In the spirit of the Flying Canoë Volant community event presented by La Cité Francophone, come and experience the celebration of a winter's night and discover the legend of La Chasse-galerie (The Flying Canoe), a combination of French-Canadian and First-Nation folklore. This indoor/ outdoor, bilingual, night time event offers a variety of cultural (French-Canadian, Métis and First Nations) programming that brings people together to share, celebrate and enjoy. Storytelling, Music and Dance by local performers creates a magical, fun atmosphere.

When: Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Where: La Cité Francophone

Note, this is not the two-day Flying Canoe event but an evening of fun at La Cité, part of the Winter Cities Shake-Up 2015 conference.

We just received a press release (English, French) from the University of Alberta announcing the closure of our local French language bookstore this summer. Like small bookstores everywhere declining sales are a problem. The University plans to move sales online.

La Librairie le Carrefour is located at La Cité Francophone.

Local artists asked, "What if we could recreate a first meeting between First Nations peoples and the Voyageurs? What did that really look like?"

The project involves research and re-creation of First Meetings between Alberta’s First Nations people and the French Voyageurs along the river valley. Community members and artists are invited to contribute. Details...

A new year of games is about to begin. Sunday, January 25 will be the first BDCL games night of 2015 so let's welcome it with some strategy and cunning. We have a more specific format this month to ease in some of the newer gamers:

TABLE 1
7:30 p.m.:    Settlers of Catan
9:30 p.m.:    Game of choice (e.g. 7 Wonders, Dominion, Settlers of Catan)

TABLE 2
7:30 p.m.:    Heavy strategy game of choice (e.g. Puerto Rico, Power Grid, Agricola)

Come for part of the evening or all.  If there's time in between on Table 1, we'll sneak in a quick game of either One Night Werewolf or Ricochet Robots.  We can also end the evening with the longer version of Werewolf, if folks are up to it.  If you want to come to socialize or just to check it out, that's cool too.

Please bring your own snacks and bevvies.  It's an adult evening out, so leave the kiddies at home (it is a school night after all).

Please let Suzi, [email protected], know if you are coming and whether you prefer Table 1, Table 2, or have no preference.

GAME ON!

Experience Mardi Gras like never before! You are invited to enjoy a night filled with gorgeous samba dancers, a live band, an amazing traditional Cajun dinner and much, much more. You know it will be a special night when your ticket is a unique carnival mask! 

Date: Saturday, February 21
Time: 6:00pm - 1:30am
Location: Mirage Banquet Hall, #360-8170 50 Street
Cost: $75 a ticket

Buy your tickets online today! http://www.frenchquarteredmonton.ca/tickets

The French Quarter Business Association is proud to invite you to its inaugural Mardi Gras party. This masquerade fundraiser is the perfect occasion to have fun for a good cause. The proceeds of the event will go to two organizations: YESS and the Victims of Ebola Crisis in Africa. So put your masks and your dance shoes on and come have a memorable night with us! 

Bonnie Doon residents and property owners are invited to attend a final open house prior to neighbourhood reconstruction beginning in spring 2015. City employees will share the final neighbourhood design and information about the local improvement process and what to expect during the two-year construction period.

Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Time: 6:30 p.m.to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Rutherford School, 8620 91 Street

There will be a formal presentation at 7:00 p.m. 

2015 construction will include:

• Reconstruction and resurfacing of roadways
• Streetlight upgrades
• Reconstruction of sidewalks, curbs and gutters

For more information about the Building Great Neighbourhoods (BGN) initiative and Neighbourhood Renewal, go to edmonton.ca/BuildingGreatNeighbourhoods

Sharing with the Neighbourhood this email we received earlier today [emphasis ours]...

My name is Luanne, and I am a fourth year pharmacy student.  As a part of my clinical rotations, I need to provide an educational presentation to the community.  Would you have any openings that I could provide a presentation to the residents of your community?  If so, please advise me as to what topics would be of interest.  Some examples of presentations that I could do would be information on how to quit smoking, information on the influenza vaccine or the shingles vaccine, education on heart health, or diabetes education.  I am on my rotation until February 27, 2015, if you have any openings prior to that date for me to make a presentation I would be grateful for the opportunity.

If there is a health-related subject you want to hear about, please email [email protected].

Bonnie Doon’s T’ai Chi Chih group starts a new 8-week session on Monday, January 5th.  T'ai Chi Chih's gentle movements are easy to learn and the benefits can include improved focus, clarity, balance and mobility.

The fee for the session is $50 for members of any community league, otherwise $60. Beginners are welcome to join the group. Classes are held Mondays at Bonnie Doon Hall, 9240 93 Street from 10:30 am to 11:45 am. For more information contact Margaret at 780-469-1179 or [email protected] or check out T'ai Chi Chih's website. Our accredited instructor is Tamara Zujewskyj-Brese, [email protected].