Oshawa’s virtual events receive FEO achievement awards
For the second year in a row, Oshawa’s virtual events have been recognized by Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) for pivoting, adapting and evolving to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City of Oshawa’s virtual Peony Festival and Share Your Holiday Spirit have earned FEO achievement awards which celebrates the successful execution of a festival or event held in-person, virtually, or hybrid in 2021.
This is the second FEO achievement award for the 17th annual Oshawa’s Peony Festival which moved online in 2020 and was hosted again virtually in 2021. The customary two-day live event each June was transformed into a four-week virtual event featuring stunning peony garden videos, expert talks, gardening tips, and art and photo contests. The festival was sponsored by CKDO, TD Canada, Tim Hortons and Harmony Hill Retirement Community and the Government of Ontario – Reconnect Grant. The festival was produced in partnership and with virtual content provided by the Canadian Peony Society, Oshawa Garden Club, Durham Master Gardeners, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa Museum, Parkwood Estate, Oshawa Public Libraries, The LivingRoom Community Art Studio, and a TeachingCity/Durham College/3eehive collaboration.
This also marks the 10th consecutive year that the City’s Peony Festival has been recognized by FEO. It was awarded the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario designation for excelling within the industry for eight years in a row before the FEO replaced naming its annual Ontario Top 100 Festivals with achievement awards in 2020 in response to COVID-19 restrictions.
Share Your Holiday Spirit was held in November and December 2021 and called on community members to uplift spirits by participating in an outdoor holiday display contest while also donating to Feed the Need Durham holiday drive. The second annual contest was sponsored by TD Canada and inspired households from across Oshawa to decorate their spaces to show their holiday spirit. The Share Your Holiday Spirit initiative contributed to the Feed the Durham total in raising 92,000 lbs. of non-perishable food and personal care items for families in need.
For more information about FEO and its achievement awards, visit www.festivalsandeventsontario.ca.
For City of Oshawa updates, visit Oshawa.ca/NewsCentre to follow us on social media, subscribe to news and alerts, and have your say on Connect Oshawa.
Quotes:
“Time after time, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Oshawa has demonstrated its strength and resilience. We thank our creative staff and dedicated sponsors and partners who have worked so hard to keep events like the Peony Festival and Share Your Holiday Spirit that means so much to our community, alive and thriving,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter.
“This FEO Award is a welcomed acknowledgement of the excellent work done by our City Staff – especially demonstrating their ability to use ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking to create a terrific alternative for people to visit the Peony Festival during pandemic times when onsite visits were not possible. Three cheers!” said Councillor Rick Kerr, Chair of the Community Services Committee.