Along with Fransaskoise Alexis Normand, the Québec comedian is the speaker of the event which aims to highlight the French fact in all the provinces and territories of the country during the month of March through activities and competitions (online and in person face).

The RVF are not just for francophones; It’s also something for Francophiles, reminds Eddy King. And also to create other francophiles, other people who will fall in love with the French language.

And that’s what we miss a lot in Quebec, the comedian continues. The laws that we currently have are important for protecting the language, but we forget that we also have to seduce people with the French language.

Eddy King kicks off the celebrations Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. ET with a Just for Laughs Cross-Country Tour Gala featuring comedians from across the country.

Wednesday’s show, held in Ottawa, features acts from Mario Jean, Jessica Chartrand, Luc Leblanc and Rachelle Elie. It will be broadcast for free on the event website (New window).

Between partying and fighting

Eddy King, who has been taking part in the RVF for several years, points out that the event made him discover the militancy of the country’s many French-speaking communities and the richness of their culture.

What is wonderful is that the RVF has allowed me to get to know the different francophone communities across the country and there are communities that I didn’t know at all that really all have their own identity.

In Quebec we have problems with the French language, but what I saw there has nothing to do with it, he says. In particular, he says that he met a young man who was the only student in his class to graduate from high school.

” There are many people struggling to keep the French language alive in small Canadian communities. »

Eddy King also underscores the contribution of African immigration – Africa is a French-speaking continent which he says is often forgotten – to the vitality of French-speaking communities in minority settings.

Without Africa there is no more Francophonie [dans le monde]that is clear and clean.

This text was adapted from an interview conducted by Catherine Richer, the show’s culture columnist 15-18. Comments may have been edited for clarity or conciseness.