Since he started working at the Fort 91原创 National Historic Site as a history interpreter this past June, Jonathan Fortier has taken part in a few of the fort鈥檚 events, including its annual Brigade Days in August.
But this weekend鈥檚 Vive Les Voyageurs French-Canadian festival at the FLNHS is right in his wheelhouse.
That鈥檚 because the 28-year-old Fortier is a French-Canadian, originally from Gatineau, Quebec.
鈥淲hen I found out they had a voyageur program, it was something that I really wanted to get into,鈥� said Fortier, who graduated from the University of the Fraser Valley with a degree in history and an extended minor in French.
鈥淎 lot of the interpreters here do speak French, as well.鈥�
Vive Les Voyageurs 鈥� the FLNHS鈥檚 annual winter festival 鈥� is this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
The festival celebrates the unique folklore and culture of the voyageurs and fur traders who lived in 19th-century Fort 91原创.
Both days, visitors can learn a M茅tis dance, try their hand at spoons and jigging, attend a French 101 lesson, join a fur trade wedding, and fill up on maple taffy and poutine while listening to live Voyageur-style music by Rejean, Chic Soiree.
Historical presentations will also be ongoing for the duration of both days.
Regular admission fees apply ($7.80 per adult) but admission is free for annual pass holders.
A family annual pass is $39.20 until March 31.
Dating back to the early 19th century, the fort鈥檚 origins are steeped in French culture.
The first fort was built in 1827 by the Hudson鈥檚 Bay Company, to trade for furs and other local goods with the nearby First Nations peoples, and about half of the crew building the first palisade were French-speaking.
French-Canadians were also key to the fur trade, the reason the fort was created.
鈥淭he French-Canadians would have been hired by the Hudson鈥檚 Bay Company to be cheap, skilled labourers,鈥� Fortier explained. 鈥淎 lot of them wouldn鈥檛 have been educated but they would have known how to blacksmith and do some barrel-making and things like that. They were hired to come here and do a lot of the skilled work.鈥�
Fortier, who has spoken English and French his entire life and deftly switches from one to the other, said he鈥檚 looking forward to the weekend event at a workplace that he has enjoyed, thus far.
鈥淚 always loved history and I always wanted to work with the federal government, so when I saw a [job] posting, I thought, 鈥楾his would be so amazing to come and work here, work for Parks Canada, and work for the National Historic Site and you get to breathe in all of the history,鈥� Fortier said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the same thing with all the other interpreters that are here, too, they just love being here as well. You need to love history.鈥�
Fortier is joined at the FLNHS by Rita Bruneau, a born-and-bred British Columbian who spoke French as her first language at home.
She鈥檚 from Maillardville, a neighbourhood in Coquitlam that was established by French Canadian sawmill workers lured to the West Coast by plenty of work a century ago.
鈥淪he鈥檚 the one who has been really pushing this [festival],鈥� Fortier said.
Preschool showcased
Les Petits Voyageurs preschoolers will have a tent at the festival.
鈥淭he common theme of 鈥榲oyageurs鈥� in the event鈥檚 name and in the school鈥檚 name is based on local history,鈥� noted Les Petits Voyageurs assistant director Laura Grefford. 鈥淲e look forward to celebrating 91原创鈥檚 voyageur history at the festival and will be on-hand to greet families interested in learning more about our preschool program.鈥�
In in its fifth year of operation, the preschool is situated at 脡cole des Voyageurs public francophone school in Walnut Grove.
French for students
The 91原创 Chapter of Canadian Parents for French is sponsoring a second week of school programs for the Vive Les Voyageurs at the fort, to fill demand from local teachers.
This year all the class places were full before a number of 91原创 schools could register.
With this in mind, Canadian Parents for French, 91原创 Chapter arranged with Parks Canada to sponsor a second week to accommodate local schools; six 91原创 schools are now scheduled to attend.
鈥淲hen we heard from the fort that the spots had been filled before some 91原创 teachers were able to register, we decided to work together to allow more students to attend,鈥� said Michele Dyck, president of Canadian Parents for French, 91原创.
In addition to sponsoring the second week, Canadian Parents for French will be on site at the FLNHS on Saturday morning.
The first five families to join 91原创 Canadian Parents for French will receive a free annual pass for the fort.
All 91原创 CPF member families who visit are eligible for a draw to win one of five annual passes.
Chapter vice-president Martin Fandrich said: 鈥淚 joined CPF because as a young adult I learned the value of knowing a second language. As a volunteer, I鈥檓 pleased to see our local kids have opportunities to experience that value much earlier than I did.鈥�
