U of O event raises funds for local charity, promotes Ottawa artists
On Sept. 24 the Everybody Love Everybody (ELE) Festival returned to campus for its third year with a wide array of musical talent, securing its spot as one of the University of Ottawa’s most popular fall events.
Hosted by the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) for the first time, the concert was held on campus and was open to the public (aged 16 and up).
On that night University Square was used as more than just a concrete jungle, providing a large enough space to accommodate the over 1,900 people that purchased tickets.
Essentially advertised as a student-friendly rave, ELE Fest featured tons of Ottawa artists, staying true to its theme of supporting the community and showcasing local talent. Funds raised through ticket sales are being donated to a local charity. This year, the SFUO chose Candlelighters, a childhood cancer support program based in Ottawa.
Dotted by musical groups and artists like KHAOS, Maurice Moore, DJ Katrella, Lily Fidelia, C-Fresh Beatbox, and headlined by the international Bass Jackers, ELE fest was as lively as ever.
Marley Langman, a fourth-year linguistics student at the U of O remarked that although this was her first year attending the event, it certainly left an impression.
“I found the event to be a lot of fun and high energy. It was also really cool to see so many students out at an on-campus event,” Langman wrote in an email to the Fulcrum.
Langman also noted that despite having no budget, “the SFUO did a good job with the event. Entry was smooth and the event seemed very well planned.”
Hadi Wess, vice-president social of the SFUO, explained that the success of the festival was due, in part, to ticket sales.
“We took another approach to promote the event,” he said, and noted that instead of relying solely on email communication, the SFUO reached out to the campus community, including the Residence Association of the University of Ottawa.
“We reached out to the residences (and) the CAs promoted the event on their floors, and all the student associations on campus promoted the event within their own faculties.”
“We followed the strategy that would guarantee that we would make the event work financial wise.”
The SFUO also had the festival promoted on other school campuses like Carleton University, Saint Paul University, and Algonquin College, a move that, according to Wess, helped skyrocket ticket sales, which made the event possible. But Wess made it clear that most of the attendees were from the U of O.
“The fact that it was held on campus made it more accessible for students,” he said, further mentioning that it really fit with this year’s SFUO theme of “Together, Ensemble.”
“The main goal is to bring all the students together (while) promoting charity and music via festival,” Wess shared.
“We’re proving to the (public) that we’re able to make things happen even with no money. We’re able to make something out of nothing.”
