Francophone arts and culture
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Feed your appetite for Francophone culture with exhibitions, festivals and visits to historic sites that showcase French-Canadian heritage and the best of Francophone talent.
Supporting the arts is one of the best ways to celebrate Franco-Ontarian culture. And there’s something for everyone—from inspiring art exhibitions, film festivals and theatrical performances to stimulating and informative heritage sites that bring Franco-Ontarian history to life.
Here’s a list of the must-see Francophone theatrical and performing arts experiences, film festivals, museums and heritage sites, and cultural centre programs to add to your Franco-Ontario travel itinerary.
The languages of programming and service for each attraction are identified below each one.
For information on the Francophone music scene in Ontario, check out Francophone festivals and events.
Francophone theatre and performing arts
Theatre and the performing arts have a special and important place in Franco-Ontarian identity, and there are many opportunities to enjoy Francophone performances all over Ontario.
Café-Heritage
This local organization is dedicated to promoting the performing arts and heritage-themed events within the City of Greater Sudbury. Both in-person and virtual programs are offered, providing audiences with lots of ways to attend and support local performers.
Bilingual performances feature both Francophone and English talent.
Location: Sudbury
Languages of programming and service: service and programming in English and French
La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins (LNSGD)
This performing arts centre for Francophone theatre hosts Ottawa-based theatre companies and stages innovative and interdisciplinary shows by groups from across the country.
Their performing arts program includes theatre, music, dance and performance, with two theatres and a terrace bar for pre- or post-performance refreshment.
Location: 333 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa
Languages of programming and service: service in English and French; programming in French
Théâtre français de Toronto (TfT)
This French-language theatre company presents both repertoire and original works, supporting French and Francophone theatrical talent. Performances are held both virtually online and in-person at the Berkeley Street Theatre.
Location: 26 Berkeley Street, Toronto
Languages of programming and service: service in English and French; programming in French
Franc’Open Mic
The first Francophone open mic stage in Toronto, Franc'Open Mic offers artists a venue for free expression in French. Hosted at Free Times Café, the shows are open to anyone who wants to perform in French, from beginners to more experienced artists.
Comics and improv artists, actors and singer-songwriters are just a few of the many talents eager to entertain you.
Location: 320 College Street, Toronto
Languages of programming and service: service in English and French; programming in French
Francophone film
Ontario is home to some of the best Francophone film festivals in the country, with events and screenings that showcase both French Canadian and international talents.
Cinéfranco
With three annual festivals and film screenings held both in theatre and online, Cinéfranco promotes the best in French Canadian and international cinema throughout the year—from hilarious comedies to inspiring documentaries and scary thrillers.
The Festival’s Main Program is one of the most important international Francophone film festivals in English Canada. The event showcases 40 Francophone films and unites thousands of film lovers who get to vote for their favourite film.
Locations:
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Cineplex Scotiabank, 259 Richmond Street West, Toronto
The Royal, 608 College Street, Toronto
Languages of programming and service: service in English and French; programming in French and other languages
Alliance Francaise Toronto
This cultural organization offers a wide range of Francophone cultural and educational programming and events for all ages, including the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) (which takes place in November and December), rotating art exhibitions, concerts, film screenings, special events, lectures and language classes.
Location: various locations in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
Languages of programming and service: service in English and French; programming in French
Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF)
Francophone film buffs will want to check out the special programming offered by this film festival for Francophone cinema, which takes place in late October and early November. The program’s films cover a wide range of genres, showcasing the best in French-language cinema.
Location: various locations in Windsor; tickets can be purchased at the Box Office, at the Chrysler Theatre and the Armories, Windsor
Languages of programming and service: service in English and French; programming in French
Francophone museums and heritage sites
The cultural heritage of Francophone communities—dating all the way back to the earliest arrival of French settlers in the country—is showcased at many fascinating museums and historic sites throughout the province:
Ancienne Prison de L'Orignal Old Jail
Built in 1825, this is the oldest jail in Ontario and the second oldest in Canada. Open seasonally, they offer guided tours for those looking to learn all about what life—and punishment—was like for 19th-century inmates.
Special exhibitions and tours and give visitors insights into the history of the judicial system in Ontario and the role of the prison in the small Franco-Ontarian village of L’Orignal.
Location: 1023 Queen Street, L'Orignal
Languages of programming and service: service and programming in English and French
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Not to be missed if you’re travelling around Georgian Bay, Sainte-Marie among the Hurons was founded in 1639 as a French Jesuit Mission to the Huron-Wendat people. Serving for 10 years as the country’s first European headquarters, the site featured barracks, two churches, workshops, homes and a curious water canal.
Destroyed in 1649, the buildings have since been rebuilt, and reenactors offer vivid insights into what life was like in 17th-century Ontario.
Location: 16164 Highway 12 East, Midland
Languages of programming and service: service and programming in English and French
Martyrs’ Shrine
The National Shrine to the Canadian Martyrs is an imposing building that commemorates an equally profound history. Dedicated to St. Jean de Brébeuf and his companions, French Jesuit missionaries who founded and administered the nearby 17th-century settlement of Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, the shrine is situated in the picturesque valley of the Wye River. Learn about the vital relationships between the martyrs’ and Indigenous Peoples in the 17th century.
Location: 16163 Highway 12 West, Midland
Languages of programming and service: service and programming in English and French
Heritage Sawmill Community Gathering Centre
A visit to the Francophone community of Hearst should include a trip to this centre, where history and culture come to life. Preserving the fascinating and important stories of the generations of pioneers who built this small community, the centre is easy to spot—there’s a giant two-man saw at the entrance.
Learn all about the region’s traditional forestry heritage, and why it’s so important to the locals. Experience the triumphs and challenges faced by the pioneers, which paved the way for Hearst to become a leader in Ontario’s lumber industry.
Location: 925 Alexandra Street, Hearst
Languages of programming and service: service and programming in English and French
The Hearst Ecomuseum
Located in one of the oldest houses (the Maison Blais) in the Francophone community of Hearst, this unique museum run by volunteers is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the local environment and its Franco-Ontarian cultural heritage.
Thematic exhibitions cover subjects as diverse as snow, toys and the history of local work. Don’t miss their collection of objects that trace the commercial and industrial evolution of the city and its surrounding area.
The museum is open seasonally, from June 1 to September 1, as well for Christmas and the local Carnival season.
Location: 53 Ninth Street, Jogues (near Hearst)
Languages of programming and service: service and programming in English and French
Muséoparc Vanier Museopark
One of the few Francophone museums in Canada outside Quebec, The Vanier Museopark is a community museum located in the middle of a 17.5-acre (7-hectare) urban park. The museum also has a completely unique setting, located only 5 kilometres from the city centre.
Vanier is home to an important Francophone community in Ontario—the location of the secret society of the Order of Jacques-Cartier (L’Ordre de Jacques-Cartier), founded in 1926 to promote and defend French Canadian culture. Dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Francophone history and culture through various exhibits and events, the Museopark also hosts a Sugar Festival at its on-site and fully operational sugar shack.
Currently closed for reconstruction after a fire in 2020, the shack is set to reopen for winter 2023.
Location: 300 Pères-Blancs Avenue #200, Vanier
Languages of programming and service: service and programming in English and French
Maison François Baby House
This permanent exhibit at Museum Windsor explores the fascinating and deep Francophone roots in the Windsor area—the oldest continuously-inhabited French colony west of Montreal.
Situated in the 18th-century home of prominent local politician François Baby, the property was once a French-Canadian ribbon farm that was used as a headquarters for both British and American forces in the War of 1812.
Location: 254 Pitt Street West, Windsor
Languages of programming and service: service and programming in English and French
Maison du patrimoine d'Orléans
Orléans Heritage House (Maison du patrimoine d’Orléans) is home to the Société franco-ontarienne du patrimoine et de l’histoire d’Orléans (SFOPHO)—a group dedicated to promoting the history of this French-Canadian community and its many heritage sites to both Francophones and Anglophones.
Location: 1420 Youville Drive #16, Orléans
Languages of programming and service: service and programming in English and French
Fort William Historical Park
One of the most important heritage sites in Canada, this enormous area—which has been reconstructed to bring its early 19th-century setting back to life—offers visitors the chance to experience an important phase of the fur trade era.
Once the headquarters of the North West Company—the world’s largest fur trading enterprise—the fort is brought to life by historical reenactors (90% Francophone). This company was formed through a unique partnership between European fur traders, First Nations peoples, the Métis, and French Canadians.
Watch birchbark canoe-making demonstrations, try some delicious bannock (a kind of sweet flat bread that was a staple for early voyageurs), listen to the songs of fur merchants, and pay a visit to the farrier, cooper and baker to watch them ply their trades.
Location: 1350 King Road, Thunder Bay
Languages of programming and service: service and programming in English and French
Francophone cultural centres and organizations
Enrich your travel itinerary with one of the many seasonal cultural activities and programs offered by the province’s Francophone community and cultural centres.
Mouvement d’implication francophone d’Orléans (MIFO)
MIFO is a dynamic cultural organization that offers a range of Francophone programming, including theatrical performances, dance, sport, arts and crafts, well-being and relaxation activities, music lessons, language classes, and an international film festival promoting French-language cinema from Canada and abroad.
Performances are held at the Centre des arts Shenkman (Shenkman Arts Centre).
Location: 6600 Carrière Street, Orléans
Languages of programming and service: service in English and French; programming in French
Le Chenail Cultural Centre
A non-for-profit cultural centre that celebrates the rich artistic and cultural heritage of the Ile du Chenail (Island of Chenail), located in the Ottawa River.
Dedicated to promoting the area’s Francophone communities, all of its programs—covering everything from music, contemporary dance and theatre to literature and the visual arts—are offered in French.
Location: 2 John Street, Hawkesbury
Languages of programming and service: service in English and French; programming in French
For more information about Francophone experiences in Ontario, Salut Canada offers lots of useful tips on things to do, places to see and routes to explore.
Last updated: March 27, 2024