A 100% Quebec Christmas: How a School Choir Became a Symbol of Integration
Published December 26, 2023 – Brossard, Quebec – The air crackled with anticipation last Thursday at Charles-Bruneau elementary school in Brossard, as parents gathered for the annual Christmas choir performance. More than just a festive showcase, the event offered a poignant illustration of cultural integration and the enduring power of music to unite a diverse community.
The scene unfolded in the school’s agora, a central gathering space transformed for the evening. A hundred parents, perched on the floor amidst Christmas lights and red and green balloons, waited for the sixty eager children to take the stage. The performance, titled “A 100% Quebec Christmas,” was the culmination of months of work led by music teacher Marie-Chantal Desjardins, who greeted parents with gratitude for their support.
Desjardins understood the importance of storytelling in a truly Quebecois Christmas, and introduced Thomas Bélanger, a former student, to serve as the evening’s conteur – a storyteller in the tradition of Fred Pellerin. Bélanger captivated the audience with a tale of a shooting star falling in the fir forest of Val-des-Tourtières, setting the stage for a musical journey through Quebec’s rich songbook.
The choir’s repertoire was a carefully curated selection of beloved Quebecois classics. They began with “Christmas this year” by 2Frères, followed by the iconic “Marie-Noël” by Charlebois, a song that, as one observer noted, “hits you by the throat” with its uniquely Quebecois sentiment. The performance wasn’t simply about singing the songs; it was about embodying a culture, “humming our metaphors, in our words.”
As the performance progressed, the energy in the agora swelled. A lively rendition of Damien Robitaille’s “The Santa Claus Parade” was accompanied by a miniature parade of students dressed as elves, reindeer, and, of course, Father Christmas. A particularly charming moment arrived with “You thrill me,” also by Robitaille, as children lost themselves in the music, their voices blending with the enthusiastic wiggles of parents and teachers.
The true heart of the evening, however, lay in a performance of Nicola Ciccone’s “I wish it was Christmas all year round.” Before the song began, Desjardins highlighted a significant aspect of the Charles-Bruneau student body: 73% are from immigrant backgrounds. The song featured a quartet of children from the reception class – two Chinese and one Cambodian – playing the spoon, a traditional Quebecois instrument.
“It caught me by the throat, once again,” one attendee reflected, witnessing these children, new to the country, embracing and performing songs from their adopted homeland. This moment underscored the choir’s role as a powerful tool for integration, as articulated by reception teacher Antoine Didier Mbango: “They integrate through music. This is a very strong educational card. The choir is a shortcut for Frenchification… and for culture!” Mbango, himself an immigrant who arrived in Canada in 2014 with his five children, embodies the school’s commitment to welcoming and nurturing new Canadians.
The choir continued with Daniel Bélanger’s “For New Year’s Eve” and Muriel Millard’s “In our old houses,” each song further weaving a tapestry of Quebecois tradition. The performance wasn’t just about musical skill; it was about a shared experience, a collective embrace of a cultural identity.
The dedication of the teachers, working “during recess, during dinner,” exemplifies what one teacher described as “And any other related task!” – the extra effort that defines the soul of a school. This commitment, combined with the children’s enthusiasm, created a truly magical evening.
As the final notes faded, the sentiment was clear: this was more than just a Christmas concert. It was a celebration of community, a testament to the power of music, and a hopeful glimpse into a future where culture transcends borders. I wish you, dear readers, a Christmas as joyful as the Val-des-Tourtières choir performance last Thursday.
