Les Journées du patrimoine / Heritage Days 2008

Through a fun, interactive and dynamic learning experience with volunteer actors performing sketches, visitors discovered the life in a French town in 1943 during the Second World War era. The history of Gravelbourg and its Main Street were at the centre of all our sketches.

The sketches included historical facts about the military presence in nearly Mossbank where there was an air force training base for the Allies during the Second World War. The War and soldiers were at the centre of the others sketches as their presence had an impact on the economic, social and cultural life in Gravelbourg. We also talked about the daily life of the people in this time period.

Some sketches were in French, some in English and other in both French and English. Also, a sketche included a third that gave the visitors the possibility to truly discover how Saskatchewan was build by people from diverse origins. In one sketch, visitors heared the Chinese language as some Chinese merchants were established in Gravelbourg in the 1940s.

In the 1940s, roving companies travelled through French Canada to give shows. Les Poupées dansantes du Père Marseille were touring in the west to discover the history of the very first puppet theatre from Quebec. It was a glance at Quebec City celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2008.

To close the Heritage Days 2008 with a bang, 8's 'Nuff gave a show at the College Mathieu's auditorium. Visitors and the volunteers danced to 40s classics like Puttin' on the Ritz!

Les Journées du patrimoine / Heritage Days is an annual event created in 2005 during Saskatchewan's Centennial. The event dramatizes historical facts from Fransaskois history and Saskatchewan history as seen through the eyes of the Fransaskois. We use re-enactments and demonstrations to show these facts and events.

You could see some pictures from the 2008 edition in our photos collection : photo.paquet.ca/patrimoine2008