The Association franco-t茅noise du Sud et de lSA国际影视传媒橭uest helped Hay River residents welcome the bright sunny rays of spring with maple taffy on snow on March 19.
Called a SA国际影视传媒榮ugar shackSA国际影视传媒� - or Cabane 脿 sucre- the francophone associationSA国际影视传媒檚 event drew about 70 people, including young families and children, to Castaways Cottages on Great Slave Lake.
Every year the association orders maple syrup from a board memberSA国际影视传媒檚 family in Quebec to give residents a taste of boiled maple syrup and snow on a stick.
Mila Benoit, executive director of the association, said she put the event together in collaboration with her partnerSA国际影视传媒檚 outdoor adventure company Northern Escape.
SA国际影视传媒淲e wanted to do an event that has significance for the French community, but that would be interesting for all the Hay River people,SA国际影视传媒� explained Benoit.
SA国际影视传媒淲e really wanted to have an event that everyone felt welcome to attend because weSA国际影视传媒檙e trying as a French community to be more part of all the Hay River community.SA国际影视传媒�
Formerly LSA国际影视传媒橝ssociation franco-culturelle de Hay River, the group as of January is now called LSA国际影视传媒橝ssociation franco-t茅noise du Sud et de lSA国际影视传媒橭uest.
Benoit, who became executive director following Jessica PayeurSA国际影视传媒檚 departure last September, said the name change reflects a new mandate aiming to serve francophones in Fort Smith, Hay River and the Dehcho region.
With additional funding, Benoit has been able to hire a second employee - her sister L茅a-May Benoit - as a community development officer to help serve more communities.
Benoit has been living in Hay River for four years, but has experience as an economic development officer with Conseil de d茅veloppement 茅conomique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (CD脡TNO), which has helped her make contacts in both Yellowknife and the South Slave.
The experience has made for a welcome fit for her new leadership position, she said.
SA国际影视传媒淚 felt that we needed someone to take over that really knows the French association and understands where it wants to go,SA国际影视传媒� Benoit explained.
SA国际影视传媒淚 was like, SA国际影视传媒榃ell, maybe I can be interested in that position.SA国际影视传媒� The board, I think, was really excited to know that I was taking over the position because ISA国际影视传媒檓 someone that already knows the association well.SA国际影视传媒�
The association typically holds cultural, sporting, and artistic events to promote francophone presence in the North. Benoit said there will be a big focus on Fort Smith this year to build a presence in that community.
