BC Scene, which brought together 600 artists from British Columbia, took over the National Capital Region from April 21 to May 3, 2009. Highlights included Diana Krall, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s first Ottawa appearance since 1976, George Ryga’s landmark play The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, Theatre Replacement’s BIOBOXES, the world premiere of Crystal Pite’s new work Dark Matters, and an indie rock showcase headlined by Vancouver’s Black Mountain. The festival’s visual and media arts programming was particularly strong as almost 70 artists took part in 16 exhibitions at galleries throughout Ottawa and Gatineau.