From 13 to 15 November, the Rideau-Vanier ward will host Le Caucus, a major French-language improvisation tournament bringing together 10 adult teams from Ontario and Quebec for nearly twenty matches over three days!
As part of Ottawa’s 200th anniversary celebrations, I am particularly delighted to see this project come to life following a year of collaboration with L’Acronyme, a Francophone improvisation league that brings together adult amateur actors and actresses from the region. In partnership with the Institut canadien-français, L’Acronyme plays an active role in promoting the French-speaking community in the Ottawa region.
Since the start of our collaboration, we have shared a common desire: to create more opportunities to celebrate Francophone culture, to bring people together and to give French language a prominent place in the capital. And what better way to do this than through improvisation! Talent, creativity, surprises and, above all, lots of fun.
The tournament will take place at Club SAW, 67 Nicholas Street, with a packed programme:
And the good news: entry is free! The event is open to everyone. However, the organisers recommend that attendees be aged 12 and over.
Whether you’re already a fan of improv or simply curious to discover this art form, this is a great opportunity to come and cheer on the teams, discover talented performers and have a great time in French
A trophy in memory of Denis Gratton
The winning team will take home a very special trophy: the Denis-Gratton Trophy, named in honour of Denis Gratton, a journalist and columnist for the daily newspaper Le Droit, who had a profound impact on the Franco-Ontarian community.
Originally from Vanier, Denis devoted much of his career to telling the stories of our community. Through his columns, he addressed social issues, highlighted the realities faced by Francophones and gave a voice to those who were too rarely heard. He had a way of making us think, moving us and sometimes even making us laugh.
His commitment to the Francophone community was particularly evident during the fight to save Montfort Hospital, which was threatened with closure in the late 1990s. Through his reporting and writing, he helped raise awareness of this historic battle and support the SOS Montfort movement. He also covered significant events abroad, notably by accompanying Canadian peacekeepers to Bosnia in 1993.
Denis was a leading voice in our community and a passionate advocate for French language, culture and rights
This is precisely what we wish to celebrate by naming this tournament after him. Le Caucus brings people together around the French language, culture and creativity. These are values that Denis championed throughout his life.
The trophy presentation will take place on Sunday 15 November, following the grand final, and we are delighted that his sister, Ginette Gratton, will be joining us to present the prize to the winning team.
Ginette herself is deeply committed to our community. As Executive Director of Maison Marie-Louise, she plays a daily role in keeping this Francophone organisation in Vanier alive, which welcomes and supports individuals and families by offering them a listening ear, support and community activities. Founded in 1997, Maison Marie-Louise is an important hub of solidarity and mutual support in our neighbourhood.
It is therefore with great emotion that we will welcome Ginette for this tribute to her brother. I find it particularly touching that this award is being presented by a member of her family, as part of an event that celebrates precisely what was so dear to her heart.
Let’s make Le Caucus an annual event!
For this first edition, our aim is to make Le Caucus an unmissable annual event on the Francophone improvisation scene in Ottawa. We’ve got everything we need to turn it into a wonderful tradition!
A big thank you to L’Acronyme, particularly Éric Dumont, as well as to the volunteers and everyone who helped make this tournament possible.
Would you like to take part in a future edition or become a sponsor? Get in touch! We want to grow this tournament year on year and continue to promote the French-speaking community in Ottawa.
To view the programme and find out all the details, visit L’Acronyme’s website (in French only): https://www.lacronyme.com/lecaucus
This post is also available in French.
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