LEOMINSTER — Two events coming up next week aim to celebrate the French-Canadian heritage of area residents, including the Leominster French-Canadian Festival and a reading of French-American writing.
The reading ,scheduled for Wednesday, June 25, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Leominster Public Library, will feature a diverse set of Franco-American writers as well as a prominent foreign language educator who specializes in the French language.
“The seven presenters bring diverse experiences and approaches to their creative and educational work,” said Steven Riel, who helped set up the reading and will be sharing his poetry as part of it.
Besides him the group of writers includes Joseph Bolton, Jeanne Douillard, Charles Gargiulo, Jean Pouliot, Émilie-Noëlle Provost, and Kathleen Stein-Smith, a mix of novelists, poets and memoirists.
“In towns and cities throughout New England, a significant percentage of the population is of Franco-American heritage, yet this ethnic group has often survived by avoiding notice and blending in,” Riel shared. “These seven writers break that traditional silence by exploring varied facets of Franco-American experience.”
He went on to say they are grateful to the Leominster Public Library for hosting the reading, which aligns with its mission to provide a place that inspires innovation and creativity, supports lifelong learning, and fosters civic engagement.
French-Canadian Festival
The reading compliments and comes ahead of the second annual Leominster French-Canadian Festival that will take place three days later on Saturday, June 27. The event will run from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Leominster Eagles club, 456 Litchfield St., and once again feature a plethora of delicious food options, live music, resources, crafters, and more, all with a French-Canadian flair.
Deb Giovannucci is the primary organizer of this year’s festival. She said she was happy to step into the role and along with other dedicated volunteers “ensure the festival would happen again.”
“Preserving and celebrating our French-Canadian heritage is important, not only because of where we came from, but because it continues to shape who we are today,” Giovannucci said.
When asked what she is looking forward to about the occasion, she said “connecting with people who share a love of this culture — whether through family stories, music, food, crafts, history or traditions passed down through generations.”
Giovannucci disclosed that while this year was challenging as they had less money to work with and fewer donations, she gave a shoutout to the people and entities supporting the affair. That list includes the Leominster Cultural Council, Michael Cook HVAC/R Services, Métis of Maine, Janine Penfield, the City of Leominster, and volunteers Steven Riel and Lydia and Ray Tremblay, a trio who Giovannucci said, “not only spent time planning but donated as well.”We are looking forward to putting on a great festival this year. It’s rewarding to see it all come together,” she said. “I hope the festival inspires people to reflect on their roots and celebrate the contributions French-Canadian families have made to our community.”
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