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Summer street festival 2007 in Côte-des-Neiges
Summer Street Festival 2007: From 26th to 29th of June in Montreal.
This year, the festival began long before June 26th. As of May 26th, a team of people, passionate of children and books, went to Darlington Place every Saturday afternoon in order to put up a street library.
Here is what Fanny, a young instructor, wrote after the first street library. "A carpet under one arm and a suitcase full of books under the other, this is how began my first street library experience this Saturday, May 26th 2007.
After carefully choosing books that could touch all children, from the youngest to the oldest, we headed towards Darlington Place, in the neighborhood of Côte–des-neiges.
When we opened our suitcase, it was as though we had opened a door on culture, know-how, knowledge. Each was free to come and sit to look, touch and read one or many books.
It took a while before children looked in our direction… Then, a «courageous one» sat next to us and started looking at the books. What she wanted were comic books, but sadly we did not have any (we will correct this mistake next time) so she began reading a storybook and invited her friend to take a book as well. This is how we found ourselves around the suitcase. A little 5 year old boy even read a book on arts and crafts twice… there were some for all types. Then the boys left their playground to also enjoy some time around the books.
Some parents came over to ask if it was a book sale, so we explained to them why we were there and a father remembered the «Summer Street Festival» from the previous year and was satisfied to see that ATD Fourth World was back."
Then arrived the big day : June 26th, first day of the festival. Many children were waiting for us long before the appointed time. They helped us install the workshops. And so it was everyday.
Discovering with Magda how a computer works, learning to «see without eyes» with Guy and Caroline, visibly impaired themselves, making aboriginal braids with Francine, creating a human pyramid with Fanny, miming with Rodrigo and Jacques, creating a beautiful mosaic with Christine to then offer it to someone we loved, discovering how we treat water with Pierre-Luc and how we recycle with Éco-quartier, embroidering with Louise… there was something for all kinds! This big diversity of workshops allowed children, youths and adults to discover new things, to make new experiments and to meet in another way.
And for the animators, it was the discovery of a multi-ethnique neighborhood with many new arrivals, it was a meeting with people from very different cultures and life experiences.
The festival was a time of discoveries, meetings, small and big moments of celebration and joy for all!
If you are interested in this celebration next year, do not hesitate to let us know!
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