By Martin Lalonde
Literally translated, the name means: the Festival of the Lafontaine Wolf. It celebrates local French heritage in every sense, whether it be language, art, traditional music, artifacts or artisans-crafters.Whether you approach the Village of Lafontaine via County Road 6, Cedar Point Road or Concession 16 of Tiny Township, you can spot the church steeple, much as you would in any village in the province of Quebec.
Indeed, the village’s first settlers arrived from Lower Canada in the 1840s and brought with them their language, culture and customs. These early French speaking agricultural settlers were devout Roman Catholics who built a traditional church complete with tall steeple in the center of their village.
In the early 1900s, a large wolf claimed this quiet hamlet as his territory and wreaked havoc among the settlers by devouring a number of their precious livestock. Such fear was created that everyone had a single aim in mind: to rid the area of this hideous monster. The wolf was finally shot by Theophile Brunelle, in the 17th Concession. The community united to celebrate the event by attending a high mass and holding a large party.
In 1955, the parish priest, Father Thomas Marchildon, wrote and published an account of this wolf’s effect on the parishioners. The wolf’s proportions now attained legendary status. The story was transformed into a play in which many of the villagers portrayed early relatives. For the second time, parishioners united as a community and, once again, the wolf was a common factor.
Just a few years ago, the Lafontaine Seniors Club discussed the possibility of creating a museum to preserve their grand and great grandparents’ heritage. They called the community together to discuss the best way to keep the history alive. Many ideas, including a living museum for the entire village, were mentioned but none could materialize overnight. It was decided that a Festival celebrating the village’s cultural heritage could serve as an appropriate starting point.
A committee was struck and the legend of the wolf was chosen as the central theme for the Festival. Thus began the preparations for the first Festival du Loup in 2002, a full century after the real wolf’s demise. The Festival’s success encouraged the Organizing Committee to plan a second festival in 2003 and to return once again on July 16, 17, and 18, 2004.
Where’s the Happening?
In Lafontaine, of course.
The Festival du Loup takes place at the Lafontaine Park and at Sainte-Croix School throughout the 3rd weekend in July.
The Basic Program:The museum hall at the village school opens Friday morning at 10 until 5 pm. It will also be open Saturday and Sunday.
Friday night, the celebrations begin at 7:30 pm in the community arena. Music is provided by local talent and “Swamperella”, a professional band playing original Cajun music, is sure to get you clapping your hands and tapping your toes.
Saturday morning, 10 am: Skill games, giant inflated toys, information booths, displays and vendors selling crafts, art, maple syrup, honey, etc. This year, organizers want to feature local farmers so visitors will have the opportunity to purchase farm produce such as meat and vegetables.
1 pm: Official opening with a First Nations’ Smudging ceremony, and Christian blessing along with words of welcome from dignitaries. Music and entertainment will follow on the centre stage all afternoon until 5 pm.
7:30 pm Saturday (a must): Le Grand Hurlement or Howling Good Time features three professional bands: Damien Robitaille (originally from Lafontaine), Blou, an Acadian band from Nova Scotia playing contemporary and traditional French Canadian music, and Swing, a group from the Ottawa area specializing in techno-trad music. This group will also be playing at the Mariposa Folk Festival this summer.
Sunday July 18th begins at 10 am with a Folk Mass celebrated at Sainte-Croix church. At 1 pm Les Contes Géants, a family show, followed by organized family games and a second musical show: Jojo à la ferme at 3 pm.
The Festival du Loup has activities and entertainment for the entire family. Come celebrate with us and enjoy experiencing French-Canadian culture first hand.
To learn more, take a look at the Festival’s website—http://www.festivalduloup.on.ca