With spring just around the corner, it’s that time of year to head outside to celebrate French-Canadian culture.
The annual La Cabane á Sucre du Nord, also known as the Northern Sugar Shack, will be on Saturday, March 16, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event has been happening in the area for over 40 years, but this year, attendees will enjoy the traditional celebration in a new location at Camp St. Louis.
Families will savour an afternoon spent by the lake, where they can get their hands sticky with toffee on the snow and experience other French-Canadian inspired delicacies.
“As for the new site, that’s pretty much the only thing that’s going to change,” expressed Mireille Lavoie-Beaupre, community officer for the Bonnyville-Cold Lake French Cultural Centre (ACFA). “We’re still going to have sleigh rides, toffee on the snow, and sampling of French-Canadian food and beverages.”
While the new location means some growing pains, Lavoie-Beaupre said they’re hoping to adjust and offer a great experience for everyone who attends.
“We’re super happy Camp St. Louis is doing that this year. Camp St. Louis has been kind of like us, they’ve been around for 30-plus years serving the community and they were happy to offer to be able to offer the site.”
Deacon Ryan Sales, executive director for the camp, said they were more than happy to provide their space when they were approached.
“When you have a facility that is available for community events, you want to see it being used. To have an event like this, and to be able to support them, is exactly what we’re hoping to do with our facility,” he expressed.
Due to the miserable winter, Lavoie-Beaupre encouraged residents to celebrate the upcoming spring.
“People... love the experience, they love the family gathering, fighting cabin fever, and jumping into spring. They love it. That’s just what brings people out, and somebody who’s never experienced it or people that aren’t outdoorsy, winter isn’t for everyone. It’s just the perfect time.”
She continued, “We need to be proud and to show off what the Lakeland is made of. The French community is very much part of the community here, and it’s to create an understanding of where we come from and how we’re intertwined. Some people... will create the bond just to try a little bit of French food, and to realize we all want to be connected somehow and are to an extent.”
While offering a family-friendly afternoon to learn about French-Canadian culture, it also allows residents to celebrate their roots.
“Everybody is connected to a bit of French heritage, like people that have been living here for generations understand the intertwining link we have with French culture. It’s just the diversity we want to celebrate, and (for) the newcomers, to find a little bit of different culture,” detailed Lavoie-Beaupre.
Tickets are available for sale at École Voyageur in Cold Lake, 4 Wing MFRC, and at the ACFA office in Bonnyville.
Camp St. Louis is located at 61218 Range Rd. 470, 10-kilometres west of Bonnyville on Hwy. 660. Due to parking, Lavoie-Beaupre recommended carpooling to the event.
