This month’s edition showcases Ottawa as both a cultural destination and a centre for entrepreneurial growth.
While Immersive International activated Confederation Park with a globally recognized immersive installation during Winterlude 2026, Ottawa-based Ariana Naturals continues to expand its national retail footprint with a purpose-driven wellness brand.
Together, these stories reflect how Ottawa supports innovative ideas and local ambition. Read on to learn more.
Immersive International Brings Global Creative Excellence to Winterlude 2026 with LanternGrove
When Confederation Park lit up for Winterlude 2026, it wasn’t just the beginning of a festival, it was the culmination of global creative expertise meeting Canadian cultural celebration.
This year, LanternGrove transformed one of Ottawa’s most iconic public spaces into an immersive, large-scale experience that captivated audiences and redefined what winter programming can look like in the nation’s capital.
Behind the magic, was Immersive International, a global creative design and innovation studio now making its mark in Ottawa.
Elevating Public Space Through Immersive Design
Winter festivals around the world are evolving. Audiences increasingly expect more than passive viewing. They seek interactive, story-driven environments that blend art, technology, and cultural storytelling. Immersive International specializes in exactly that.
For nearly two decades, the studio has pushed the boundaries of experience design, delivering opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games, touring stadium productions, permanent theme park attractions, world expo pavilions, experiential museum installations, and digital art commissions across the globe.
LanternGrove at Winterlude 2026 marked a new chapter, a large-scale immersive installation in the heart of Canada’s capital.
On opening night, Confederation Park came alive as thousands of visitors stepped into the experience for the first time. The official launch celebrated not only the start of Winterlude, but the arrival of world-class immersive design in Ottawa’s public realm.
“Our team at Immersive International poured a lot of love into this project,” shared the company following the opening. “We’re incredibly grateful for the passion and commitment everyone brought to bringing LanternGrove to life.”
A Global Studio, Activated in Ottawa
Immersive International is a global creative design and innovation studio that brings together leading talent from around the world to build creative and technical solutions that entertain, engage, and inspire the audiences of the future.
Its portfolio spans:
- Olympic Games opening ceremonies
- Touring stadium shows
- Permanent theme park attractions
- World Expo pavilions
- Experiential museum installations
- Digital art commissions
LanternGrove demonstrated how international expertise can be localized and designed specifically for Ottawa’s landscape, climate, and cultural context.
By integrating storytelling, spatial design, and technical innovation, Immersive International created an installation that complemented Winterlude’s heritage while elevating its contemporary appeal.
Why Ottawa
Ottawa’s Winterlude is a nationally significant celebration, drawing visitors from across Canada and internationally. For a global studio like Immersive International, the festival represented an opportunity to collaborate within Canada’s capital and contribute to a high-profile cultural platform.
The project was delivered in close partnership with Ottawa Tourism, with additional support from Canadian Heritage and the National Capital Commission. OSE also played a key role in helping bring LanternGrove to life.
These collaborations reflect Ottawa’s strength as a convening ground where public institutions, tourism leaders, and global creative firms can align to deliver experiences at scale.
By activating Confederation Park with an immersive installation, Immersive International contributed not only to the Winterlude program but to Ottawa’s growing reputation as a destination for world-class experiential design and cultural innovation.
Strengthening the Ecosystem
LanternGrove’s success reinforces Ottawa’s position as a city capable of hosting ambitious, technically complex public experiences.
Projects of this scale require coordination across multiple stakeholders, advanced production capabilities, and a collaborative ecosystem. The successful delivery of LanternGrove highlights Ottawa’s readiness to support globally recognized creative firms and complex experiential projects.
For international companies exploring opportunities in Canada’s capital, Winterlude 2026 serves as a visible proof point: Ottawa is a city where global ideas can be realized on a national stage.
On the Horizon
With LanternGrove now part of Winterlude’s 2026 legacy, Immersive International continues its global work designing and delivering next-generation immersive experiences.
As cities worldwide look to reimagine public engagement, cultural programming, and location-based entertainment, studios that combine creative vision with technical innovation will play an increasingly central role.
Ottawa’s collaboration with Immersive International signals a continued evolution in how the capital activates its public spaces, blending tradition with immersive storytelling to engage audiences in new ways.
Learn More
- Learn more about Immersive International and its global portfolio at Immersive International – Look beyond the trends. Lead with a vision. Create the infinite.
- Interested in bringing your international company or creative venture to Canada’s capital?
- Discover how Invest Ottawa’s Global Expansion team supports global firms in establishing, scaling, and collaborating within one of North America’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems. Global Expansion Program | Invest Ottawa
From Burnout to Breakthrough: Ariana Naturals Brings Science-Backed Saffron Wellness to 100+ Stores Across Canada
Mental health is no longer a side conversation. It is a defining challenge for modern entrepreneurs.
For Alessio Monterosso, founder of Ariana Naturals, the issue was personal. After experiencing burnout and depression, he discovered saffron, a science-backed mood enhancer shown to support emotional well-being. What began as a personal turning point quickly revealed something else: a clear gap in the Canadian wellness market.
There were no accessible, premium saffron-based tea products available in retail stores. So, he built one.
Turning Personal Recovery into Purpose
Founded in Ottawa, Ariana Naturals pioneered the use of saffron in tea products now sold in stores across Canada. The company blends ancient superfoods with modern science, creating products designed to support mood and mental wellness naturally.
What started as a solution for one entrepreneur has grown into a nationally expanding wellness brand, recently reaching a major milestone: placement in over 100 retail stores across Canada.
The company has also entered the Healthy Planet chain, with two locations currently carrying Ariana Naturals products and plans to expand into additional stores, including those in Ottawa.
This growth signals strong consumer demand and a founder committed to building something bigger than a product line.
Building the Foundation in Ottawa
Alessio participated in the Starter Company Plus Program, delivered by Invest Ottawa’s Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC), at a pivotal stage of growth.
“The Starter Company Plus Program was very insightful,” he explains. “It provided hands-on mentorship, business planning tools, and networking within Ottawa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Through the program, Ariana Naturals sharpened its go-to-market strategy, refined its business planning, and built meaningful connections with local stakeholders. The funding support helped accelerate expansion, while the mentorship and community strengthened the company’s confidence to scale nationally from Ottawa.
For founders navigating early growth, access to structured support can be transformative. In Alessio’s case, it helped convert momentum into measurable traction.
Scaling with Purpose
Today, Ariana Naturals is entering its next phase of expansion.
The company is launching the RED Herbal Tea – a new superfood blend featuring rooibos and chai mix, while exploring tea sachets to broaden its product offering and growing its e-commerce platform to reach new customers across Canada.
Beyond product growth, Ariana Naturals is also advancing a broader mission. The company recently launched its “1% for Mental Health” initiative in support of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), aiming to raise awareness and encourage conversations around mental well-being within the entrepreneurial community.
Entrepreneurship can be demanding. Ariana Naturals is building a brand that acknowledges that reality and contributes to change.
Advice for Founders on the Fence
For entrepreneurs considering their next move, Alessio offers practical advice:
“Dive into programs like Starter Company Plus early. They demystify the process with expert guidance and peers. Validate your idea through customer feedback and small-batch testing. Stay true to your unique value and leverage your local and provincial community for collaborations. Action beats perfection every time.”
It is advice grounded in lived experience and backed by results.
What’s Next
With national retail traction, new product launches underway, and an expanding digital presence, Ariana Naturals is poised for continued growth.
The company is actively seeking angel investors and potential co-founders to support its next stage of expansion, scaling a wellness brand that began in Ottawa and is now reaching customers across the country.
- Discover Ariana Naturals at www.ariananaturals.com
- Follow Ariana Naturals on Instagram and on LinkedIn.
- Interested in launching or growing your own venture? Explore how Invest Ottawa’s Starter Company Plus Program supports entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding, and community connections to scale with confidence: Starter Company Plus
Looking to Start or Grow Your Business in Ottawa?
Looking to Start or Grow Your Business in Ottawa?From early-stage startups to scaling global companies, Invest Ottawa offers tailored programs that help founders validate, grow, and expand with confidence. Explore available programs and supports at investottawa.ca.
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