The Government of Canada supports Impératif français and the Outaouais en fête Festival

“Our government is committed to supporting festive, friendly gatherings that showcase our artists and allow Canadians to celebrate their heritage, culture and everything that makes Canada unique.”

– The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism

“The Outaouais is a welcoming, exciting and dynamic region that is worth the trip. Outaouais en Fête marks the beginning of festival season. This is a great opportunity to discover Quebec artists, as well as those from across our country, including Aboriginal artists."

– Greg Fergus, Member of Parliament (Hull-Aylmer)

“It’s okay to dream! Parc des cèdres, on the shores of the Ottawa River, offers a unique, natural setting, away from asphalt, where the biggest artists gather every evening on the big stage to celebrate Quebec’s fête nationale, National Indigenous Peoples Day and the Outaouais en fête Festival. Plenty of activities are offered for everyone, including families: Caillou, monocycles, juggling, acrobatics, inflatable games, emerging artists, insect displays, carnival rides, fireworks and much more.

– Jean-Paul Perreault, President and CEO of Impératif français and the Outaouais en fête Festival

• Impératif français, a cultural research and communication organization launched in 1975, is dedicated to preserving and promoting the French language and culture. It brings together friends of the French language and culture who want to get involved in developing and promoting French-language activities. 

• The National Indigenous Peoples Day and Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations in Gatineau, which take place from June 21 to 24, 2019, in Gatineau, are intended for the general public, youth, as well as Indigenous, ethnocultural, and official-language minority communities. Twenty-five thousand participants are expected to attend the events, which will include a formal ceremony, parade, family activities, games, performances and fireworks.

• The Outaouais en fête Festival is held every year in Gatineau in the Outaouais. The gathering was launched by Impératif français in 1976 to celebrate the Fête nationale du Québec. Since 2010, it has been organized by the Outaouais en fête Festival, whose mission it is to promote the French language and culture.

• The 43rd edition of the event will take place from June 21 to 24, 2019 in Parc des cèdres, in Gatineau. Ten professional musical performances by established and emerging artists will take place in the evening on the main stage, while 50 amateur artists will get an opportunity to perform in the afternoon on the Gerry Boulet stage.

• The Celebrate Canada component of the Celebration and Commemoration Program provides funding to community and non-governmental organizations for community celebrations organized as part of National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24), Canadian Multiculturalism Day (June 27) and Canada Day (July 1st).

• The Canada Arts Presentation Fund provides funding to organizations that host arts festivals and seasonal professional-performance programs. The fund also supports organizations that help arts broadcasters.

Associated links

• Celebrate Canada
• Canada Arts Presentation Fund
• Impératif français
• L’Outaouais en fête

Simon Ross
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
819-997-7788

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca