WELCOME TO THE 7™ ANNUAL :
MAPLE SUGAR FESTIVAL DU SUCRE D'ERABLE |

ebruary is a sweet time for

Nanaimo residents and visitors

when the 7‘ annual Maple
Sugar Festival launches into high
gear to celebrate the cultures and
traditions of eastern Canada.

Presented by the Francophone
Association of Nanaimo (LAFN) and
Camp this unique five-day event
kicks off on Wednesday, February

21st and Thursday, February 22nd, |

with two days of high quality school
shows for young audiences and teens.
To round off their visit, students will
sample mouth-watering maple toffee
on snow created right before their
very eyes. Adding to the festival’s
public activities, the Port Theatre
will present the opening gala of the
festival with the Zydeco blues band
Glamour Puss as the star attraction
Wednesday evening.

On Friday, February 23rd, in
preparation for the weekend’s

Dear Francophones and
Francophiles.

The Fédération des francophones de la Colombie- |
Britannique is pleased to be a partner of the 7th |

_ Maple Sugar Festival
Association des francophones de Nanaimo:

festivities, Beban Park’s Centennial
Building will begin its magical
transformation into an old time Sugar
Shack and the Festival Village doors
will open for the Nanaimo Chamber
of Commerce’s special luncheon from
11:00 to 2:00. Chamber members,
dignitaries, guest speakers and the
Quebec Maple region’s delegation
will be in pe te In addition, a
Quebec First Nations artist will be
exhibiting his painting works at
Nanaimo’s Gallery 223 during the
entire week of the festival and the
week before.

On the morning of Saturday and
Sunday, February 24th and 25th,
the Centennial Building will open its
doors to the public and the place will
be buzzing with lots of family
activities all day. An array of French
Canadian festivities will be offered
over the weekend, including
educational exhibits, music, clowns,
traditional foods and a genuine

organized by the|

atmosphere of joze de vivre. Enjoy a
variety of maple sugar products, treat
yourself to a hardy lumberjack
breakfast or the traditional home
made Tourtiére meat pie and Poutine.
Stroll through various exhibition
tents and learn the ancient art of tree
tapping; be awed by world famous
Ice carvers demonstrating their
incredible talents. Or, simply sit back
and relax to the sounds of folk and
contemporary music from some of
Canada’s best performers.

For those wanting to experience this
cultural event to its fullest, Saturday
night, February 24th, offers a high-
calibre live show that will have folks
dancing all night long. The indoor
beer garden adds to this magical
atmosphere reminiscent of the old
time “Party du samedi Soir”.

A fun time is guaranteed for the
whole family.

Joanne Hogan

Vestas),
President apy

L Association des francophones x?

de Nanaimo (LAFN)

From February the 21 to the 25th, the Association |
des francophones de Nanaimo will be presenting 5 |
days of festivities to all the residents of Nanaimo,
to all British-Columbians and to visitors from all
over Canada.

Hello, Dear Friends

As President of L Association des francophones de Nanaimo’s board
of directors, administrative staff, and many members, I am pleased to
welcome you to the seventh edition of the Maple Sugar Festival du
Sucre d’Erable.

The dedicated organizers and volunteers bring many years of
experience in the preparation of this fabulous event — and it shows.
They have worked their magic once again to bring you an
outstanding event, featuring exciting and diverse entertainers and
excellent food. The proof is in this excellent souvenir program;
check out all the wonderful events taking place over five days in
beautiful Nanaimo.

The Maple Sugar Festival provides a unique opportunity to have fun and to |
| become immersed in the B.C. Francophone culture. These days are proud |
moments for all Francophones and for us, at la FFCB, as the official represen- |
tative of the Francophone community in our province.

| I would like to congratulate the Association des francophones de Nanaimo for |
the outstanding work accomplished over the past years. The energy, the efforts
and enthusiasm of its staff have allowed the Francophone community in |
| Nanaimo to develop, to flourish and to grow in an exceptional manner. We are |
also very proud of the many partnerships that the AFN has developed between |
_ the province of Québec and the city of Nanaimo. They have made it possible |
for the Francophone community of British Columbia to take its rightful place
on the provincial and on the national stage. I would also like to thank all the |
volunteers involved in the Festival’s organization. The success of such an |
event depends on the determination and dedication of everybody involved. |

None of this would be possible without our presenting sponsor,
Citadelle-Camp, and our numerous other government and
_ community sponsors.The AFN truly appreciates their support.

| Come and participate in the francophone «Joie de vivre»..... Please join us for another exciting Festival, where you will have the
chance to dance till you drop, after having partaken of traditional

savoury and memorably sweet delights.

afew Hic!

Joanne Hogan
President

Have a great Maple Sugar Festival!

ee eoronne

Michelle A. Rakotonaivo, |
President
_ Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique

La Fédération des francophones
de la Colombie-Britannique 7

WWW.FRANCOPHONENANAIMO Ong,

(4) DAAPLE SUGAR FESTIVAL - FEBRUARY 21-25, 2007