Sault Ste. Marie is very fortunate to have a resource like the Centre francophone. This cultural and community centre, a non-profit founded in 1982, offers a variety of events year-round to promote and enrich Franco-Ontarian culture.
The work they do is so important—it assures the vitality, expansion and renewal of cultural and linguistic heritage, creating a sense of belonging and encouraging francophone pride.
“We really try to host a wide range of events to ensure we have something for everyone,” says President Jessie Léveillé. “Our events, such as the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Festival and Franco-Ontarian Festival, are family-friendly and include traditional and modern Franco-Ontarian music, dancing and more. We will also host more casual events throughout the year with a simple goal: to learn and immerse ourselves in a francophone environment.”
The magic of these gatherings, he says, lies in the sense of belonging and curiosity.
“We have tons of residents in the Soo who either grew up here or moved here who have some kind of connection with the French language and culture. This is a hardworking town, and lots of people are moving here from different parts of Canada and the world. Some of these people speak French at home, are learning French to find better employment or are just curious about the francophone culture of Canada. These events get to showcase that and allow some new connections to be made within the community.”
This year, the centre is hosting a full slate of activities and you won’t want to miss these first two events, so mark your calendars now!
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Festival
- Sunday, June 22, 2025
- 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
- FREE!
- 83 Huron Street, Sault Ste. Marie
Under the rink roof at The Machine Shop
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is a day to celebrate francophone culture in Canada. At this event, there will be lots of fun and lively family activities to enjoy, including craft tables at the Makers Market, games, bouncy castles and a BBQ. Throughout the day, enjoy live music, courtesy of local Francophone musical artists who will be playing on the stage. This year’s featured artists will include Collage, Carochan13, Algoma Trad and Raymond Schryer, Choral Franco-Loups and more.
Attending a celebration like this helps spread the message that there is a strong and vibrant French community in Sault Ste. Marie, something that is valuable and worth supporting.
“The more we can host large-scale events like this, the more we will create an established presence, not only for our centre, but for the Francophone community as a whole,” says Léveillé.
This is a free event for the entire community to enjoy. Please note that to access the games and bouncy castles, visitors should come to the information table first to receive a free bracelet. The BBQ will be provided by The Machine Shop at cost, and there will be a table where you can purchase popcorn and other snacks and drinks.
There is no need to register in advance—simply save the date. We hope to see you there!
Franco-Ontarian Festival
- Thursday, September 25, 2025
- 11:00 am
- Sault Ste. Marie City Hall, 99 Foster Drive
In 2010, September 25th was officially proclaimed Franco-Ontarian Day. Every year since, the centre has celebrated by raising the Franco-Ontarian flag at the Civic Centre.
On Thursday, September 25th at 11:00 am, they will once again host the flag-raising ceremony. This year is extra special, as they will be celebrating the fiftieth year of the flag’s existence. All francophones and francophiles are invited to attend the ceremony, as well as all French and French immersion schools.
The Franco-Ontarian Festival differs from Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. The latter is a nationwide celebration of francophone culture, while the Franco-Ontarian Festival celebrates the culture here in Ontario.
2nd Annual Francophone Community Recognition Awards Ceremony
- Sunday, September 28, 2025
- Time: 5:00 pm to 10pm
- 83 Huron Street, Sault Ste. Marie
- The Machine Shop event centre
- $$ TBD
In conjunction with the Franco-Ontarian Festival, the centre will also be hosting their 2nd annual recognition awards, honouring those who have done the most for the community throughout the year.
Before the ceremony, they will host a meal to thank all the Francophones in our community for everything they do to keep the French culture and language alive. During the ceremony, they will give out the Francophone Volunteer Award and the Francophone Community Impact Award. The banquet will be followed by a concert by the Bilinguish Boys, a very popular Franco-Ontarian trio.
Be sure to save these dates and follow the Centre francophone de Sault-Sainte-Marie on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the loop. If you have any questions or suggestions, they would love to hear from you.
For more information about all of their events or to inquire about membership, email info@centrefrancossm.ca or visit the Centre francophone de Sault-Sainte-Marie online.