The cultural branch of l’Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) presents a double St-Jean-Baptiste festival this year. The calendar is so generous that it made the two days of the St-Jean-Baptiste happening a Friday and a Saturday.
The event will take place June 24 for Dawson City and June 25 for Whitehorse, this year at Marsh Lake.
The St-Jean festival begins at noon in Dawson with a lunchtime entertainment, makeup for kids, music and fun at the gazebo by the Yukon River. Cajun and rock musician Guy Cormier will perform for the pleasure of everyone.
In the evening, don’t miss the St-Jean-Baptiste show with Nicolas Lemieux, Studio Cacho, Guy Cormier and Monogrenade(Montreal’s Francopholies festival discovery) at the Pit Bar from 9 pm until late night. The musical lineup includes folk/ballads, Cajun and rock music, techno pop and rock electronic.
In Whitehorse – more precisely at Kettley’s Canyon on Marsh Lake, 30 minutes south of town on the Alaska Highway – activities begin Saturday at 3 pm with dance performances, entertainment, live music and a DJ.
The dinner is a potluck and people are free to bring their own drinks.
The music begins at 8:30 pm and will feature performances by Le Chat, Studio Cacho, Guy Cormier, Monogrenade and, yes, Soir de Semaine – which just released its second album, Faire des voeux.
Be prepared to be awake all night for a Francophone music party. People are invited to camp on the site, so bring your tent or your camper.
The Francophone cultural life of the season doesn’t end with the St-Jean-Baptiste. Francophiles will enjoy a few great artistic performances with the comeback of the Cafés 5 à 7: every Thursday in July at the Centre de la francophonie.
The event features emerging Francophone music, dance and multidisciplinary artists of the community. “Bouchées” and drinks are served while you enjoy meeting your friends and relax at this Rendezvous of the summer.
Also, the Dawson City Music Festival is featuring Chic Gamine, a refreshing soul band from Winnipeg and Montreal. Don’t miss the harmony of four wonderful women and a contrabassist who lively mix R & B, chanson française, soul and jazz.
Their last album, City City, was nominated at the Juno Awards for the best Roots/traditional album of 2011. Visit www.dcmf.ca for more info.
Promoting the Yukon in French
There is now a remarkable video named “Yukon, splendeur du Nord Canadien”. It’s actually the first Yukon promotional video about living in French in the Territory.
The video features interviews with Sylvain Turcotte of Boréale Mountain Biking, the painter Nathalie Parenteau and Marcelle Fressineau of Alayuk Adventure. It will be shown in Yukon promotional activities for the Francophone market.
The project was headed by the RDÉE, the economic development team of AFY, and funded by CanNor. It will be displayed on Vimeo, partners’ websites and at www.afy.yk.ca.
