Intergenerational Day June 1, 2021
Ottawa Celebrates Intergenerational Day on June 1st with Music 
​NEWS RELEASE

Enjoy the new intergenerational song recordings:
- Listen Now to the songs by Ottawa-Carleton District School Board students with Craig Cardiff
- Listen Now to the song recorded by Ottawa's OrKidstra and Canadian Showtime Chorus®

“What Makes a Good Neighbour” by students from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and participating older adults, led by local musician Craig Cardiff.

Click to: See Video Trailer

​Click to: Listen now to the Songs

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“I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)” intergenerational song recording with collaboration between OrKidstra and Canadian Showtime Chorus®.

Click to: Listen now to the Song

For a third year, Ottawa joins cities across Canada in celebrating Intergenerational Day on June 1st. The pandemic has highlighted how connections between people of different generations are at the very foundations of our community. While we may not be able to gather in person on June 1st, we can still celebrate the benefits of building relationships across generations. 

iGenOttawa has chosen Music as this year's theme for its power to raise spirits and strengthen community no matter the circumstances. iGenOttawa has been working with local organizations and musicians and is pleased to support the launch of inspirational intergenerational song recordings on June 1st which includes:

• A songwriting project led by local musician Craig Cardiff who held virtual songwriting workshops with students in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and participating older adults, turning their ideas about “good neighbours” into songs. The lead track entitled, “What Makes a Good Neighbour,” captures voices of different generations celebrating the connections between people of different generations. (See below for more information)

• A virtual musical collaboration between Ottawa's OrKidstra and Canadian Showtime Chorus® to create a special version of the song “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony).” (See below for more information.)
• Students at the Centre d’Excellence Artistique de l’Ontario (CEAO) at l’École Secondaire Publique De La Salle offered 250 arts booklets and online music performances including the annual end of year gala to the residents of the Centre d’Accueil Champlain and Bruyère.

 
iGenOttawa hopes music will inspire people to connect with one another on June 1st and year-round in simple, meaningful ways, such as:

• talking on the phone or organizing a video chat, adding a bit of music;
• sending an email including video or links to music they might enjoy (see Connected Canadians Blog: Music and Tech- 6 Simple Tools You and Your Grandmother Can Use) ;
• sharing a physically distanced visit outside (and maybe bring along your instrument of choice!)

 
Now more than ever, we need ways to connect. Just because we can’t be together, doesn’t mean we can't be connected and music is a great connector.

Additional Song Project Information
 
 “Good Neighbours" Intergenerational Song Project

As part of iGenOttawa’s Good Neighbours Ottawa campaign, students from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board participated in a songwriting project on the theme, “What does it mean to be a good neighbour?" led by local musician Craig Cardiff and his team. This project, engaged classes at Featherston Drive Public School, Rockcliffe Park Public School, and North Gower Public School in virtual workshops, and involved older adults in the community, including residents at St. Patrick’s Home. Six songs were created, filled with heartwarming interviews and singing. The lead “intergenerational song” entitled, “What Makes a Good Neighbour," captures younger and older voices in celebration of connections between people of different generations. Students from Kindergarten to grade 12 wrote, recorded, and produced original songs inspired by a collective of voices responding to the need for connection during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
 
Canadian Showtime Chorus® and OrKidstra Song Project
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A virtual collaboration between singers from two Ottawa music-based organisations, OrKidstra and the Canadian Showtime Chorus®, has produced an intergenerational version of the iconic song “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect harmony)”  with words and music by B. Becker, B. Davis, R. Cook and R. Greenaway; arranged by R.E. Schram. OrKidstra is a social development program that empowers kids, ages 5-18, from under-served Ottawa communities by teaching life skills – such as teamwork, commitment, respect and pride in achievement – through the universal language of music. Canadian Showtime Chorus® is a competitive women’s singing group, specializing in 4 part a cappella harmonies in the barbershop style. Formed in 1982, the Canadian Showtime Chorus® ranks in the top 18 of more than 500 choruses worldwide. 
 

Collaborators

ARCHIVED
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Intergenerational Day -  2019 and 2020

June 1st, 2020 marked the 10th anniversary of Intergenerational Day in Canada. For the second year in a row, Ottawa joined other cities across Canada in proclaiming June 1st as Intergenerational Day – a celebration of the mutual benefits of building relationships across generations.  
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The pandemic required iGenOttawa to discard plans to have people of different ages gather in person. Instead we put a call out to the community and collected wonderful artwork, messages, jokes, and stories for The Good Companions and Meals on Wheels to share with seniors and adults with physical disabilities in our community. Have a look at some of the artwork here.

Also, a big thank you to Synapcity for featuring Intergenerational Day 2020 in its newsletter, as well as iGenOttawa's open letter to the community.

On June 1st, 2019, Ottawa celebrated Intergenerational Day for the first time after iGenOttawa made a proclamation request to the City.

​Many intergenerational events were held across the city, from picnics and a digital literacy workshop to neighbourhood voting on the best location for a city bench.

As well, a panel was organized by iGenOttawa on “Building Intergenerational Cities.”
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​The discussion explored public spaces, transportation, and housing through an intergenerational lens, and highlighted the importance of building “soft” infrastructure.  The panel discussion was later referenced in an article in the Ottawa Citizen’s "healthy cities" series.
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​Intergenerational Day 2019 also coincided with the Doors Open Ottawa weekend.

Journée intergénérationnelle - 2019 et 2020

Le 1er juin 2020 a marqué le 10e anniversaire de la Journée intergénérationnelle au Canada. Pour la deuxième année consécutive, Ottawa s'est jointe à d'autres villes du Canada pour proclamer le 1er juin Journée intergénérationnelle - une célébration des nombreux bienfaits des liens entre les générations.

Devant les obstacles causés par la pandémie, iGenOttawa a dû abandonner ses plans de réunir en personne des gens d'âges différents. Ainsi, nous avons alors décidé de lancer un appel à la communauté afin de réunir des œuvres d'art, des messages, des blagues et de magnifiques histoires destinés à The Good Companions et à la Popote roulante afin que ces organismes puissent les offrir aux personnes âgées et aux adultes handicapés de notre communauté. Vous pouvez jeter un coup d'œil à quelques-unes de ces œuvres d'art.

​Aussi, un grand merci à Synapcity pour avoir présenté la Journée intergénérationnelle 2020 dans son bulletin ainsi que la lettre ouverte d'iGenOttawa à la communauté.

Le 1er juin 2019, pour la première fois, Ottawa célébrait la Journée intergénérationnelle après qu'iGenOttawa eut fait une demande de proclamation à la Ville.

De nombreux événements intergénérationnels ont eu lieu à travers la ville, tels des pique-niques, un atelier de litéracie, et même un vote pour déterminer le meilleur emplacement pour un nouveau banc offert par la Ville.

De plus, une table ronde intitulée «Bâtir des villes intergénérationnelles» a été organisée par iGenOttawa.
Des discussions sur des sujets tels que les espaces publics, les transports et le logement, se sont déroulées selon un point de vue intergénérationnel et ont souligné l'importance de la construction d'infrastructures «immatérielles». La table ronde a été mentionnée plus tard dans un article de la série «Healthy Cities» du Ottawa Citizen.

La Journée intergénérationnelle 2019 a eu lieu en parallèle avec la fin de semaine Portes ouvertes Ottawa.

There are lots of ways to get involved and
​celebrate Intergenerational Day on June 1st!

Organize and participate in events in your neighbourhood, bringing different ages together!

​Consider doing some small action to connect with someone younger or older than you.
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Click below to see all the events and post your own intergenerational event!* 

C* 

EVENTS PORTAL*

*THANKS TO RANDOM HACKS OF KINDNESS

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​Do not hesitate to reach out at
​ info@igenottawa.ca 
​with any questions.