Guests from the world of architecture will attend Sudbury's French book fair, le Salon du livre, stated a news release.
At the monthly Diner de la francophonie, organizers announced northern architecture will be one of this year's prominent themes.
Le Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury will be held May 8 to 11 at Market Square in downtown Sudbury.
One featured guest will be Étienne Gaboury, an internationally recognized architect from Manitoba, who has completed over 300 projects, including the Saint Boniface cathedral and many Canadian embassies worldwide.
He will be joined by Lisa Rochon, the Globe and Mail's architectural and urban design critic and  recipient of the National Newspaper Award in 2005 and 2006.
This part of le Salon du livre's programming is inspired, in part, by discussions currently underway regarding the possible opening of a school of architecture in the city, stated a news release.
Six activities, open to the general public, will be part of the book fair's architecture-themed programming:
-An informal talk/session with Étienne Gaboury.
- A round table discussion about the possibility of bringing a school of architecture to Sudbury.
-An architectural tour of Sudbury, in company of Rochon and Paul Trépanier, an art and architectural expert, and author of a book on urban development in Rouyn-Noranda, as well as local architects, such as Louis Bélanger. History professor Guy Gaudreau will be the tour guide.
-A public consultation session about downtown Sudbury, led by students at University of Waterloo's Cambridge School of Architecture, where the public will be encouraged to submit their observations and suggestions on how to improve the downtown core.
-The public will witness on-site architectural creation, as architecture students will design and build the main sales counter for Sudbury's French bookstore, which is set to open its doors shortly.
-An exhibition by the Northern Ontario Society of Architects will provide an overview of many of its members' works.
"Architecture defines much of our urban environment, so it's a topic of interest for everyone," said Miriam Cusson, le Salon du livre's Executive and Artistic Director, in the news release. "Plus our event can bring a rich contribution to the discussions going on right now about creating a school of architecture in Sudbury."
Late last month, le Salon du livre announced its youth-themed programming, with a  list of 27 invited authors. Among them are Tristan Demers, writer and illustrator of the popular Gargouille series of illustrated albums, Annie Groovie, whose series features Leon, Richard Petit and his Passepeur series of horror stories, India Desjardins and her series Le journal d'Aurélie Laflamme and Charlotte Gingras.
Le Salon du livre will also feature musical headliners Zachary Richard, the McDades and Andrea Lindsay, who will perform under a tent with a seating capacity of a thousand that will be erected at the Market Square.
Le Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury will announce its programming and invited authors for adult readers shortly.
For more information, contact Miriam Cusson, Executive and Artistic Director, at 675-1149 or [email protected] .
