In response to the current pandemic, we have established a blackout period during which time we will not be supporting some travel-related activities, despite the reopening of suspended components. There may be restrictions or conditions on projects in which public gatherings are an essential part. As a result, the contents of this page may not be up to date. Please consult our COVID-19: Information and support for the arts sector web page for details.

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The VIII Games in Cote d’Ivoire
Considered by many as the "cultural crossroads of West Africa," this year's Games will take place from July 21 to 30, 2017 in the Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Aside from celebrating the most talented athletes and artists across the Francophonie, this year's Games, held under the theme: Solidarity, Diversity and Excellence, also aim to strengthen national unity and development in Cote d’Ivoire.
Team Canada: Culture Component Finalists
Represented in twelve cultural competitions, these are the Team Canada finalists competing in the cultural components of the Games:

Benoît Davidson
Stories and Storytellers
Saint-Rémi-d'Amherst, QC

Collectif Pi
Street Arts: Giant Puppets
Montréal, QC
Silver

Freestyle Soccer Inc.
Street Arts: Freestyle Ball
Toronto, ON

Freya Björg Olafson
Creative Dance
Winnipeg, MB

Gabriel Marcoux-Chabot
Literature
Saint-Nérée-de-Bellechasse, QC

Guillaume Boudrias-Plouffe
Sculpture
Longueuil, QC

Jeux Wasa
Sustainable Creation
Montréal, QC
Gold

Karine Fréchette
Painting
Montréal, QC

Les Poules à Colin
Song
Montréal, QC

Michelle Bui
Photograhy
Montréal, QC

Mix Mix Dance
Street Arts: Hip Hop
Toronto, ON

Sabrina Ratté
Digital Creation
Montréal, QC
Gold
Created in 1987, and held every four years since, the Games of La Francophonie bring together 3,000 young (18-35) athletes and artists from member and observer states and governments of La Francophonie. They are the only major games that feature both sports and cultural competitions.
The Comité internationale des Jeux de la Francophonie, reporting to the International Organisation of La Francophonie is responsible for organizing the Games in co-operation with the host country’s national organizing committee.
In Canada, the Department of Canadian Heritage (on behalf of the Government of Canada) organizes and coordinates all activities related to the participation and coaching of athletes and artists who represent Team Canada. The Canada Council, for our part, organizes a national cultural competition.
Artists are pre-selected through a national cultural competition organized by the Canada Council for the Arts, after which point a jury appointed by the Comité international des Jeux de la Francophonie selects the final candidates.
National Pre-selection Peer Assessors
- Marie-Célie Agnant, Montréal (QC)
- Khosro Berahmandi, Montréal (QC)
- Henda Ben Salah, Montréal (QC)
- Patrick Bourbonnais, Orléans (ON)
- Gracia Couturier, Moncton (NB)
- Stéphane Guertin, Ottawa (ON)
- Mathieu Léger, Moncton (NB)
- Deborah Margo, Ottawa (ON)
- Bernard Sauvé, Victoria (BC)
Canada has participated in every edition of the Games of La Francophonie since the very first, held in 1989, in Morocco.
Discover how many medals we've taken home over the years: Past Games of La Francophonie
For more information
Vanessa Novak
Senior Administrative Assistant
E-mail: Vanessa.Novack@canadacouncil.ca
613-566-4414, ext. 4102
Toll free: 1-800-263-5588, ext. 4102
Follow Team Canada
Encourage Team Canada finalists on their road to gold using the hashtags #JeuxFranco #Abidjan2017 #TeamCanada and follow the Games on:
Participate in the 2021 Games
Interested in representing Canada when the Games come to New Brunswick, Canada in 2021? Watch for the call for nominations.
Testimonials from previous Games participants

Connections, experience, love of the culture and our country
Supernaturalz arrived in the Nice airport surrounded by people in red-and-white maple-leafed athletic gear.

Participation, a medal and a confession: I’m coming back!
I took part in the last edition of the Jeux de la Francophonie, in 2013, and it turned out to be an absolutely unique experience in my life as an artist.

The opening ceremony: a well-kept secret… a chance to discover each other
This year, the Council, in association with Canadian Heritage, is shining more light on young artists who are breaking onto the international scene via the Francophone Games.