The ‘7th Annual Festival d'été:

An artery leading to
a strongly beating heart.

As we all know, Vancouver is a city that is on the move, heading
towards a bright future. It is a city that is establishing its place as one
of the major economic arteries in North America. The young
city with a big heart is still in the process of defining its identity.

We also know that many are worried about the future of
the French language in North America. Some think that being far
from its roots, it is weakening; that the Francophone heart cannot
beat strongly enough in this continent to supply and enlarge remote
areas throughout the entire body of North America.

In its 7th year, the Festival d’été de Vancouver will give a great boost
to it by extending activities to last a week. To reach this objective,
Festival organizers have created a network made up of an ensemble
of very diverse partners who head their respective areas: the Festival
Vues d'Afrique, the Festival international d’été de Québec, the du
Maurier International Jazz Festival Vancouver and the Pacific
Cinematheque.

Rarely have we seen such a celebration of Francophone
culture here in Vancouver. Rarely have our Franco-Columbian artists
received the opportunity to be seen and heard within the
framework of other festivals all over the continent.

By giving its d ulture here on the West Coast,
the Festival d'été deMancouver finds itself at the heart of the North
Americ ophone community. It acts as an artery that

strenght nd quickens the pulse of our language, and links it to
the shores of the St.Lawrence where it took its first breath long ago.
The festival also provides Vancouver, a growing artery, one more heart
beat defining its soul and heart.

Roxane Vachon
President