July 2020 | Page 13

The French community in Ontario holds youth festivals in music, drama, dance and visual arts. Yet, until now, there wasn’t an event for students whose noses are always in books, pencils at the tip of their fingers writing story ideas down on scraps of paper. Every year, MASC holds two popular English literary events: MASC Young Authors and Illustrators Festival and Your Story Festival; therefore, we wanted to offer that same opportunity to French students. Which is why we created IllustrAuteurs! A oneday festival for students in Grade 7 to 10, spent with authors, illustrators, storytellers and slam poets. A moment to play with words, to draw them, to write them and to read them. It will be fascinating, surprising and more importantly, it will be fun. We’re exploring options as to how we will present IllustrAuteurs this fall and are considering a virtual experience in November 2020. Even at a distance we can be together and share our passion for words! Check out our web site and follow us on social media for updates. MASC wishes to acknowledge the financial support from ACFO Ottawa’s initative Ottawa Bilingue as well as the Ontario Arts Council. This event could not take place without the support from Association des auteures et auteurs de l’Ontario français (AAOF), the three French school boards of Eastern Ontario CECCE, CEPEO and CSDCEO and Le Coin du livre bookstore. 13