Festival to celebrate Franco-Ontarian culture
Stéphane Paquette remembers thinking in high school that his name was uncool because it was too francophone.
“I was the guy who didn’t want to speak French at (my francophone) school,” said Paquette, award-winning musician, performer and radio host.
Paquette said his feelings toward his culture began to change when a friend recruited him for a weekend retreat with FESFO (Fédération de la jeunesse franco-ontarienne), a federation that unites Frenchspeaking schools across Ontario.
“It was really a reversal of the kid who didn’t want to speak French in high school, who made a career out of being a francophone personality from Ontario,” said Paquette, 40, who is from Chelmsford, Ont., outside Sudbury.
Paquette is among more than 30 artists who will be performing at the 42nd Festival Franco at Major’s Hill Park from June 15-17. The music and arts festival is a celebration of Franco-Ontarian culture.
The festival will include music performances, comedy shows and performances, as well as food from a variety of vendors.
One of the highlights of the food portion of the festival is a raclette food truck, organizers said.
“It’s a festival that was created at a time when there wasn’t many festivals in Ottawa,” said Josée Vaillancourt, president of Festival Franco-Ontarien Banque Nationale.
“It’s a way to celebrate the French language and its culture, but to also introduce people to that culture.”
The festival draws thousands every year, but those numbers are not exclusively francophones.
“There’s a lot of people (who attend the festival), who are in French immersion or their children are in French immersion,” Vaillancourt said.
“They’re looking for opportunities to experience life in French outside of school.”
Festival Franco is an inclusive festival and is for anyone who is interested in the French language and culture. And it’s one of the most affordable festivals in town, Vaillancourt said.
“We really want for our culture to be discovered by anyone who is interested,” Vaillancourt said.
Paquette said that he has all kinds of fans and some don’t speak French.
“I’ve had comments like ‘I didn’t understand what you said, you were awesome,’ ” Paquette said.
“In the beginning I would call myself a French singer, but now I’m just a singer who sings pop music.”
Artists who are being identified exclusively as French singers is part of the problem, Paquette said.
“If you sing country music, whether it’s in German, English or French, it’s still country music.”
Paquette has usually participated in the festival as a musician but will be performing as a standup comedian this year. He has been a part of Festival Franco for several years.
“When I think about Festival Franco-Ontarien, I think of a whole lot of people that I’ve known for years that are passionate about culture,” said Medhi Cayenne, a musician who will be performing
It’s a way to celebrate the French language and its culture, but to also introduce people to that culture.
at the festival on June 15. “They are passionate about making things happen, from an older generation to a newer generation.”
Cayenne, 30, grew up in Montreal, Ottawa and Moncton, N.B., but calls Ottawa his stomping grounds, he said.
This year will be his second time performing at Festival Franco.
“I started my career in Ottawa, I started playing around town,” said Cayenne, who was born in Algeria. “I came from the poetry and theatre scene and then came forward as a songwriter in French.”
For Cayenne, Festival Franco is helping Franco- Ontarian culture find its place in the conversation about cultures from around the world, he said.
For a full lineup of artists and information visit the Festival Franco website.