The National Music Center (Studio Bell) in Calgary welcomed French-speaking artists as part of the International Francophonie Day celebrations.
Francophone music is at the heart of Canada’s cultural identity, reflecting centuries of oral traditions, resilience and artistic innovation rooted in Francophone communities across the country
indicates the Sudio Bell press release.
The audience, mainly made up of families, was able to listen to Ariane Mahrÿke Lemire, Jeremy Gignoux, Marc Beaudin and Tina Hartt.
Stephanie Hutchinson, director of programs at the National Music Center, explains that this first free day celebrates the French-speaking musical culture of the province, but also across the country.
I would like [organiser] this programming every year, to celebrate the importance of French-speaking culture, the influence of music in the cultural identity of Alberta and Canada, but particularly in communities where the language [française en milieu] minority needs to be celebrated
she said
Music is the universal language.
Marc Beaudin, one of the artists, says that singing in French in Alberta, on International Francophonie Day, allows him to take a moment to celebrate his language and culture. We use this means to extend our lexicon across the province
he points out.
He takes the opportunity to introduce the titles of his first album in French released in September 2025, PRAIRIES FUNKO FONE. Music is a way to communicate with people
he believes.
Francophone identity in a minority environment
Ariane Mahrÿke Lemire participated in a round table on the cultural identity of French-speaking artists in minority settings.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Isaiah Rust
After their respective concerts, the artists participated in a round table with members of the public to discuss their Francophone identity, the way it influences their creation and the way it is experienced in Alberta and Western Canada.
As I come from France, it’s an immigrant identity too, so when I arrived in Alberta 15 years ago, I was ready to adopt the local Alberta culture, by default English-speaking, but it was later that I remembered a little bit where I came from
shared Jeremy Gignoux.
This cultural and musical identity, which evolves in a predominantly English-speaking environment, is sometimes difficult to define. A reality that Ariane Mahrÿke Lemire experienced at the start of her career.
My first album was an album with eight songs in French, eight songs in English in the same cover which caused a lot of problems [dans les magasin de musique]. What shelf do we put your record on? Do we put it in world beat? in French? English?
Every year, dozens of French-speaking musical performances are presented in Alberta, whether by local artists or Canadian or international artists.
