27,000 People Expected At Third Salon du Livre du Grand Sudbury
   
(CNW)The third bi-annual Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury is
expected to draw 27,000 people in May, making it the largest
francophone cultural event in Northern Ontario.
    
Taking place from May 8-11 at the indoor farmers' market in
downtown Sudbury, the event is the fourth largest literary
salon for francophone art and culture in Canada and the biggest
in Ontario.
    
The event will bring together more than 70 authors and artists,
58 community partners and at least 200 publishing houses from
across the country.
    
Visitors attending the salon will be able to enjoy:
- Les 5 à 7 Littéraires - literary cocktail receptions that
feature readings with culinary treats and refreshments
- Musical performances by Cajun singer-songwriter Zachary
Richard, the McDades and Andréa Lindsay
- Book signings, readings and literary conferences
  
The theme for the salon this year is Grand ciel bleu par ici -
"Big Blue Sky This Way." The theme is taken from the
title of a poetry collection by popular Sudbury author Robert
Dickson, who passed away early last year. Dickson, a
Franco-Ontarian, received the 1992 Governor General's Award
for French poetry for his book Humains Paysages En Temps De
Paix Relative.
    
The Ontario government is investing $75,000 to help promote the
salon in Ontario and Quebec. The funds are provided through the
Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, which helps cultural
organizations to develop, promote and present unique events.
    
Le Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury attracted 14,000 people in
2004 and 22,500 people in 2006 - a 73 per cent increase. The
organization hopes to attract new audiences including youth,
Francophiles and immigrants. A new literary festival for youth
called Salon du livre jeunesse has been added to its
children's event, Le Festival de la mauvaise herbe for
spring, 2009.
    
"Le Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury has been a bestseller
from the very beginning, thanks to a strong partnership among
community partners and a common vision to raise the profile of
Francophone culture in Ontario," said Culture Minister
Aileen Carroll.
    
"Every two years, people across the region look forward to
coming to Sudbury for what has become the largest francophone
cultural event in Northern Ontario," said Sudbury MPP Rick
Bartolucci. "This funding will help attract new visitors
to the city, and boost cultural tourism in this area."
    
"Francophone arts and culture have long been a source of
pride for all Ontarians, and the popularity of le Salon du
livre du Grand Sudbury is a testament to that pride," said
Francophone Affairs Minister Madeleine Meilleur. "The
salon also does a wonderful job showcasing the diverse talent
of the Franco-Ontarian community and the important contribution
they make to our province's artistic and cultural
heritage."
    
"The Ontario Cultural Attractions Foundation's grant
will assure Le Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury's radiance
in Ontario and enable the organisation to develop its full
potentiel as a tourist attraction," said salon General
Manager and Artistic Director Miriam Cusson.
