[ENTREVUE EXPRESS]
WHO :
Réjeanne Bélisle-Massie is the president of the ARTEM Cultural Center which produces the Temiskaming Christmas Village.
CONTEXT :
The Village, celebrating the era of New France, brings together on average more than 10,000 people and 200 volunteers from Thursday to Saturday.
STAKE :
Réjeanne Bélisle-Massie looks back on the history of creation and the contemporary challenges of the Village, which is celebrating its 10th edition this year with several new features.
« You were involved in the creation of the Christmas Village, what led to its creation?
In 2012, we knew that in 2015 we would celebrate the 400th anniversary of Francophones in Ontario and we knew that there would be funding opportunities. We went to the city of Temiskaming Shores, which was working at the time on an initiative to revitalize the city center. We wanted to offer a unique, family-oriented experience at low cost as there is no entrance fee to the Village.
What, in your opinion, distinguishes your Village from others elsewhere in the province?
When we designed the Village, we had in mind that people prefer to visit places where there is something special, so if we just did a regular Christmas market, we wouldn’t stand out from the others. That’s why we explored the theme of New France. We have characters played by actors in costume, interactive period scenes with the public, folk dance performances, etc. We even have participants from the first peoples who also present their history from the era of New France, in English.
Activities recreating the fur trade of the New France era at the Village in 2023. Courtesy of the Temiskaming Christmas Village
You are close to the border with Quebec, how does this influence the Village?
One thing is certain, Christmas markets are better known to Quebecers than to people from Ontario. In Quebec, there are Christmas markets everywhere, there is one in Baie-Saint-Paul, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Montreal. Here in Ontario, we don’t have a major Christmas market, the only one we always mention is the Distillery in Toronto. Other than this one, there is no big Christmas market like ours in Ontario. Many of our exhibitors come from Quebec, and so do the visitors.
What were the highlights of the Village over its first ten years?
The first year we had all kinds of constraints, like the weather with snow, wind, extreme cold and a fire. We had to close an entire street on which we had several small houses for the Village. A real baptism of fire! There have been all kinds of adjustments since the beginning. When we had the houses built, we never thought of insulating the houses, the exhibitors were completely frozen, we made up for it later. Originally, the Village took place from Thursday to Sunday, but participants told us that it was too much, so we reduced it to Saturday.
You also relocated the Village recently, why?
It became very difficult for our volunteers to manage from a logistical point of view, with the installation and dismantling. There was also the pandemic and the surge in COVID-19 cases in the region that meant more leeway was needed for cleaning. It is for these reasons that we have decided to relocate the Village from downtown New Liskaerd to the Fall Fair grounds for our return edition in 2022.
The last edition of the Temiskaming Christmas Village in downtown New Liskaerd took place in 2019. Courtesy of the Temiskaming Christmas Village
It must also be said that it gives a much more “village” aspect because when we were in the city center, we had to space out the houses so much that it no longer gave that atmosphere. We are much better at our current site today.
What have you prepared for this 10th edition?
Every year, we add a little something. This year, we have more exhibitors than ever with 33 houses. We always try to have artisans from everywhere who offer new products every year, but we also have our regulars for whom people come specially. It’s also the first time that we will have a marquee so people can warm up, have a hot drink and rest.
This year, we also have a large boat made of wooden straw which is there to remind us that the Knight of Troyes passed through our area. There will also be fireworks in the evening and a St. Nicholas cart for people to sit on and take photos. Not to mention new games for the children because we have nearly 1,500 students who come and we want them to be able to always be busy on the site.
The Santa Claus parade organized by the municipality closes the Christmas Village each year. Courtesy of the Christmas Village
Are you confident about the future of your Village?
The community is attached to the Village and wants it to be sustainable, but what worries me is that several people on the committee told me that this year would be their last edition. We have challenges not only in recruiting volunteers, but also in finding a replacement because I must tell you that my committee and I are almost all white heads! What people need to know is that we are all volunteers aged 68 to 84 who work all year round on this big project.
Despite everything, there is reason to be proud of the fact that the Village has reached its tenth anniversary. I didn’t think it would last this long and I have to say that I won’t abandon this project for anything. »
– How do the new attractions and features enhance the overall experience for attendees at the Village?
1. How has the location of the Village changed over the years, and what challenges did this present for the organizers?
2. How have the exhibitors and visitors responded to the change in location and what adjustments did the organizers make to accommodate them?
3. What additional attractions and features have been added to the Village in recent years, and how do they contribute to its festive atmosphere?
4. What are some of the long-term goals for the Village, and how do you plan to ensure its sustainability in the face of volunteer turnover?
5. Can you share any memorable moments or highlights from the past 10 years of the Village that remain special to you?
