We're back in Ottawa - again at the invitation of the National Capital Commission - who have been real champions for us. It was a conversation with Mark Kristmanson in December 2005 that really shifted the project into high gear when he asked if we'd be ready for Canada Day 2006 so he could build the show around it. And everyone else there has been fantastic too: Joel, Therese, Alain, Julie, Stephan and others.

I've met with Mark several times since then and not once did he tell me that he has a daughter who is a musician. I've recounted this tale in the blog before - back in October - but I was reminded of it again tonight because we arrived in Ottawa a day before the launch of Winterlude so that we could take the guitar to Kyrie Kristmanson at the Rainbow Bistro in the Market for her set there.

She is everything I thought she would be after our first meeting at the OCFF Conference - a beguiling performer with lyrics so thoughtful, so vivid and so tenderly painted. Apart from the fact that she doesn't sound like anyone else, her writing is just exceptional and I hope the country gets to know her better as one of our most unique voices.

Immediately after her set, one of the musicians came up and introduced himself and asked if he could play one of his songs for me on the guitar. His name was Neil Gerster. We went into the dressing room backstage and he played a gorgeous song full of images of Canada. It was a real treat and wonderful again to see the connection that musicians feel when they encounter the guitar.