Oui Oui Oui in Edmonton
Festival FrancoFusion Edmonton
September 27-29, 2019
How many shout-outs can you give for the country that we live in?
I spent over a decade in the french immersion education system in Edmonton(thank you Mom and Dad!). I am proud to say that I can speak a second language, albeit my comprehension has waned over years of non-practice. Multiculturalism in our country is something that was always there growing up...in all its glory. I love the many colours, languages, religions, and cultures that make up my birth country, the best country in the world!
I gotta give a shout-out to the annual Heritage Festival held every August long weekend at Hawrelak Park. Thank you for promoting acceptance and understanding through food, dance, and culture. Enter Festival FrancoFusion Edmonton for its inaugural weekend of language integration and cultural fusion. This is a cool concept, celebrating Canada's "fusion" of the french language with African, Latin, and English cultures. How refreshing to drive past Bonnie Doon mall, turn right, and enter a neighbourhood that is so vibrantly NOT English. We have a little gem in south-central Edmonton, which includes La Cite Francophone, and Cafe Bicyclette restaurant.
Wait...WHAT??? You haven't eaten at Cafe Bicyclette yet? This was a "bucket list" restaurant for me. My 3 kids and I LOVED the plethora of different types and huge portions of poutine on the menu. The restaurant is in fact cafe style, so seating is limited and gets busy quickly, but this is well worth the glutinous wait!
Then came the exploring. We decided to peer into the rehearsals for a performance to be given that afternoon. Two dancers, having never met before, and versed in different dance disciplines, were to choreograph a dance in only two hours. The result was performances of mostly head counting, some follies, but genuine passion. A band also performed, and a couple of other singers, all in our nations second official language. It was an afternoon that made me...well...proud to be Canadian!
As this was the first example of the Festival FrancoFusion, I have no doubt that the organizing committee is already hard at work filling next year's entertainment roster with more fundamental Canadian performances, sights and sounds. Keep your eyes and ears open, Edmonton...Festival FrancoFusion is another "must do" in "festival city" for 2020! Vive les differences!!!