The three candidates for this year’s Bonhomme Carnaval mascot are pillars of the local French community, says Centre Culturel La Ronde’s executive director Lisa Bertrand.
La Ronde’s annual winter tradition is returning with a mix of virtual and in-person activities this year, pending the health restrictions.
The carnival runs from Feb. 7 to Feb. 19.
This year’s candidates are the senior policy analyst at the Timmins Chamber of Commerce Cameron Grant, Full Beard Brewing co-founder and co-owner Jonathan St-Pierre and a police foundations co-ordinator at Northern College Rick Lemieux.
All three are La Ronde’s members, according to Bertrand.
“I’m excited for this carnival. I’m really excited to announce the three Bonhommes. They’re pillars of the French community,” Bertrand said.
St-Pierre said he’s proud to be a part of the big French culture in Timmins.
“I went from kindergarten all the way up to high school in French. It’s a big attribute for us, as a business, to be bilingual. It’s exciting,” he said.
For Lemieux, it’s exciting to be one of the Bonhomme candidates because he used to attend the old St-Charles school, where La Ronde is now located, and he grew up seeing the carnival.
“It was always a fun experience for me to see him, so now I get to be on the other side and have the kids excited to see me. It’s fun for me,” he said.
Grant echoed similar comments saying he’s always wanted to be the Bonhomme Carnaval.
“It’s certainly been a tradition growing up in a French immersion setting and going through school, so lots of history there,” he said. “I’m very grateful for this opportunity to engage with the francophone community here in Timmins.”
The carnival has been taking place in Timmins since 1968, with the exception of 2015 when La Ronde’s previous building was destroyed in a fire.
The full confirmed schedule of the carnival will be released in early February.
So far, the planned programming includes activities at the Timmins museum, a Zumba with Michelle Lapointe, a meditation with Amilie Pauline, a cooking workshop with Julie Lefebvre, a tour on Dream Acres Alpacas, a StoryWalk, a winter market organized with the Downtown Timmins BIA and a concert by Claude and Simone at Full Beard Brewing.
The centre has also planned a family day event at Mount Jamieson on Feb. 14, a dance class with Melissa Kelly-Lavoie, a cooking class with Merv Russell, a Sip and Paint, and a Snowga at Porcupine Ski Runners.
This year, there will be a window painting contest between businesses, the community and French and French immersion schools.
Participants will paint their windows with Bonhomme Carnaval, take a picture and send it to La Ronde's email by Feb. 16. There will also be prizes.
The identity of the Bonhomme will be revealed on the last day of the carnival, Feb. 19, at the Porcupine Dante Club. There will be a show by magician Eric Leclerc, live music by Les Gens du Nord and a sleigh ride that will be free for La Ronde members and $10 for non-members.
