Last October marked the fourth edition of the Young Franco-American Summit (YFAS), an annual gathering dedicated to uniting the young generation of Franco-Americans, French-Canadians, Acadians, Québécois, and Francophones.
Since its inaugural event in 2021 at the Franco-American Programs in Orono, Maine, YFAS continues to spread out and grow! Merci beaucoup to UMass Lowell for sponsoring last year’s gathering.
With a shared passion for exploring our French-heritage roots and stories, this summit brought us to the University of Massachusetts in Lowell for an exciting day of discussions, presentations, and cultural exploration.
Of the seven total attendees, four spoke French and three had some knowledge of the French language. Unlike previous years, this YFAS event felt more spontaneous, with the presentations and the entire day itself.
I love seeing new faces, and last year was no different. We had five people who had never attended before, so I was thrilled that the YFAS message reached far and wide!
Speaking of, we mostly had attendees coming from Massachusetts, including Taunton, Lowell, and Lexington. Another attendee arrived from Warwick, RI, and one familiar host from Derry, NH.
We kicked off the presentations with David McRae and his talk, “Small World,” where he shared insights from his extensive genealogical research. With thousands of people in his Ancestry family tree, David illustrated how closely connected French-Canadians are in New England and how a simple surname search can reveal unexpected relatives. He also explored the fascinating ways people from different branches of his tree are linked – including notable historical and modern figures related to him.
Next, Geoffrey Laforce shared his journey of genealogical discovery and the incredible experience of reconnecting with long-lost cousins in Québec. Thanks to his ability to speak French, Geoffrey was able to deepen his understanding of his family’s roots, even sharing meals in the very house where his paternal lineage to the United States began. Fresh from a recent visit with his cousins, he was eager to connect with fellow Franco-Americans who share his passion for heritage and genealogy.
Both presentations showed how vast, yet small, our Franco-American community can be.
Up next, I shared insights from my blog, Moderne Francos, which explores contemporary Franco-American heritage, identity, and culture. I also discussed my Capstone project, “Reviving French,” completed for my M.A. in Journalism at Emerson College in August 2022, which examines the decline (and hopeful resurgence) of the French language in New England.
After lunch, this year’s YFAS was highlighted by a keynote address from Mercédès Baillargeon, Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies at UMass Lowell, titled, “Bridging the Intergenerational Divide Through Community-Engaged Scholarship: The Greater Lowell Franco-American Digital Archives.”
Not only did Mercédès provide invaluable insights into The Greater Lowell Franco-American Digital Archives, but she also treated attendees to a guided tour of Lowell’s Petit Canada neighborhood – a YFAS first!
From historical landmarks to the cultural treasures of Cote’s Market and Jack Kerouac’s celebrated sites, the tour connected us directly to the city’s Franco-American history and presence.
St. Jean Baptiste Church at 741 Merrimack Street in Lowell has long been a cornerstone of the city’s Franco-American community. Founded by Father André-Marie Garin, a French Oblate missionary, the church was built in the late 1800s – its cornerstone laid in 1888 and dedication in 1890. For generations, it served as both a spiritual and cultural hub for French-Canadian immigrants in the area.
After a major fire in 1912, the church was rebuilt and reopened by 1916. It’s also famously known as the site of Jack Kerouac’s funeral in 1969. The parish eventually closed in 1993, and the building has seen different uses since then. Recently, there’s been talk of transforming it into a performance space that would honor Kerouac’s legacy. Check out this video memoir about the church and its legacy in Lowell.
Moving on, it wouldn’t be a Franco-American tour without our traditional food! So, naturally, the next stop was Cote’s Market, home of Lowell’s famous baked beans. Once owned and operated by three generations of the same family, Cote’s Market has been a staple in Lowell’s Acre neighborhood since 1917, serving up classic French-Canadian comfort food for over a century. Learn more about Cote’s Market here.
Perhaps the most memorable part of the tour was the monument honoring Lowell’s Franco-American community and the memory of the Little Canada neighborhood. Erected in 1977, it stands as a tribute to a once-thriving enclave that was lost to urban redevelopment.
When Lowell’s Little Canada was demolished in 1964, it marked the end of an era. “L’ptit Canada” had been home to generations of French-Canadians who settled in Lowell around the turn of the century.
Over 2,500 residents lived in its 325 buildings, with French-Canadian families owning a significant share of the neighborhood’s 110 apartments, businesses, and restaurants. Many residents worked in the nearby mills, while churches and parochial schools were just a short walk away.
Though Little Canada is gone, its legacy endures through these Franco-American heritage and cultural sites that still stand today.
The inscription on the monument reads:
Le Petit Canada – Little Canada
En souvenir des Canadiens de langue Francaise et de leurs descendants. Les Franco-Americains, que ont vécu ici. Nos coeurs n’oublieront jamais leur courage, leurs sacrifices, leur foi, leur foi, leur fierté.
On this site grew the heart of the Franco-American community. Hard working French Americans came to fill the mills of Lowell and build a tradition of faith, generosity, and pride.
Aiken – Cabot – Cheever – Coolidge – Hall – Melvin –
Montcalm – Pawtucket – Perkins – Suffolk – Tucker – Ward
Je Me Souviens! – Lest We Forget!
1977
Erected by
The Franco-American people
and
The Oblate Fathers of St. Jean Baptiste Parish
This stone comes from one of the
last blocks of large wooden
apartment houses to be torn down
Exploring these sites during the summit not only brought history to life, but also reminded us why gatherings like YFAS matter. They give us the chance to reconnect with our roots, learn from one another, and keep these stories (and the culture they represent) alive for future generations.
I am committed to ensuring that YFAS continues for many more years to do my part to preserve Franco-American heritage and culture. The future depends on us, and events like this show that the passion of the younger generation is still alive. We can’t give up, and I have no intention of doing so. After all, “If not us, who? If not now, when?”
Merci beaucoup to everyone who attended and presented the 2024 YFAS! This continues to be an impactful event, with new attendees asking what more they can do to be involved in the Franco-American community.
Want to participate in the Young Franco-American Summit this year? Contact me at melody@modernefrancos.com.
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