Louis Mercier
L’habitant Voyageur Louis Mercier is an ambassador of traditional French Canadian music, having offered over 3000 performances across Canada since 1984. Louis comes from Maniwaki, Qc. a town 100 miles north of Ottawa. Louis’ family passed their traditions down to him throughout his childhood, providing his foundation of square dance, traditional percussion and music, toe dancing, playing the bones, wash boards, spoons and the comb. His passion for his culture led to more study of these life-long folkloric traditions, as well as becoming a teacher of High school mathematics. What motivates Louis is to tell us about our past, how it is alive in the present and how it will mark our future.
Respond to oral French text; describe the communities of early settles in Upper Canada and identify factors that helped them shape their settlements; demonstrate an awareness of the characteristics of musical forms and traditions of diverse times, places and communities; rhythms and structure of traditional music and dance.

New Artist

New Program

Residency

Indigenous

Performance

Workshop

Seniors

English

French

French Immersion
AVAILABLE ONLINE: School Performance: French Canadian Folklore
A rousing presentation of traditional French-Canadian music, dance and stories with an emphasis on the songs of the voyageurs featuring traditional rhythms from wooden spoons, feet and limberjacks (or jig dolls).
Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
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150
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Music
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Time and Price:
In person One performance: 1 hour $415 + HST Two performances: same school in one half day $555 + HST Three performances: same school in one day $815 + HST Performances for Kindergarten students are 45 minutes each.
One hour workshop: immediately following performance $145 + materials + HST Maximum: 30 students
Online: Video On Demand
One performance: 28 minutes video + 20 minute online meeting with the artist $270 + HST Each additional meeting: $60 + HST
Maximum: 500 students for the video 60 participants for the meeting
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AVAILABLE ONLINE: Seniors Performance: French Canadian Folklore
A rousing presentation of traditional French-Canadian music, dance and stories with an emphasis on the songs of the voyageurs featuring traditional rhythms from wooden spoons, feet and limberjacks (or jig dolls).
Seniors
|
150
|
Music
|
Time and Price:
In person One performance: 1 hour $415 + HST
Online: Video On Demand One performance: 28 minutes video + 30 minute online meeting with the artist $270 + HST Each additional meeting: $60 + HST
Maximum: 500 participants for the video 60 participants for the meeting
|
School Performance: Songs and stories of Loggers and Lumberjacks
Hear the stories, sing the songs of the lumberjacks and meet logger Ti-Pic Ladrave in this interactive performance exploring Canada’s rich history of logging from the 19th century to current day.
Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
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150
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Literary Arts, Music
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Time and Price:
In person One performance: 1 hour $415 + HST Two performances: same school in one half day $555 + HST Three performances: same school in one day $815 + HST Performances for Kindergarten students are 45 minutes each.
One hour workshop: immediately following performance $145 + materials + HST Maximum: 30 students
|
School Workshop: Traditional Dance
Students will learn the steps of square dances, set to traditional French Canadian music. Rediscover the love of the dances and music that inspired our ancestors!
Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
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30
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Music
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Time and Price:
In person only: Half day: two 1 hour sessions $370 + HST Full day: four 1 hour sessions $470 + HST
|
School Workshop: Birch Bark Artistry
French Canadian history is explored as students manipulate the traditional material of birch bark into books, canoes or bracelets. Made from sustainable reclaimed wood.
Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
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30
|
Music, Visual Arts
|
Time and Price:
In person only: Half day: two 1 hour sessions $370 + HST Full day: four 1 hour sessions $470 + HST
Materials: $3 + HST per student
|
School Workshop: Make and play the Wooden Spoons!
Students will sand and finish a set of their own wooden spoons and then learn to play some simple tunes with their instrument. Made from sustainable reclaimed wood.
Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
|
30
|
Music
|
Time and Price:
In person only: Half day: two 1 hour sessions $370 + HST Full day: four 1 hour sessions $470 + HST
Materials $7 + HST per student.
|
School Workshop: Leatherwork
Students learn to work with sustainable recycled leather as they create bracelets, necklaces or pouches based on age-old techniques.
Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12, Teachers, General Public
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30
|
Music, Visual Arts
|
Time and Price:
In person only: Half day: two 1 hour sessions $370 + HST Full day: four 1 hour sessions $470 + HST
Materials: $3 + HST per student
|
School Workshop: Stories and songs with Louis
Students are introduced to a variety of French-Canadian stories, songs and historical figures. Be introduced to Louis’ jigging puppet “Jonny Boy” and learn how to play the musical spoons.
Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12, Teachers, General Public
|
30
|
Music, Drama
|
Time and Price:
In person only: Half day: two 1 hour sessions $370 + HST Full day: four 1 hour sessions $470 + HST
|
Seniors Workshop: Traditional Dance
Students will learn the steps of square dances, set to traditional French Canadian music. Rediscover the love of the dances and music that inspired our ancestors!
Seniors
|
30
|
Music
|
Time and Price:
In person only: Half day: two 1 hour sessions $370 + HST Full day: four 1 hour sessions $470 + HST
|
Seniors Workshop: Birch Bark Artistry
French Canadian history is explored as students manipulate the traditional material of birch bark into books, canoes or bracelets. Made from sustainable reclaimed wood.
Seniors
|
30
|
Music, Visual Arts
|
Time and Price:
In person only: Half day: two 1 hour sessions $370 + HST Full day: four 1 hour sessions $470 + HST
Materials: $3 + HST per student
|
Seniors Workshop: Make and play the Wooden Spoons!
Students will sand and finish a set of their own wooden spoons and then learn to play some simple tunes with their instrument. Made from sustainable reclaimed wood.
Seniors
|
30
|
Music
|
Time and Price:
In person only: Half day: two 1 hour sessions $370 + HST Full day: four 1 hour sessions $470 + HST
Materials $7 + HST per student.
|
Seniors Workshop: Leatherwork
Students learn to work with sustainable recycled leather as they create bracelets, necklaces or pouches based on age-old techniques.
Seniors
|
30
|
Music, Visual Arts
|
Time and Price:
In person only: Half day: two 1 hour sessions $370 + HST Full day: four 1 hour sessions $470 + HST
Materials: $3 + HST per student
|
Seniors Workshop: Stories and songs with Louis
Students are introduced to a variety of French-Canadian stories, songs and historical figures. Be introduced to Louis’ jigging puppet “Jonny Boy” and learn how to play the musical spoons.
Seniors
|
30
|
Music, Drama
|
Time and Price:
In person only: Half day: two 1 hour sessions $370 + HST Full day: four 1 hour sessions $470 + HST
|