Sturgeon Falls ready to party this weekend

Le Conseil des Arts du Nipissing Ouest
News Release

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STURGEON FALLS – Le Conseil des Arts du Nipissing Ouest (CANO), West Nipissing’s arts council, announced its First annual Festival de la St-Jean line-up, for June 18th and 19th, at Goulard Park, in Sturgeon Falls. The weekend, which commemorates the St-Jean-Baptiste, a traditional celebration for Francophones across Canada, will not go unnoticed in West Nipissing: young and old will be amazed by the impressive line-up of artistic performers and activities on the agenda.


Friday, June 18

The Festival kicks off Friday with its activities for area attending French-language public and catholic elementary school students. Children will take part in a lip sync competition, imitating francophone musical groups before lunch. In the afternoon, younger children will attend a show by ventriloquist Lise Maurais, entitled Lili le Virus à l’aventure, at the Sturgeon Falls Recreation Centre, and entry is free. Meanwhile, Grades 5 to 8 students will have fun with water games in the Park.

That evening, two concerts will be presented. The first is by Le Diable aux corsets, a folklore traditional progressive group from Casselman, Ontario, comprised of Émilie Aubut (violin), Tommy-Dave Harrison (guitar), Christelle Racine (saxophone) and Melissa Racine (keyboard and vocals). They will be followed by nationally renowned signer-songwriter Martin Deschamps (pictured). Named best vocal at the Empire des Futures Stars in 1996, he was also lead singer for the rock icon, Offenbach. In 2001, he won the Felix for the Rock Show of the Year, in Québec.


Saturday, June 19

Saturday afternoon, families can attend the comical and mysterious Daniel Coutu’s Magic Show. This magician knows how to mix Science to the world of magic. The show starts at 1:00 pm, at the Sturgeon Falls Recreation Centre. Free admission to all.

Saturday evening, the community celebrates La St-Jean in a big way, with three concerts for the price of one! The evening starts with the local group Franco Jam. This group of talented musicians knows how to rock its audience! They’ll be followed by the young and up-coming artist, Dominique Laura Guénette, who will be launching her first album, “Devenir Femme”. Chosen in 2006 to represent Ontario at the prestigious music festival in Granby, Québec, Dominique Laura Guénette is a performer who pleases fans with her strong and enticing vocals. The finale of the evening is a concert by the famous and much-loved group Swing. With a 10-year career, more than 900 concerts across Canada and abroad, for over 500,000 spectators, and recipients of numerous prizes, critics are unanimous in claiming that Swing must be seen in concert in order for one to fully appreciate the phenomenon!

Tickets for both days of the Festival are being sold at École secondaire Franco-Cité’s Alumni office, at the Caisse populaire in Sturgeon Falls, and at the Sturgeon Falls Recreation Centre, at the cost of $20 per day. They will also be on sale at Goulard Park during the Festival weekend.

“This weekend brings life to our goals and artistic mission, which are based on offering inclusive social fun, while promoting the Francophone culture, and the cultural tourism industry in West Nipissing”, said Edgar Gagné, the Franco-Cité Alumni president. “This festival allows us to bring to life in our own way, the unique municipality’s slogan, ‘Joie de Vivre’”, he added.

Le Festival de la St-Jean is made possible thanks to its major sponsors, Industry Canada (FedNor), and the Caisse populaire de Sturgeon Falls. Their generous contributions ensure the Festival’s financial success. Without these important partners, Le Conseil des Arts du Nipissing Ouest (CANO) and the many volunteers who lend a helping hand, would not be able to offer such a rich and varied programme.

Le Centre des Arts de Nipissing Ouest is at the heart of West Nipissing’s cultural and social activities. Its mission is to support the durable growth and development of cultural and artistic life in West Nipissing. Moreover, CANO wants to raise awareness of the diversity and quality of professional and amateur performers on the national, provincial, and local scenes, by offering audiences various performances on a regular basis.

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