwolan @khushnazk @islathehavanese @deserted_voyager @amyin613 @where.reshma.travels @sarah.fischer11 @vickyallen3512 @andylagrande

Sparks Street businesses are excited to be participating for the second year in a row to build Toy Mountain & YOU can help! Let's spread smiles and holiday cheer this Christmas season! From now until December 15, you can drop off a NEW & UNWRAPPED toy to any of the following At-Work Santa locations on Sparks: Society Salon & Blow Dry Bar 📍 90 Sparks Street Toy Drop Off Hours: Sunday/Monday: CLOSED Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday: 8:00 AM - 6 PM Saturday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Le Moulin de Provence KD 📍 30 Metcalfe Street Toy Drop Off Hours: Open Daily: (Sunday/ Monday/ Tuesday/ Wednesday/ Thursday/ Friday/ Saturday): 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM Howard Fine Jewellers 📍 220 Sparks Street Toy Drop Off Hours: Monday - Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday - Friday: 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM Saturday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday, Dec. 4: CLOSED Sunday, Dec. 11: 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM Sunday, Dec. 18: 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM Bonus: For every toy put in the sleigh, HOWARD will match your donation! True Bijoux 📍 206 Sparks Street Toy Drop Off Hours: Sunday/Monday: CLOSED Tuesday/ Wednesday/ Thursday/ Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sparks Street BIA Toy Mountain collection 2021 Can't get down to a Sparks Street At-Work Santa location? We'd love to see you - but supporters are also able to make financial donations ONLINE! This year's fundraising goal is $200,000.00. Every donation goes a long way for toys and family community services. This Age Group Needs Your Help: New and unwrapped toys are accepted for Ages 0-12. The Salvation Army reminds donors that the following age groups are often forgotten when donations are being made: Babies 8-10 year-olds 11-12 year-olds Gift Ideas? Popular items for the older-aged kids include: digital music players, curling irons, hair dryers, hair kits, makeup kits, electronics, books, and hoodies, sporting goods, backpacks, school supplies, board games, scarves, gloves, mitts. Find a full list on Toy Mountain's webpage. Toy Mountain By The Numbers: For 26 years, The Salvation Army’s Ottawa Booth Centre (OBC) oversees the collection and distribution of new unwrapped toys to over 7,500 underprivileged families in the Ottawa area annually. The Salvation Army Toy Mountain staff, media partners, sponsors, and volunteers hand out bags of toys to the parents of over 25,000 kids each year now! The large colored bags that are distributed contain an average of three new toys and an assortment of stocking stuffers. The toys come from Ottawa-area businesses, schools, organizations, community groups with major partnership and logistics support from CTV Ottawa and iHeartRadio MOVE 100. Resources: Registration for Eligible Families To receive toys from Toy Mountain, eligible families can contact 211, the Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario. Representatives from 211’s information centre will ask parents a few basic questions: Name of child (children) Date of birth Gender Family income Family contact information The 211 Representative will enter the required information into the Toy Mountain database. This database is a vital component to the success of the campaign. Once the information entry process is complete, the 211 representative will provide the caller with their toy pick up appointment date and registration confirmation number. The 211 Representative will also inform clients that they will be asked to provide the following documentation upon arrival at the Toy Centre prior to collecting their toys: Original photo identification of themselves and their children Proof of income indicating that they qualify for the toys Registration confirmation number assigned to them These conditions are strictly followed to ensure toys are distributed only to eligible families. Eligible families may also register their children at their local participating Community Centre/Agency. Thanks for your support, Ottawa!!

The 12 Days of Sparks Gives returns for our third year. In small ways, we can make big change. Our Sparks Gives initiative endeavors to support the needs of our local community by providing funding to help organizations that passionately work to improve the lives of those in the closely surrounding community of Sparks Street. To show our sincere appreciation for the work our core organizations do, and the integral services they provide residents and visitors, we are contributing a cash donation and are pleased to offer additional partnership support to them in 2023. Through our programs, festivals, and events, Sparks Gives will continue to identify and support the ever growing & ongoing needs of our neighbours. These organizations are truly the heart of our downtown core. Join us in giving a warm welcome to our 2022-2023 Partners: Centre 507 Outreach Program Centretown Emergency Food Centre Cornerstone Women's Shelter Dalhousie Food Cupboard Good Companions Senior's Centre Meals on Wheels Operation Come Home Ottawa Mission Salvation Army Street Outreach Shepherds of Good Hope Somerset West Community Health Centre + DOPE Response Team Youth Services Bureau In showing our support, we will be doing Twelve Days of #SparksGives where each of the above organizations will receive their cash donation between December 5-16, 2022. The Sparks Street BIA will continue to partner with these organizations in 2023 and we look forward to assisting in the promotion of their valuable initiatives. This program has been made possible with thanks to our Sparks Street BIA Board of Directors. Learn more about these great organizations below! Centre 507 Outreach Program Centretown Emergency Food Centre Cornerstone Women's Shelter If you're looking for a more unique way of supporting Cornerstone Housing for Women and have storefront windows, they are currently working with Wicked Windows' in a fundraising effort! "Custom, Free-Hand, Hand-painted, smile-inducing, and attention-grabbing window art spreads happy vibes around Ottawa. Art adds beauty to the community, and through the end of the year, beauty is beneficial to both businesses and Cornerstone Housing for Women. Through to the end of the year, businesses can pick their ̶p̶r̶i̶c̶e̶ DONATION for their custom window or chalk art, and 100% will be donated to Cornerstone. If your business has windows or a chalkboard, Wicked Windows Ottawa wants to put some wicked art up to benefit Cornerstone." Please contact the owner Stephanie to book yours today through the contact page on www.wickedwindowsottawa.ca. Dalhousie Food Cupboard Meals on Wheels Good Companions Senior's Centre Operation Come Home Ottawa Mission Salvation Army Street Outreach Shepherds of Good Hope Read some of SGH's Stories of Hope and consider donating to help them create more! Somerset West Community Health Centre + DOPE Response Team Youth Services Bureau Thank you to all our wonderful Sparks Gives partners for all you do for our local community!

We've got an AUTUMN chance for you to WIN $500!! CONTEST NOW CLOSED. CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER, AMY!!! 🎉🎉 This year's Scroll in to Win kick off falls appropriately during #SmallBusinessWeek!! We've got a great variety of unique shops, services, and tours covering all kinds of needs from gifting, salon treatments, dentistry, exploring and more! We want to give YOU the chance to WIN $500 to spend in one of these very businesses!! Our timing is right in line with the proactive holiday shoppers if you're looking to get a head start! Or better yet, to treat yourself!! However you decide to spend your winnings, know it will be in support of a local Sparks Street business!! This is OUR LAST Scroll in to Win Giveaway of the year, so be sure not to miss your opportunity!! Entry is through our Instagram page!! ENTER TO WIN!!! ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ Check out our Shop and Services directories to see ALL our awesome businesses! The contest runs on our Instagram page from Wednesday, October 29 until midnight Tuesday, November 29 with a winner announcement on November 30!! GOOD LUCK!!! Sparks Street Businesses! Here's some Small Biz inspo for you & a chance to meet some of the owners and operators on #MySparksStreet!! Alyea Jewellers Anne Wallner 📍 50 Sparks Street The Snow Goose Ltd. Ian Wright 📍 83 Sparks Street Society Salon & Blow Dry Bar Stefania Capovilla 📍 90 Sparks Street True Bijoux Lindsay Appotive 📍 206 Sparks Street Escape Bicycle Tours & Rentals- Ottawa Maria Rasouli 📍 79 Sparks Street Dixon Jewellers Brette Peters 📍 71.5 Sparks Street Morgante Menswear Domenic Morgante 📍 141 Sparks Street Esthetics by Lucie Lucie Rosano 📍 167 Sparks Street Don't forget to ENTER for your chance to WIN $500 to spend at one of these or another great #MySparksStreet small businesses!! GOOD LUCK!! The giveaway will close on Tuesday November 29th @ 11:59 p.m. A winner will be randomly selected and announced on Monday November 30th, 2022 and be contacted by direct message on Instagram. Find the Full Contest Rules HERE.

Exploring #MySparksStreet businesses! One of Ottawa's most beloved and trusted Instagram content creators, @Amyin613, is a familiar face here on Sparks Street! If you follow Amy, you'll know some of her favourite spots for hair and jewellery are located RIGHT HERE on Sparks! This fall, she's exploring some of our small businesses - just as we kick off our celebrations for #SmallBusinessWeek! Be sure to follow along on both our channels to catch her visits, insights, and insider details for the businesses she visits! Her stories will bring her through the doors and inside the shops you may already love or are seeing for the first time! Sparks Street Amyin613 Have you visited one of our many awesome #SmallBusinesses recently?? Be sure to tag us as you explore the shops, salons, and many services that call #MySparksStreet home!! BONUS: We're also running our Scroll in to Win Giveaway where you could WIN a chance to spend $500 shopping in one of our small businesses!! Be sure to ENTER for your chance to WIN!! Contest runs on our Instagram page from October 19 - November 29, 2022!

Hey, Ottawa! Did you hear? Our friends and fellow poutine lovers over at HOT 89.9 have your chance to get out with the fam and win the ultimate sleepover on Sparks Street! Poutinefest on Sparks Street, Spring 2019 You could win: Two night stay at ReStays; Downtown Ottawa's Boutique Hotel Two nights of underground parking ReStays In-Suite VIP Surprise & Delights $200 in gift cards towards your favourite foodie spots on Sparks Street (it's still patio season in Canada!) ENTER TO WIN WITH HOT 89.9 DO IT. RIGHT HERE: I WANNA WIN Get in on all the family fun with Poutinefest on Sparks! ReStays, Luxury stay designed to feel like home Poutinefest on Sparks Street, Spring 2019

With the great success of The Ottawa Asian Fest's Night Market on Sparks Street this past July, they're coming back by popular demand! The Night Market will be returning to Sparks Street for their Late Summer Edition September 23 - 25, 2022! The event features some of the most unique, trendy and popular chefs and performers from across Ontario and the festival has promised to bring even more of visitors' favourites this time around! The three day Festival is celebrated for capturing the spirit and vibrancy of the renowned Night Markets in Asia. With an eclectic mix of modern architecture and historic landmarks, Sparks Street provides a pedestrian friendly, outdoor oasis away from the noise of traffic. Combine that with the distinctive culture, lively energy and mouth-watering Asian cuisine that Ottawa Asian Fest is famous for, this truly is a match made in heaven and we can't wait for round 2! With our diverse blend of local shops, art and accessibility, Sparks Street suits perfectly for Ottawa’s biggest Night Market and we're delighted to be welcoming them back again so soon! "For years we have had the desire to bring the Asian Night Market to Sparks Street, so naturally we are thrilled to partner with Sparks for our return in 2022. Sparks Street provides an escape from the traffic bringing a more authentic Asian Night Market vibe and feel by prioritizing pedestrian foot traffic. It is a perfect fit and location and we plan on making this year's event one of our biggest ever.” - Simon Huang, Festival Organizer, Ottawa Asian Fest. Event Hours: Friday 12:00pm-12:00am Saturday 12:00pm to 12:00am Sunday 12:00pm to 8:00pm Find all the details for the upcoming Night Market on Ottawa Asian Fest's website! Media Contact for Ottawa Asian Fest: Simon Huang Festival Organizer Ottawa Asian Fest info@ottawaasianfest.com Media Contact for Sparks Street: Kevin McHale Executive Director Sparks Street BIA kevin@sparkslive.com

To truly understand the depth and breadth of Canadian culture, you have no choice but to travel from coast to coast. Unless... You take part in One Canada experiences in downtown Ottawa. Get a taste for everything near and far. Hear what it means to be Canadian from the diverse groups that inhabit our beautiful country. See art and play games that will make you laugh or leave you with something to ponder. Canada is more than just maple syrup and beaver tails. The One Canada experiences will give you a taste of indigenous culture, black history, and pride in Canada. Download the Engage Art app and be on your way to understanding everything Canada has to offer all while walking the streets of downtown Ottawa. The Augmented Reality Experience can be found on Sparks Street between Metcalfe and O'Connor streets beginning August 25, 2022. The exhibit will run until the end of October, 2022. Play the game! Compete with your friends! This interactive camper van is full of fun ways to explore: Scan the QR code above to fly sky high in a hot air balloon! Compete with your friends to see who can collect the most coffee and donuts. Push all the buttons around the window and see the train go around the tracks or a fleet of snowbirds soar through across the screens. Can you figure out what every button does? This art piece is created by Kristyn Watterworth and Edward Platero. It represents bringing all of Canada into one city. Each part of the model inside showcases a different part of Canada’s diverse culture. Check out a little piece of every province inside! This installation is under 24/7 video surveillance. Be sure to tag @Sparks_Street on social media when you visit to share your experience! We love seeing our visitors engage on #MySparksStreet! AR trailer arrival and set up on Sparks Street, Aug. 23, 2022 This exhibit is brought to you by the combined efforts and collaboration of Sparks Street BIA, EXAR Studios, and Engage Ottawa.

"All Together Now!" - Capital Pride Capital Pride 2022 is happening August 21 - 28th! This year's programming includes a public art project reflecting the 2022 theme, "All Together Now!" We are delighted to share that Sparks Street will be the host location to showcase not ONE, but TWO works in this collection in the name of PRIDE! In collaboration with Capital Pride, we are thrilled to have the installations of Mike Steinhauer and Nicolo Gentile exhibiting on Sparks Street beginning August 19th just in time for the city-wide festival! Here's the map of where to find all of Capital Pride's Public Art Projects during the festival: About the Art & Artist Bios Learn a little about the installations and artists from their bios below and visit Sparks Street to take in the featured exhibits! Medicine Cabinet "Medicine Cabinet pays homage to a generation of queer people that fought for the rights and opportunities so many of us enjoy today. The tiled wall and sink reference a bathroom found in New York during the 1980s when the city was the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic. Placed in the wire trash can are empty bottles of antiretrovirals and PrEP—a pre-exposure prophylaxis used today to reduce the risk of HIV infection. The blue capped bottles reference AZT—the first drug to treat those with HIV and delay the onset of AIDS. Unlike the drugs prescribed today, AZT had significant side effects and was extremely toxic. While both AZT then and PrEP today mark critical advancements, inequities in access continue. You are invited to step up to the work, to add your own empty bottles or to simply sit on a bench to pause and reflect. The collected bottles will be reused for a future presentation." ABOUT THE ARTIST "Mike Steinhauer is a queer Ottawa-based photographer, conceptual artist and freelance writer. He has a Master of Arts from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Arts in History of Art and Visual Culture from the University of Alberta. Mike’s work has been featured in a number of exhibitions. Most recently, his work was included in Reality Vanishing In Plain Sight, an exhibition organized by the Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto. His installation, The illusion of choice, was presented at Queens University’s Union Gallery in Kingston. His photography has been featured in a number of publications including Al-Tiba9 Contemporary Art’s Interview publication and on the cover of HAS magazine, a project by UNESCO and Mémoire de l’Avenir. Born in Luxembourg, Mike now lives with his partner here in Ottawa." Find Mike Steinhauer's compelling work on Sparks Street between Metcalfe and O'Connor. Mike Steinhauer setting up his art exhibit on Sparks Street Aug. 19, 2022 Mike Steinhauer's 'Medicine Cabinet' on Sparks Street. Photo provided by capitalcontent.ca Tough Love "In Nicolo Gentile’s work Tough Love, the architecturally-scaled ball chain curtain, a monumental feature of public cruising and sex clubs, is reenvisioned as an experiential threshold to queer imagination, radicalism and archive. A queer club and kink image is rendered fractured, porous and unfixed on the curtain’s surface. Temporarily animated by the viewer passing through, this work explores both a radical and fraught Queer history and offers the act of remembrance as a gesture of communal mourning, celebration, and exegesis. What was forgotten on the road to assimilation? How can past tactics of resistance be repurposed to address ongoing issues of alienation and political complacency? What are the capacities of pleasure and ecstasy? What potential lies in the tension between looking back and moving forward?" ABOUT THE ARTIST "Nicolo Gentile is an artist and educator living and working in Philadelphia, PA. Composed of leather, latex, iron and steel, his sculptures and installations slip between recognizable materials of kink, industry and sport to address the commodification of queer aesthetics and the oscillating power dynamics of gender, whiteness and masculinities. He received his Master of Fine Art in Sculpture at The Tyler School of Art and Architecture of Temple University. His work has been exhibited in the United States and internationally in Philadelphia, New York, Portland, Los Angeles, Paris, Melbourne, and now Ottawa." Gentile's engaging piece being showcased for Capital Pride can be found between O'Connor and Bank streets. Nicolo Gentile setting up his art exhibit on Sparks Street Aug. 19, 2022 Nicolo Gentile's 'Tough Love' on Sparks Street. Photo provided by capitalcontent.ca The two works of art will remain on Sparks Street for the duration of the festival. Exhibit info and artist bios provided by Capital Pride. Please feel free to tag us @Sparks_Street on Instagram and/or use #MySparksStreet while visiting! Happy Pride!