Lanaudière : Mémoire et Racines is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to introduce and present to a broad public a variety of traditional arts – songs, music, dance and storytelling – via top-quality concerts and most important, the annual Festival Mémoire et Racines.

For Mémoire et Racines, “living tradition” rhymes with oral transmission and it is the reason for the organization’s strong focus on cultural exchanges between professional artists, young performers and “porteurs de traditions” – those who carry on the tradition. It is equally important that these exchanges be made accessible to a broad public in an environment that is open to experimentation and creativity.

The artistic vision of Mémoire et Racines is centered on a strict adherence to its mission and has from the beginning been reflected in the high quality of the festival’s programming, greatly appreciated by festival audiences. The proximity of the public to festival artists, made possible by intimate workshops and concerts, has created a sparkling ambiance that is further enhanced by the natural beauty of Parc Bosco, site of the festival. Among its festival peers, Mémoire et Racines is considered a model from an organizational perspective and with regard to its diverse and rich programming.

The 400+ volunteers who return year after year are the best testimony to the festival’s success. Their involvement has given them a sense of ownership and made them honoured members of a very special community that shares a deep commitment to preserving, practicing and celebrating living traditions. The organization has an annual membership of approximately 250.

Roadmap

Since 1995, Lanaudière : Mémoire et Racines has presented 15 editions of the Festival Mémoire et Racines as well as 60 concerts outside of the festival. In all, the organization has welcomed more than 79,000 festival spectators and 10,000 more for its concert series.

Festival Mémoire et Racines has been recognized by the Minister of Culture and Communications of Québec, the Québec Council of Arts and Letters, Culture Lanaudière and by the CRÉ of Lanaudière and others as an important player in the ongoing development of traditional arts. The organization is also recognized for its importance to the region’s tourism and economy.

Our partners include both the public and private sectors. Visit the partner page for a complete listing or learn how to become a sponsor.

• 1995 The 1st annual Festival Mémoire et Racines is born, featuring a day and a night of concerts and workshops; 1,902 visitors.
• 1996 2nd annual; the festival grows to two days of progamming; 2,637 visitors.
• 1997 3rd annual; moving from two to three days of programming (as it is today). Sales of a cassette featuring highlights of the first two years; 2,686 visitors
• 1998 4th annual; festival artists (who have played without pay to date) are paid for the first time; the organization now has three paid employees; 2,912 visitors.
• 1999 5th annual; spectacular growth in festival attendance; launch of a CD featuring highlights from the 3rd and 4th editions; 3,603 visitors.
• 2000 6th annual; festival spokesperson is Yves Lambert; thanks to his celebrity, the national media take notice; 3,779 visitors.
• 2001 7th annual; spokesperson Yves Lambert; La Bottine Souriante officially celebrate the group’s 25th anniversary during the festival; a CD featuring artists from the 5th and 6th years is launched; 5,279 visitors.
• 2002 8e édition, porte-parole : Yves Lambert. Festival sous le signe de l’eau. Des conditions climatiques difficiles en découragent plusieurs. Bilan : 4 380 entrées.
• 2003 9th annual; spokesperson Fred Pellerin; another year with rain but it doesn’t hurt attendance; 4,740 visitors have a great time regardless!
• 2004 10th annual; spokesperson(s) Les Charbonniers de l’Enfer; Montréal sits up and takes notice; we lose a dear friend, Gilles Cantin, and the Main Stage is named after him; sun and an appearance by the Northern Lights mark the weekend; 7,200 visitors. Wow!
• 2005 11th annual; spokesperson Michel Faubert; La Bottine Souriante are back; CD featuring highlights from the 8th, 9th and 10th years goes on sale; 7,600 visitors.
• 2006 12th annual; spokesperson Jocelyn Bérubé; Yves Lambert performs; a record 700 weekend passports are sold and there are 8,700 visitors.
• 2007 13th annual; spokesperson Alain Lamontagne; a new partnership is made with Bridgestone-Firestone; Les Charbonniers de l’Enfer “burn up” the stage! 8,600 visitors.
• 2008 14th annual; spokesperson Michel Bordeleau; it is the fourth year with support from CALQ (Québec arts council); 130 artists from Québec and around the world, 85 performances over 5 days that now include pre-festival shows in downtown Joliette; nearly 400 volunteers help make the festival a success; 8,500 visitors.
• 2009 15th annual; 80 performances in Joliette and St-Charles-Borromée; more than 150 artists; 9,600 visitors!

Honours

• Prix Méritant-Leader, Grands Prix Desjardins de la culture de Lanaudière, 2004
• Prix des arts Maximilien-Boucher, Grands Prix de la SNQ-Lanaudière, 2007
• Grands Prix du Tourisme : Silver Award – Regional category, Festival and tourism events, budget under $500,000, 2005
• Nomination for Excelsior, Chamber of Commerce, Greater Joliette, 2005 and 2007
• Excelsiors 2009 : Chamber of Commerce, Greater Joliette, Grand prize – Culture category
• Grands Prix du Tourisme 2009 : Regional category, Festival and tourism events, budget under $1,000,000
• Prix de bénévolat Robert-Lussier – Groupe Grands Prix Desjardins de la culture de Lanaudière, 2009

Human resources

• Board of directors : Bruno Guilbault (president), Bruno Ayotte (vice president), Catherine Côté (treasurer), Normand Lacharité (secretary), Josée Boisvert, Monia Mailloux and Daniel Tessier (officers).
• Employees : Ghyslaine Beaufort, Marie-Danielle Gaudet and Gilles Pitre (until February 2010), Jean-François Beaudoin, Denis Leblanc (beginning March 2010).
• Programming committee : Pierre-Édouard Asselin, Éric Beaudry, Monia Mailloux, Olivier Demers, Gilles Pitre and Denis Leblanc.
• Finance committee : Bruno Ayotte, Steve Ayotte, Mario Desrochers, Patrice Jetté, Michel St-Amour, Louis Trahan.
• Volunteer sector managers : Yvon Arbour, Michel Arsenault, Amélie Beaulieu, Xavier B. Maisonneuve, Anne Brissette, Josée Brunet, Claudia Citta, Catherine Côté, Michel Coutu, Patrick Fauchon, Carole Forest, Guylaine Fortin, Steve Fortin, Marilène Gagnon, Marité Godin, Sylvain Gaucher, Michelle Goyette, Marie-Josée Kemp, André Laliberté, Élise Landreville, Denise Levac, Sophie Marchand, Ian Morin, Marie-Noëlle Paré, Manon Pelletier, Louis Riopel, Vivianne Saulnier, and of course, the approximately 400 volunteers without whom the Festival would not happen!