The period around the International Day of Francophonie, March 20, is an opportunity for more than 270 million francophones across five continents to celebrate diverse cultures united in a common language.
In the Battlefords, the celebration of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, overseen by the Canadian Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures, will take place from March 6 to 20, hosted and organized by the Centre francophone des Battleford. It will include a family curling evening, a celebration of Women’s Day and a Francofun winter festival.
This year’s Rendez-vous de la Francophonie is “The Joy of living, it brings us together.”
The Centre francophone des Battleford has been around for about 30 years under various names. Its most recent former name was Centre Culturel de North Battleford. Its name today reflects the evolution of francophone communities in Canada from one of Quebecois and Franco-European roots to a growing global diversity.
Jenny Kellgren is the centre’s co-ordinator. Located at 1602-103rd Street in North Battleford, the main floor of the Lions Club House, the centre is a place where the French-speaking community can find resources, opportunities to socialize and share their heritage and enjoy activities and entertainment in the French language.
It’s also a great place to “practice your French,” says Kellgren.
People who may not have that many opportunities to use their French will find plenty through the Centre de francophone des Battleford. The centre offers social activities, a constantly renewing library of publications and books, a music library and series of concerts, a children’s playgroup and chances to enjoy hobbies and art in a French-speaking environment.
The centre welcomes anyone interested in its activities and resources, especially those who want to join in the Rendez-Vous de la Francophonie activities this month. That includes people who don’t speak French.
“Celebrate with us!” says former co-ordinator and board member Claude Desnoyers. “We’ve never turned anyone away for not speaking French.”
Rendez-Vous de la Francophonie activities in the Battlefords begin with a flag raising Monday morning, March 9, at 10 a.m. The Fransaskois flag will be hoisted at North Battleford City Hall.
Friday, the Centre francophone des Battleford invites families to join in an evening of curling at the Northland Power Curling Centre at 7 p.m. The equipment will be supplied, but bring your own sneakers. The cost is $10 or $5 for under age 14.
March 11 is International Women’s Day, and the Centre francophone des Battleford will celebrate with poetry and a supper at the centre beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. RSVP by March 6 to 306-445-6436.
The centre will host its annual Winter Carnival and pot luck supper on the International Day of Francophonie, March 20. There will be a pot luck supper, sleigh rides, music and socializing.
Of course, says Kellgren, the highlight of the evening is always the maple sugar treat – delicious taffy cooled on snow Quebecois-style.
Desnoyers says traditions such taffy-making and folklore from the early French traders and settlers in Canada are part of celebrating the Fransaskois heritage, but the immigration to Saskatchewan by French-speaking groups from other parts of the world means the time is right for sharing culture and tradition amongst one another.
In the past, Saskatchewan’s francophones were mostly from Quebec or France. Now, says Desnoyers, there are francophones arriving from Vietnam, the Antilles, North Africa and other parts of the African continent as well as from Arabic countries. Each group, he says, brings their own culture into the mix, still they are all united by their shared language.
The Centre francophone des Battleford facilitates this sharing, but it also provides valuable services to newcomers, especially those who do not speak English.
“We are building up a bank of human resources,” says Desnoyers.
These resources include French-speaking professionals and others in the community who can be called upon to help newcomers on occasion.
It doesn’t mean having to get heavily involved in the centre’s activities, says Desnoyer, just being available if there is a need.
For example, he says, he has accompanied patients to physicians’ appointments as a translator. He has studied medical information through the centre’s resources to equip himself for the task.
Funded by the federal Canadian Heritage program, the centre’s resources are varied, ranging from French-language magazines and books to music and reference materials. It also networks with the many francophone associations in Saskatchewan from where they can draw resources and inspiration to help create a circle of activities attractive to this particular community, notes Desnoyers. To accomplish that, they are reaching out to the community to identify those who would benefit from those resources.
“What we are trying to do, among other things, is find out who they are and what are their needs,” says Desnoyers.
Those needs aren’t necessarily cultural, he explains. Many times they are practical, such as learning Photoshop.
Every Wednesday, says Kellgren, the centre is open for a socializing and to browse material for borrow from 4 to 7 p.m.
Kellgren says the centre is serving about 100 people presently. Some of the activities available to them include quiz nights, pot luck suppers, karaoke nights, theme parties such as a recent Murder Mystery Night, improv and theatre nights, movie nights and music concerts featuring visiting artists.
There is even an art club for adults, she says. This is a chance for people to get together to enjoy arts and crafts pursuits together in a French-language environment.
A free bilingual play group for parents and children up to age five is also part of their program. Children enjoy songs, crafts, stories, a snack and free play time. Kellgren says it is usually held at the centre, but it is sometimes held at other venues as well.
The centre is also involved in programming for seniors – helping to keep seniors physically and socially active, providing French resources, setting up school reading sessions where they can interact with children and visiting Marchildon Manor.
The centre also publishes a monthly newsletter.
The existence of the Centre francophone des Battleford, along with North Battleford being the location of a French-language school, École Père Mercure of the Conseil des Ècole fransaskoises, means being Fransaskois can be a long term life experience, say Kellgren and Desnoyers.
The centre has a playgroup for ages 0 to five, there is a daycare for ages 18 months to five years located at École Père Mercure and run by a board of volunteer parents, plus the school’s Pre-K-12 program. There is also a French immersion school, École Monseigneur Blaise Morand, within the Light of Christ Catholic School Division.
Desnoyers points out the deep roots of the francophone experience and its influence the Battlefords. Many people may not be aware there is a French parish, St. André, and an attached seniors complex, as well as the seniors residence Villa Pascal, which was founded as a francophone organization. The Battlefords is also home to the only francophone Knights of Columbus council in the diocese, the Hamelin Council.
The Centre francophone des Battleford welcomes francophones, francophiles and and anglophones alike. For those who want to learn French, they also hold French language classes when enough are interested. The centre can be reached at 306-445-6436 or email centrefrancophonenb@sasktel.net.
