Toronto – The Toronto Book Fair (SLT) continues until Sunday at the premises of the Université de l’Ontario français (UOF). During the opening Thursday evening, the Alain-Thomas literary prize was awarded to Jean Mohsen Fahmy for his historical novel Beyond the borders. The event takes place this year under the theme Ontario, I love you… in French.
It is therefore a declaration of love that the SLT launches with this theme freely inspired by the title of a novel by Didier Leclair. Toronto, I love you was reissued in 2023. The wink makes the chairman of the board of directors (CA), Valéry Vlad, smile. In interview with ONFRhe summarizes his feelings about this 31st edition.
Looks like the planets have aligned this year
— Valéry Vlad
Didier Leclair won the Christine-Dumitriu-van-Saanen prize for another novel, For the Love of Dimitri, in 2016. Jean Fahmy was the last winner of the prize (in 2019, for The Sultana Unveiled) before he be renamed the Alain-Thomas Prize, in 2021. He also received the honors this year, this time for Beyond the borders. This historical novel tells the love story between a French Canadian and an Italian immigrant, against a backdrop of the rise of fascism and the outbreak of the Second World War.
The novel Beyond the borders earned Jean Fahmy an Alain-Thomas Literary Prize. Source: Éditions David
Ottawa author Jean Fahmy was absent from the ceremony, but present during the other days of the SLT. The other novels nominated were Jazby Michèle Vinet, and The smell of oblivionby Roger Levac.
Write History
The choice of Dyane Adam as honorary president is a nod to the gains of recent years. Her impressive track record includes, among others, the titles of Founding President and Governor Emeritus of the Governing Council of the Université de l’Ontario français (UOF) and former Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada.
It was Dyane Adam who organized, a few years ago, a demonstration within the framework of the SLT in order to push the French-speaking university project in Ontario. “We organized a trip for all the visitors to the show in front of Prime Minister Ford’s office,” remembers Valéry Vlad.
From left to right: Valéry Vlad, president of the Salon, Gabriel Osson, president of the 2024 jury committee and Yves Turbide, general director of the AAOF, during the presentation of the Alain-Thomas Prize. Source: Toronto Book Fair
Today, the SLT takes place in the premises of this institution which was only a distant dream at the time of the event. The president of the CA is full of praise for the woman who holds numerous honorary titles, including the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario and the Order of Francophones of America.
“She is a symbol of the French fact here in Toronto. »
Not more, but better
The SLT takes place exactly one week after the Outaouais Book Fair, which also gives pride of place to Franco-Ontarian literature. More modest than its counterpart in the capital region, the SLT hopes to welcome a thousand adult readers in addition to school visitors.
If the event is not, in itself, bigger than last year, it seems to be making its mark more and more in the Queen City.
“It’s true that we made an effort in communication,” expresses Valéry Vlad. He also believes that the visit of the first French-speaking lieutenant-governor of Ontario, Edith Dumont, and the honorary presidency of Dyane Adam help to give political weight to the event.
Authors Didier Leclair and Tamar Papiashvili at the 2024 Toronto Book Fair. Source: Toronto Book Fair
The SLT has also entered into a new partnership with the government of Quebec, in order to facilitate exchanges between Franco-Ontarian authors and those from la belle province. And the organizers made an old dream come true with the arrival of two Louisiana poets, Zachary Richard and Barry Jean Ancelet.
Still according to Valéry Vlad, the SLT must deal with a less favorable economic situation than in the past, arguing that the budgetary report today is equivalent to five times less than twenty years ago. Both activist and down-to-earth, he sums up the team’s goal: “Trying to keep the show and Toronto on the cultural map of the Canadian Francophonie.” »
School visits are also an important francization tool in the Queen City. “We must not hide it. Book sales have decreased (…) but what keeps us going is young people’s passion for books in French. We have young volunteers who encountered books in French for the first time while visiting the Book Fair with their school. There are many, this is not just an example. »
School visits help get young people interested in reading in French. Source: Toronto Book Fair
In addition to the signing sessions and the many authors present, the SLT offers a variety of activities, ranging from moments for young families to literary discussions, including a large evening Ontario, I love you… in Frenchwhere many authors from the province and beyond will come to proclaim their love for Ontario.
The SLT runs until March 3, 2024 at UOF. Free entry.
2024-03-02 19:44:25
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