His ambition was great, his vision, Claire. Claude Bourgie Bovet dreamed for Quebec a literary prize similar to the Goncourt of high school students, in France. A prize that makes young people read their literature. Which allow them to tame their styles, to understand it in depth, crossing five novels, new products, with each edition. A prize that taught them to debate, to elect, during a meeting on the sidelines of the International Book Fair in Quebec, their book of the year. Mission accomplished for Claude Bourgie Bovet, who died at the age of 73, on April 7, a few days before the unveiling of the 22e edition.
In 2004, Claude Bourgie Bovet, president of the Marc Bourgie Foundation for the education of young people, co -bonded, after a first pilot edition, the literary prize of college students and college students in Quebec, with Bruno Lemieux, professor of literature at the Cégep de Sherbrooke.
It then brings together more than 500 students from 34 colleges and CEGEPS in Quebec. It is Answer butôfrom Ook Chung (Boréal), who wins their favors.
This year, the price brought together 62 establishments. Some 1,000 students are now participating each year. They read five fresh novels; choose their favorites; prepare their arguments; Elisal a spokesperson for their Cégep who will go to Quebec, to the “deliberative”, to carry their favorites.
“1000 students who read you, it is a critical mass hal-lu-pi-nan-te,” comments Sébastien Dulude. Her Asbestos (The people) was preceded by PowderSophie Lalonde-Roux’s first novel. For Mr. Dulude, “the reception for all the authors is incredible, and the feedback that young people make us of very high quality”.
“The literary prize for middle school students was [le] Baby ”, by Claude Bourgie Bovet, remembers Richard Prieur, ex-director of the National Association of Books Publishers. “She said a few weeks ago that it was her greatest professional success,” said Bruno Lemieux.
“Because it joined everything she found important,” he continues. Curiosity, thought, literature, education, the need to make a positive difference in society. And his support and his faith in youth. »»
Work, arms, love, money
At the beginning, Mme Bourgie Bovet provides essential financial support – going so far as to defray for transport and accommodation at the Manoir Victoria hotel in college students who come to debate. Until 2020, herself “sent books to the Cégeps, preparing the boxes in her garage,” smiles Mr. Prieur.
Because to be able to deliberate adequately, each student juror receives a copy of each book in the running. This is what makes this price one of the most important in terms of fallout in Quebec. In addition to these sales guaranteed for all finalists, in addition to allowing the authors to meet young people and their contaminating energy, “the price has put works and writers under the spotlight”, maintains Mr. Lemieux.
“Remember Nikolskifirst book published by Alto, while Nicolas Dickner was very young and the house began. It was the middle school students who gave the first prize in 2006 to this book; And it gave the publisher a boost. »»
Over the years, middle school students have crowned Catherine Mavrikakis, Jocelyne Saucier, Louis Hamelin, Éric Dupont, Paul Kawczak, among others.
“Claude was an exceptional patron,” recalls our colleague Jean-François Nadeau, head of the book notebook in 2004, when The duty has become a price partner.
“She started from nothing, after having gone to see in France how the goncourt of high school students was done, and designed this extraordinary lever to speak of Quebec literature. Until 2022, The duty Assured the presidency of the finalist selection committee, and opened its pages to the winners of the literary criticism competition, which quickly won the prize.
A positive effect
Very often also, the price serves as a barometer for CEGEP teachers, who will put the winning books under study thereafter, as it happened for The weight of snow, by Christian Guay-Apoliquin That of Naomi Fontaine (Incrier memory) or Where I go earth, by Caroline Dawson (Editions du Suisse-Ménage).
But regardless of the lighting that guides teachers have on the five finalist books, the college student, “In the end, it ends up with [de 700 à 1000 jeunes] 18 years old who voted with their guts, ”said Daniel Rondeau, professor at John-Abbott college, a prize veteran in an analysis published in an analysis that published The duty.
“This price is a democracy; And it is the voice of young people who talk about our books. It’s overwhelming, ”adds Sébastien Dulude.
Since 2022, the intercollegial network of socio -cultural activities of Quebec (RIASQ) has ensured the sustainability of the structure. “Claude, knowing that she was going to die, made a very important donation to the RIASQ to support the price for years,” says Lemieux.
Claude Bourgie Bovet was also a volunteer to the Canada Guides, Division Quebec, and the Association of Citizens of Laval-sur-le-Lac.
With Sébastien Tanguay
