Oh Canada Eh!? Gives Back
Fun, Food and Giving Back – A new take on quality dinner theatre and giving back.
New kids on the block, Totally Legit Productions, is bubbling with excitement on the early success of the Oh Canada Eh!? dinner musical which recently re-opened here in the Nation’s Capital. This time around, it also includes the opportunity to give back to the community.
Oh Canada Eh!? (OCE) is Canada’s longest running dinner musical with a high-energy, all-ages show that highlights songs either written or made famous by 70+ Canadian artists. The two-hour show serves up a delicious Canadian inspired menu of food and song and showcases the amazing performing talent of local artists.
Totally Legit Productions is a family-run business bringing years of performing experience and a passion for the live arts to the Ottawa landscape. Artistic Director Meaghan Chapin and Operations Manager spouse Jean – Francois Grenier proudly state that Oh Canada Eh!? is in their DNA. “I grew up watching this show in Niagara Falls, eventually working there and actually landing my husband on the stage of the production. It’s OCE until death do us part!” jokes Meaghan.
Meaghan’s sister, Michelle Chapin, is the production manager and performs the role of Mountie-loving Rosemarie in the show. “What better home for OCE than the Nation’s Capital? But it’s more than just a show for us. OCE is a fun, Canadian-themed tourist attraction, a great place for local artists to work and a socially responsible company that wants to give back to the amazing community we call home,” she says.
“In our first year, we participated in Kids up Front, providing opportunities for families to attend events they otherwise may not be able to see. Seeing the faces of the families and knowing we helped was such a good feeling,” say Michelle. “Now, we’re so excited to be launching our partnership to support The Ottawa Mission.”
The Ottawa Mission is the city’s largest and longest-running shelter. They have been at the forefront of transformative care for the most vulnerable since opening their doors in 1906. They offer an emergency shelter, medical and dental care, a hospice, mental health and addiction services, and support with housing, education and employment.
Partial proceeds from every ticket sold for Oh Canada, Eh?! this November and December will go towards meals for clients of The Mission. The need for meals in the community has risen by a shocking 80% since the beginning of the pandemic. Before the pandemic started, The Mission was serving over 1,400 meals a day. With the surge of hunger and instability caused by COVID-19, they now serve about 2,500 meals a day. When pandemic restrictions meant The Ottawa Mission had to close their dining room to community guests, they opened a take-out meal station from their garage and secured a food truck to bring nutritious meals to the neighbourhoods hardest hit by hunger.
Not only will ticket prices for OCE cover meals at The Mission, but the dinner theatre experience has another unexpected connection with the city’s largest shelter. Award-winning chef Ric Allen-Watson has designed the menu for Oh Canada, Eh!?, and is also The Ottawa Mission’s head Chef and founder of their highly successful culinary job-training program.
“We love being able to bring such a fun show to amazing audiences, and knowing that with our audiences’ help, our performance will extend its impact in the community during the holiday season is really heartwarming. We feel very fortunate to have the ability to help feed those in need,” says Grenier. “Can’t wait to see you at the show, eh?”