Organizers for the second Francophone Festival say they want the city and the region to know that French culture is alive and well.
The Ontario government announced its funding of $40,000 for the event at the Francophone Centre on Friday. The cultural fair scheduled for May 29 at the Sports Dome, aims to bring French-Canadian heritage with music, food and activities.
Claudette Gleeson, chair of the Francophone Festival, said the event will have sporting events, food and art exhibits from local and regional artists.
"There are so many facets to this festival," Gleeson said. "First and fore most it is to help the Francophone population to find a place and celebrate together. Not just in Thunder Bay but the whole region."
Fort William Historical Park held the first Francophone Festival in 2007. More than 1,000 people attended the first festival. Gleeson said it took two years to plan and get everything organized. Traditionally, the weather in May can be unpredictable, which is why the festival moved to the Sports Dome, she said.
Gleeson said she didn’t know how the festival was going to get funding. The program Celebrate Ontario 2010 is an initiative to bring in new or existing tourism festival and events. The program offered funding for festivals and events held between April 1, 2010 and March 21, 2011.
"We are not ready to do it the way we want to," she said.
The 10 members met every month for two years to plan the festival. Gleeson said putting on the festival requires a lot of work and wouldn’t be a yearly event.
Gleeson said there wasn’t an issue with keeping the festival bilingual and all information about the festival is in English and French.
MPP Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay – Superior North) said he’s excited to announce the funding for the festival in May.
"I have a very good French name," Gravelle said. "I always feel some what embarrassed that I am unable to speak French very well. It will be fantastic to celebrate the culture, the music, the food and the activities of the Francophone population. Don’t think everybody in the northwest recognizes what an important part francophones play."
The festival begins at 3:30 p.m. The festival will also have a concert featuring Swing, Les Trois Accords and Tam Tam Mama begins at 6:30 p.m.
