It's time again to indulge in the sweetness of the annual Quebecois tradition cabane à sucre. Squamish's francophone school, L'École Les Aiglons, is hosting a fundraising event at the Brennan Park auditorium next Saturday (March 5) that will have residents salivating. For a few dollars, individuals can taste the Quebecois treat of frozen maple syrup on a stick and to make the event authentic, true organic male syrup will be imported from Quebec. "It's sweetening up spring," said one organizer Carole Comeau.
People will also be treated to traditional fiddle music and the singing of chansons à repondre, or answering songs, which many English Canadians will recognize.
This is only the second annual cabane à sucre organized by the school but the event has already grown. For $6 in advance or $7.50 at the door, individuals can enjoy a traditional Quebecois brunch of ham, eggs and baked beans in maple syrup between noon and 1 p.m. The funds will go to support the school's need for books and materials.
Comeau said organizers have invited schools from their school district, the Conseil Scolaire Francophone. Students from kindergarten to grade 7 will travel from Whistler and Pemberton to participate in celebrations.
"Pemberton has 21 students and Whistler has 55 students in the school, the biggest number of students," said Comeau. "I think the French population is bigger population than people think. When we had it last year, a lot of people were really excited about it. So hopefully it'll be bigger this year. We hope to get people from the whole Sea-to-Sky corridor."
People attending also have the option of skipping the brunch and browsing tables of donations from local businesses during a silent auction. Admission is free after 1 p.m., but event organizers are accepting donations to the food bank.
