Famed Franco-Ontarian singer, vocal impressionist, and actress Véronic DiCaire speaks about a new partnership between her foundation and le Conseil scolaire du district catholique de l’Est ontarien at l’École secondaire catholique L’Escale last week. (Anil Jhalli, EAP)

It was a celebration of artistic creativity in local youth when the Veronic DiCaire Foundation and the Conseil scolaire du district catholique de l’Est ontarien (CSDCEO) announcement a historic collaboration.

On Friday, June 3, the CSDCEO and the foundation unveiled a partnership that will significantly boost arts culture for youth across the board’s seven high schools in Rockland, Embrun, Casselman, Plantagenet, Hawkesbury, Cornwall and Alexandria providing them

with more resources and opportunities to develop their artistic talents.

“This partnership is particularly close to my heart because, before stepping onto the big stage, I took my first artistic steps close to here, at the Caféthèque at Casselman Catholic High School,” said Véronic DiCaire, the acclaimed Canadian Franco-Ontarian singer, vocal impressionist, and actress from Embrun.

The Fondation Véronic DiCaire is a recognized Canadian public charity established by the Franco-Ontarian singer that provides financial support to young artists, organizing French-language cultural events, and acquiring specialized equipment for cultural programs. The foundation is heavily involved in higher education, notably funding the Véronic DiCaire Scholarship (or Award) at L’a Cité collégiale in Ottawa, which awards eligible students up to $10,000 to support academic perseverance and success. Historically, the foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through high-profile events like the Véronic DiCaire Open (a premier golf tournament) and benefit gala dinners held internationally, such as in Geneva, Switzerland.

“Supporting the teachers and students of the CSDCEO schools today is a real homecoming for me,” added DiCaire. “What a joy it is to contribute, in my native province and language, to the development of the next generation of Francophone artists.”

The announcement was made at L’École secondaire catholique L’Escale (ESC L’Escale), in Rockland, the largest school in the CSDCEO with more than 1,100 students and home of Showbizz, an annual, multidisciplinary French-language variety show

produced by the student theatre troupe. Founded in 1987, this long-standing high school tradition collaborates with students and staff members to showcase musical, theatrical, and artistic talent.

“I am a graduate of this school (ESC L’Escale), so this announcement is special and meaningful for me, and I am honoured to be here today,” said Jean Lemay, the president of the CSDCEO. “This is more than just a collaboration between our board and the foundation, it shows that the foundation as the confidence has to support our board, our schools, and especially, our students.”

The partnership aims to support students enrolled in specialized arts concentrations and arts-related programs across all seven CSDCEO secondary schools, provide financial backing, mentorship from professional artists, and real-world creative experiences. It also covers both on-stage talents and behind-the-scenes roles, including lighting, sound engineering, set design, and production management. The collaboration offers ongoing professional development and specialized training opportunities for teaching personnel.

“We are very pleased to collaborate with the Véronic DiCaire Foundation to offer even more opportunities to our students,” said Anne Simard, the principal of ESC L’Escale. “This new collaboration will allow us to continue to promote our focus on the arts. In addition, the students involved in Showbizz, our annual multidisciplinary show, will benefit from exceptional support, both on stage and behind the scenes, to enrich their experience.”

The exact form of financial assistance has not been determined yet. Consultations have begun with officials of the seven schools to identify what the needs are. Schools will also have the opportunity to apply for funding from the Véronic DiCaire Foundation to support their artistic projects.

“This partnership represents an exceptional opportunity for students in our 7 high schools to develop their creativity and live inspiring artistic experiences,” said Lyne Racine, Director of Education and Secretary of the CSDCEO. “Arts and culture are an important part of our students’ educational journeys and this collaboration will enrich their school experience.”

Students from the seven schools showcased a glimpse of their talents with a number of performances, including sharing the stage with DiCaire.