A multicultural interpretation center: Irish, Scottish,
Polish, German, Russian, Italian and others.
A pure delight.
Concerts at the Rawdon Mmulticultural Interpretation Center.
The phone is ringing:
“Hello, the Rawdon Multicultural Interpretation Center wishes to
invite you to a concert on Sunday March 11. Brilliant performers
have prepared a program of varied music. Would you like to make a
reservation? The ticket costs 16$ per person”.
So, we said yes. Why not? Let’s go and see … I must say that we had
attended with great pleasure to their Octoberfest dinner last Fall.
What is this Center all about?
First, it is a gathering place for many ethnic groups in Rawdon.
Really, more than 30 ethnic groups have elected to live in this
region for many decades and have established themselves. They have
assembled a little museum open to visitors presenting their
respective cultures. Each group has its own little corner
representing their culture, from Lithuanians to Ppolish, including
Ukranians, Germans, Russians, Italians, Greeks, Norwegians, Swiss,
Swedish, Dutch, etc. Familiar objects, artifacts, pictures or books
telling us about their traditions.
Janni Caron at the piano
It is also the place where people love to
gather around to celebrate their traditions and invite the
population at large to join in. Liven up dinners to celebrate
the Octoberfest or Easter are famous especially if Dorothea
Wender is cooking a storm with her team. For us, it is a time to
discover another culture, whereas for them, it is a time to
remember their country. The magic takes place during these
encounters.
It is also a cultural center, since music and arts are an
integral part of their lives.
We were lucky enough to listen on March 11 to Mrs.Sylvie Dugas,
soprano and resident of Rawdon, and Mr. Alexandre Sylvestre,
tenor, born in Lanaudière, both accompanied by Mrs. Janni Caron
at the piano.
We listened to a “beautiful Sunday” of music,
well chosen to please the majority of the people. Popular pieces
intertwined with more classical ones, from Henry Purcell to
Mozart, from Saint-Saëns to Gershwin and Richard Desjardins.
As a bonus, the attendees, 30 or more, taken by the interpreters
that were so close that you could almost feel them. A sheer
delight!
The short intermission gave us time to mingle with the
interpreters while savoring the traditional cakes from
Dorothea’s kitchen. It was almost like the German “Cafe und
Kuchen” (time for coffee and cakes) on Sunday afternoon.
To replay the video, use the buttons
The voice of Sylvie Dugas is pure and beautiful. She is
expressive and cheerful. She has studied with professors
at the Montréal Conservatory and the National Theatre of
Montréal. She also trained to direct a choir for
children.
Alexandre Sylvestre received the First Prize with Great
Honor from the Music Conservatory of Montréal in May
2005. He began his career with the Montréal Opéra in
November 2005 and sang the Requiem of Mozart with the
Melodium Choir at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montréal.
He’s been receiving grants after grants and was awarded
the Second Prize of the OSM contest in November 2006.
Adding more joy to the day, the
hand-crocheted wall tapestry from Dorothea Wender was
hanging. The exhibit is open to the public every
Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. till mid-May.
We were lucky enough to
receive their call on that day, since their usual free publicity
from the regional journal was not placed and the Municipality did
not mention the community ads in its bulletin. Fortunately, the show
was not compromised, otherwise, we would have missed a beautiful
Sunday.
We are now sold on these events organized by the Multicultural
Center. It is an opportunity to travel thanks to the souvenirs and
traditions of these people that have chosen to live in our country.
A chance to open your mind to other cultures.
Le miroir has decided to publish
the calendar of activities to encourage the citizens of Entrelacs to
participate in them. You’ll enjoy it!
Thanks to all the volunteers at work organizing these cultural
events, worthy of great centers, right on our door steps.
Rawdon’s Mmulticultural Interpretation Center
3588 Metcalfe Street
Rawdon J0K 1S0
450-834-4011
