Medicine Hat's Canadian Parents for French group is hosting its first Cabane à Sucre, Sugar Shack, event since the pandemic today at Crescent Heights High School.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
kking@medicinehatnews.com
French music and culture will fill the halls of Crescent Heights High School today as Medicine Hat’s Canadian Parents for French group puts on its third Cabane á Sucre event.
The community event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., is inspired by traditional French-Canadian Cabane á Sucre, or ‘Sugar Shack’ festivals, most often held at the end of March.
While the sugar shack – an outdoor shack where hot maple syrup is poured over fresh snow to make maple toffee candies – is central to Cabane á Sucre, the festivals are also a celebration of and opportunity to learn about French culture, heritage and tradition.
“Canadian Parents for French is an organization that really is just supportive of French language education in the community,” group treasurer and event organizer Troy Hale told the News. “But our local chapter decided we would like to do an event that supported (education about) French-Canadian culture as well. When we first created this event, we thought, ‘Hey, if they can do it in Quebec, we can make our own Medicine Hat version here.'”
Well received by Hatters when held previously, Hale said he wasn’t sure the turnout to expect for this Cabane á Sucre, as four years have passed since the last one. However, nearly 200 people registered to take part in today’s event.
The event will begin with attendees enjoying a hot lunch, while listening to traditional French-Canadian music performed by Edmonton musicians Daniel Gervais an Jeremiah McDade.
“The lunch will be following the traditions of the traditional Sugar Shack,” said Hale. “So, we’ll share a meal together (which will) have some smoked ham and baked beans, some coleslaw, and then some poutine of course, because what’s French culture without poutine?”
Following lunch, attendees may stay inside and socialize while listening to music, or can visit the outdoor sugar shack to snack on freshly-poured maple toffee.
“A couple of the French-Canadians working at the military base out in Suffield are coming in, and they’re going to be (making) the maple syrup taffy,” said Hale.
Tickets for the event are no longer available, but Hale hopes to host another Cabane á Sucre event next year.
