Le Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury, Sudbury’s French book fair and literary festival, has released some details of this year's event, which takes place May 9-12.
The event will take place at Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture in the heart of downtown Sudbury.
The programming includes tours of area schools by about a dozen children’s authors who will present a total of 90 workshops in schools, visits by area students to the fair’s main venue and an impressive series of events for the general public — panels and interviews with authors, literary dinners, happy hours, round table discussions, lectures — followed by exciting evening stage performances.
This year’s event is expected to attract about 10,000 visitors, including 5,500 students.
The guest of honour is Michel Ouellette. The Smooth Rock Falls resident is a major figure in Ontario’s French theatre circles. He is a prolific writer, with about 40 plays and a number of novels, works of poetry and children’s book to his name.
His play “French Town” won the Governor General’s Literary Award. Of special interest will be his latest publications in three genres: theatre, novel and poetry.
Here's a look at some of the programming specifics:
All About theatre
Writer-actors, playwrights, novelists, poets and directors discuss the challenges and rewards of bringing words to life on stage. Guests inlcude Jean Marc Dalpé, Alain Doom, Antoine Côté Legault and Marie-Thé Morin.
All About Indigenous Literature First Nations
Writers share their view on the creative process, imagination, spoken word, writing, translation, and the process of bringing their works to audiences.
Guests include Waubgeshig Rice, David Groulx, Louis-Karl Picard-Sioui, Marie-Andrée Gill, Sylvain Rivard, Guy Sioui Durand and Pierrot Ross Tremblay.
All About Families
An exciting line-up of events for children and families will be part of the fair’s Family Day programming, featuring authors Mireille Messier, Éric Péladeau, Diane Carmel Léger, Claude Forand, Daniel Marchildon and many others. La Slague jeunesse will present a performance of Contes d’un violoncelle (A Cello’s Tales), and a magic show by magician Marc Trudel.
Stage performances and evening events: The “Sudbury Rendez-vous” series
• A historical, social and literary walking tour of downtown Sudbury hosted by Marc Despatie and Stéphane Gauthier
• A fun and unusual activity: Sudbury Literary Battle with local Francophone and Anglophone authors, presented by Wordstock Sudbury Literary Festival and Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury
• Theatre evening with public readings: “Le gars qui voulait se faire phénix” by Antoine Côté Legault and “Un quai entre deux mondes” by Alain Doom
• One-man show: “La vie littéraire” written and performed by Mathieu Arsenault
• First Nations event: literature and bingo come together in Kwahiatonhk.
• CD launch: Joëlle Roy
• Moran in concert, presented by La Slague
Books Galore
Featuring 30 or so exhibitors representing over 100 publishing houses, 100 or so book signings and dedication sessions and, of course, thousands and thousands of books.
Further details about the event’s programming, as well as ticket information, will be announced in the near future. Visit www.lesalondulivre.ca.
