Girls Night In, from The Canadian Cancer Society (Ontario Division), is a flexible fundraising program in support of women’s cancer research. Unlike other fundraising programs, Girls Night In works with any schedule or lifestyle, by inviting you to host a get-together with the girls and to ask your guests to donate what they might typically spend on a night out.

In a highly anticipated celebration of the Chinese New Year, the Canada China Art Association will present an enchanting performance of Chinese artists at the National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall, at 8pm on January 16th. The Spring Festival Gala 2009 (www.springfestivalgala.ca) is an extraordinary production with stunning costumes and mesmerizing backdrops that draw the audience through a sequence of eras honouring the cultural diversity of China and sharing its beauty with the world.

From January 2-31, 2009, Ottawa photographer Gavin Murphy will exhibit his latest works entitled Reel Women at Francesco’s Coffee Company (857- A Bank Street) in support of CanHave Children’s Centre. Since 1994, the Ottawa-based charity CanHave has continued its benevolent work improving the lives of Ugandan HIV/AIDS-affected orphans through care and educational support.

Ottawa-born R&B artist Keshia Chanté is getting ready to bare her SOUL on the small screen. The Juno Award winner will take on her first major acting role in a new six-part drama series, premiering Feb. 11 on VisionTV. Filmed in Halifax, SOUL stars Chanté as a young gospel singer on the verge of leaving the safety of church and family for the fast and dangerous track to pop stardom.

The National Bank Financial Group has announced a fundraising campaign in support of Breakfast Clubs of Canada. Beginning November 17th, for a limited time, exclusively designed Breakfast Clubs of Canada Holiday Ornaments are available for $5 a pair.

Ottawa thriller author Rick Mofina’s latest book, Six Seconds, has drawn early praise from James Patterson and Jeffery Deaver and will be released in Canada and the U.S. in January. Six Seconds, a global standalone thriller, is the story of a California mother’s anguished search for her abducted son, a haunted Mountie’s investigation into the strange death of an American reporter in the Rockies, and a plot to assassinate the pope during a U.S. visit – using the kidnapped boy as the weapon! www.rickmofina.com

Disabled Persons Community Resources (DPCR) celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2008 and received the United Way/Centraide Ottawa’s Community Builder Award for People with Disabilities in recognition of its leadership and excellence in service delivery and programs. Founded in 1957, DPCR is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the independence, participation and integration of people with physical disabilities in the Ottawa area.