2026 Ottawa Welsh Society Guest Speaker Series
Join us this winter for a special series of talks about Welsh culture! All talks are on Sundays on Zoom. If you enjoy the series, please consider making a freewill donation to the OWS (by cheque or etransfer to ottawa.welsh.society@gmail.com).
January 25: Welsh culture and history with Dan Rowbotham, Madog Center for Welsh Studies, University of Rio Grande, Ohio
Many of our members know Dan from his participation in NAFOW and the Ontario Welsh Festival. Join us for a presentation and chat about Welsh culture and history.
https://www.rio.edu/campus-life/campus-facilities/madog-center-welsh-studies
February 8: Gwladfa with Gwilym Bowen Rhys, musician, Wales
Members who attended our November showing of Gwladfa will be thrilled to have the chance to hear from musician and presenter Gwilym Bowen Rhys himself.
https://www.gwilymbowenrhys.com/en
February 22: Canada in Y Drych with Robert Humphries, Great Plains Heritage Centre, Nebraska
If you attended NAFOW in Ottawa, you might have heard Robert Humphries talk about the how Welsh American newspaper Y Drych reported on Welsh events in Canada. Since then, Robert has unearthed further stories to share with us.
https://greatplainswelsh.org/
——-
St. David’s Day Luncheon 2026
Date: Saturday, February 28th, 2026
Time: 11:30 bar opens, 12:30 banquet
Venue: Marconi Centre, 1026 Baseline Road at Farlane Blvd.
This year we will have the pleasure of celebrating Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant/St. David’s Day with a luncheon banquet at the Marconi Centre.
Please join us to honor our patron saint while enjoying good fellowship and excellent food.
Our guest speaker will be a representative from the British High Commission who will bring St. David’s Day greetings.
Entertainment: Alex Becke, soprano, Sofia El Chaar, harp
Menu: This year we are offering Chicken Scallopini with white wine sauce or Oven Baked Salmon.
Cost: Early bird tickets $60 each, deadline February 13, 2026; $65 thereafter.
Final deadline for reservations is 20 February 2026.
Dress code: Business casual – no jeans or cargo pants.
Reservation forms will be in the Winter 2026 Newsletter or you can print your own: Luncheon Form 2026. Please send your completed forms, with payment, to Marilyn Jenkins, 267 McClellan Road, Nepean, ON, K2H 8N7. If you wish, you may include your 2026 membership form and payment with your luncheon reservation.
For more information contact: Marilyn Jenkins, (613) 820-6687 or marilyn.e.jenkins@sympatico.ca
——-
St. David’s Day Gymanfa Ganu 2026
Date: Sunday, March 1st, 2026
Time: 3:00 pm
Venue: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 470 Roosevelt Ave.
Director: Shannon Mercer
Accompanist: Thomas Annand
Hymns TBA
Please bring your Welsh Hymn Book, if you have one!
As always, we invite you to participate in a friendly reception (Te bach) afterwards and we would be very grateful if you could bring some goodies to share.
——-
The OWS holds a Welsh language class on the first Monday of each month, in the Swedish Restaurant at IKEA (Pinecrest) beginning at 10:30 a.m., ending at 12:00 p.m.
A chat group, called ‘Awr Sgwrsio’, meets at the same location and time on the third Monday of each month. This is open to Welsh speakers at all levels.
For information, or to get on the email list, contact John Williams at phone #613-234-2778 or email at j.williams2@gmail.com or Alison Lawson at phone #613-725-2704 or e-mail at alisonlawson@rogers.com.
Ottawa Welsh Society 