Edmonton 
Edmonton’s Flying Canoë Volant returns today complete with “flying canoe” races.
The festivities offer a distinctive outdoor winter experience, celebrating the spirit of long winter nights through a blend of culture, history, and interactivity.
This event, inspired by the legend of the Flying Canoe and rooted in French-Canadian, First Nation, and Métis traditions, transforms Edmonton’s French Quarter and the Mill Creek Ravine with spectacularly illuminated trails.
It features world-class art installations, multiple stages showcasing local and national music talents and DJs.
The event not only offers a platform to celebrate Edmonton’s rich heritage and natural beauty but also encourages community bonding and fun through the Flying Canoë Volant Races. These races provide an opportunity for friends, co-workers, and new acquaintances to engage in winter festivities while supporting the event’s non-profit mission.
The Flying Canoë Volant Highlights: A Fusion of Culture, Art, and Winter Fun –
Illuminated Trails
The Mill Creek Ravine features beautifully illuminated trails created by Dylan Toymaker and guest artists, only lit from 6 to 10 pm. These trails connect various key locations: a 10-minute walk from Rutherford to the top of the ravine, 20 minutes from there to the Métis Camp, 15 minutes to the Info Cross Road (Moose & Loon), another 10 minutes from the Indigenous Camp to the Mill Creek parking lot, and a short 5-minute walk from the Trapper’s Cabin to the Métis Camp. These illuminated paths provide a unique, enchanting experience for visitors.
Indigenous Camp
- The Indigenous Camp will offer an immersive cultural experience with virtual arts presentations by the Native Counselling Services of Alberta from 6 to 10 pm on January 31 to February 1.
- Enjoy interactive sessions featuring drumming, dances, and conversations with Adrian LaChance and Wilson Bearhead from 6 to 10 pm on February 2 and 3.
- The Celeigh Cardinal Band will perform on February 2 from 8:45 to 10 pm.
- The Métis Camp invites visitors to engage with Tamarack Cunningham for songs on January 31, and to explore the “Lii Buflo: A Métis Way of Life” exhibit, available each day from 6 to 10 pm. This exhibit is a collaboration with Parks Canada.
- The Cunningham Family Band will offer Métis dances and stories from February 1 to 3.
- At the Trapper’s Cabin, virtual Francophone arts and live French Canadian storytelling and music by Roger Dallaire will entertain guests nightly from January 31 to February 3, between 6 and 10 pm.
La Cité Francophone
- From January 31 to February 3, between 6 and 10 pm, outdoor festivities will include traditional maple taffy making, snow sliding, and fire pits to warm the visitors, along with activations by festival partners.
- On February 2 and 3, food trucks will serve a variety of culinary delights until midnight at the Café Bicyclette Patio, complemented by an ice bar and an outdoor DJ.
- Indoors, the Café Bicyclette will be open from 9 am to 11 pm for information services, cultural videos presented by Pont Culturel Bridge, and live music.
- The lower rotunda transforms into a general store offering food and beverages.
- For kids, the upper rotunda becomes a play zone from 6 to 8 pm, curated by the Institut Guy-Lacombe de la Famille and La Colombe.
- The FCV Cabaret at the Servus Credit Union Theatre will host the Festival Edmonton Chante from 7:30 pm to midnight on February 2 and 3, in collaboration with ACFA régionale d’Edmonton, promising a lively cultural showcase.
- On February 2, exciting lineup at 7:30 PM starts with The Payphones, followed by Chloé Doyon at 8:30 PM, Brigitte Jardin at 9:45 PM, and Carter and the Capitals at 10:30 PM.
- February 3, features le.Panda at 7:30 PM, La Troupe Zéphyr Dance group at 8:30 PM, Pierre-Luc Dupuis et La Chasse Galerie band at 9:00 PM, and concludes with Retrofitz at 10:30 PM.
Ecole Rutherford School
- From January 31 to February 3, outdoor activities include illuminated artworks by Lynette Maurice and others along the Strathearn Art Walk, available from 6 to 10 pm.
- Ice carving workshops by Activate Arts Alberta will be held from January 31 to February 1 between 6:30 and 9:30 pm, and special sessions for children, titled Little Chippers Ice Carving Workshops, are scheduled for February 2 and 3 from 6 to 8 pm.
- The Portage la Prairie Relay, featuring canoeing, axe throwing, and buck saw, offers a family challenge from 6:30 to 7:30 pm and an adult course from 8 to 9 pm on February 2 and 3.
- Inside the Franco Dôme, presented by Franco Musik, UNIS TV, and Festival Edmonton Chante, there will be DJs, live music, and shadow puppet shows titled “The Wish” and “The Ride” from 6 to 10 pm.
- From February 1 to 3, the School Gymnasium will host Café Croissant and a Community Stage by Rhea March’s School of Song from 6 to 9 pm, bringing together students, parents, and teachers of Rutherford School for cultural engagement.
Canoe Race/Portage
Test your skills as a Coureur des Bois by participating in the Portage Race. This year, the Portage Relay offers an exciting opportunity for teams to test their traditional traveller skills in a fun, challenging event. New to the relay is a family category, ensuring participation for all ages. The relay consists of a four-person team (or two) and includes activities such as a voyageur’s sprint carrying a flag and fur bundle, dragging a two-person canoe across an obstacle course, sawing with a buck saw (adults only), stacking wood (family event), and axe throwing (for ages 9 and up). The event is known for being competitive in the axe toss segment.
The relay is scheduled for February 2nd and 3rd at Rutherford School, with family challenges from 6:30 to 7:30 pm and adult teams competing from 8 pm to 9 pm. Participants are encouraged to register their teams and bring courage and teamwork. The event costs $20 per team as a donation to the festival, and additional donations are welcomed for the Centre Communautaire d’Edmonton, with charitable receipts issued.
Drone Show:
- Drone show on Friday & Saturday at 7 and 8 pm at the sport field of Campus Saint Jean.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2xQ7G4rp3q/
ATB Financial adds to the festivity with an interactive origami canoe activity, encouraging participants to decorate nearby trees with their creations. Attendees can also enjoy a custom canoe photo wall, view stunning light installations, and participate in the ATB’s Powering Possibility Pot, offering a $2,500 prize and an equal donation to one of four Treaty 6 Indigenous charities.
Trip Planning — Flying Canoë Volant
When:
Wednesday, January 31 to Saturday, February 3, 2024 | 6 PM-10 PM (outdoors)
Parking:
- Mill Creek Pool (8555-84 Ave)
- La Cité Francophone (8627-91 St)
- École Maurice-Lavallée (8828-95 St)
- Bonnie Doon Mall (8330-82 Ave, NW lot)
Bonnie Doon Centre will be offering free parking for attendees of the show at the northwest corner of Bonnie Doon Centre!
A shuttle will be available on the evenings of February 2 and 3 between 5pm and 11pm that will circulate between Bonnie Doon Mall, La Cité Francophone.
