FrancoSonic #FNLROM kicks off celebrations this Friday, June 19, 2015
Samuel de Champlain’s original travel journal on display
ROM Big Weekend: FrancoFUN includes family events on August 15 and 16, 2015
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(Toronto, Ontario – June 18, 2015) – The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) announced today its programming to mark the official Ontario’s 400th Commemoration and to celebrate four centuries of Francophone contributions to social, cultural, economic and political development in Ontario. The ROM celebrations include a new gallery display of Champlain’s travel journal, a special FrancoSonic themed Friday Night Live (#FNLROM) event, presented by Ford Canada, and a ROM Big Weekend full of family programming.
“The ROM is delighted to share in the Ontario 400 celebrations and connect our visitors from around the world with exhibits and events that bring Franco-Ontario culture to life. The diversity of our programming highlights Champlain’s journal to contemporary artists at Friday Night Live, giving visitors of all ages unique opportunities to experience Francophone heritage,” said, Mark Engstrom, Interim Director and CEO of the ROM.
“My ministerial colleagues and I are very pleased that an institution of such renown as the Royal Ontario Museum is fully committed to commemorating the 400th throughout the summer. A whole series of activities will enable Ontarians and visitors from around the world to participate in this historic event and to discover the remarkable journey of Ontario’s francophone community,” said Madeleine Meilleur, Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs.
On display now at the ROM is the Champlain on Our Doorstep exhibition, in the Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada. The display includes a second edition of Champlain’s 1613 Voyages journal, first printed in 1627. Champlain is considered to be the founder of New France through his journey to North America. The remarkably well-preserved diary features original text from Champlain, with passages and illustrations recorded between 1603 and 1632, as well as the famed explorer’s personal account of activities in Ontario at the time.
This Friday, June 19, the ROM’s popular Friday Night Live celebrates Francophone culture with a FrancoSonic themed night, presented in partnership with Alliance Française. The artistic line-up includes Parisian electro pop band Grand Blanc, jazz folk fusion from Montreal-based MAZ, DJ CRi, Adam Double You, both from Québec City, and Franco-Ontarian DJ L’As Depique. Other live acts include country/folk artist Emilie Clepper, Saskatchewan singer/guitarist Anique Granger, master drummer Amara Kante, and francophone blues with Cecile Doo-Kingué. FrancoSonic also features an encore presentation of DECLARATION: Repatriation by ARTICLE 11 in the ROM’s Roloff Beny Gallery.
The ROM's BIG Weekend: FrancoFUN Family Festival takes place from Saturday, August 15 to Sunday, August 16, 2015. Programming highlights include, Francophone and Indigenous storytelling with Passages Canada, lessons about the leaders who shaped Franco-Ontarian culture lead by Historica Canada, arts and activities with Alliance Française artists, and a special screening of the Rêve de Champlain the popular docu-drama series, starring Maxime Le Flaguais, which is broadcast in Ontario on TFO. FrancoFUN is presented in partnership with Alliance Française and Télévision française de l'Ontario (TFO).
Event details are available at www.rom.on.ca.
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Wendy Vincent, ROM Publicist
416.586.5547
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The ROM gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Ontario for #FNLROM FrancoSonic.
About the ROM
The Royal Ontario Museum is an agency of the Government of Ontario. Opened in 1914, Canada ’s largest museum of natural history and world cultures has six million objects in its collections and galleries showcasing art, archaeology and natural science. The ROM is the largest field research institution in the country, and a world leader in research areas from biodiversity, palaeontology, and earth sciences to archaeology, ethnology and visual culture - originating new information towards a global understanding of historical and modern change in culture and environment. For 24-hour information in English and French, please call 416.586.8000 or visit the ROM’s web site at www.rom.on.ca. Tickets are available online at www.rom.on.ca.