OTTAWA – La 44e edition of Contact ontarois ended Saturday evening. The special show to mark 25 years of Réseau Ontario took on the feel of a family gathering. At the start of the evening, a sober awards ceremony crowned, among others, Stéphane Guertin, Mimi O’Bonsawin and Caroline Raynaud.
This was the second Ontario Network Distinction award in a row for Stéphane Guertin, who was the first recipient last year, when Ontario Network reshuffled its categories. The traditional Coup de cœur prize thus gave way to the Distinction and Audace prizes.
This year, it was during the elementary youth showcase that he was able to captivate young people and broadcasters with his first children’s story, When toes will have teeth.
In 2025, the storyteller and founder of the company Cadeau Papillon shares the Distinction prize with Mimi O’Bonsawin. The latter also won the Alliance Ouest prize from the Large Spaces Network, securing it a place in the showcase at the next Contact Ouest.
“I really didn’t expect that,” said Mimi O’Bonsawin at the microphone ofONFRemphasizing that this was his first showcase at Contact ontarois. “I don’t have many words, I’m moved. »
Sudbury’s audacity
The Audace prize was awarded to Caroline Raynaud for her play Le téton tardif, presented during the theater and dance bubble Thursday afternoon. The Franco-Sudburoise also leaves with the Alliance ROSEQ prize. She will therefore present a showcase in Rimouski, Quebec, this fall.
The French native says she experienced a pleasant surprise when she heard the description of the price. “I said to myself: hey, this is a region that I haven’t visited yet. And suddenly I heard my name. It was almost unreal. »
This is the second year that the Audace prize has been won by an artist from Sudbury, while Alex Tétreault was the recipient last year. The prize is awarded to an original Franco-Ontarian proposal which will “address new audiences, introduce new forms or new artistic approaches”.
“I am very touched this evening. For me, it’s proof that I can convey the message I want, which is why I’m writing this show. » Caroline Raynaud emphasizes that spectators tell her that they are touched for a variety of reasons, after her few performances in front of an audience during the creation of the piece. “Vulnerability, lightness, and talking about subjects that are not necessarily easy to discuss, such as sexuality, the relationship with one’s body” and the uncomfortable moments of adolescence, approached with sensitivity, but also with humor.
Another Franco-Ontarian who will be able to explore the Quebec market is LeFLOFRANCO, recipient of the Granby International Song Festival prize.
“I feel seen, listened to, honored. We will be able to represent the beautiful Canadian Francophonie on Quebec territory. It’s a big thing and we all want to have our place in this market. »
LeFLOFRANCO already has a full schedule for the coming year, thanks in part to its producer Natalie Aloessode-Bernardin (Amixie Solution), who herself won the Product’Or scolaire prize for her recent tour.
The multidisciplinary Product’Or prize was awarded to Martin Rocheleau for the tour Angle mort by Stéphanie Morin-Robert. The artist from Timmins won three awards, including Coup de cœur, at Contact ontarois 2023.
-The Product’Or awards are given “to the two producers who were the most pleasant to work with and who demonstrated an open-minded approach to the realities of broadcasting in Ontario during the 2023-2024 season. »
The FrancoFlamme prize, awarded to highlight a presenter’s commitment to “the influence of Franco-Canadian artists”, was awarded to the Council of Francophone Organizations of the Durham Region (COFRD). The organization based in Oshawa devoted more than 87% of its programming over the past year to Franco-Ontarian artists.
Also a reward for broadcasters, the Alliance Rideau prize was awarded ex aequo to the Compagnons des francs Loisirs of North Bay and the Kapuskasing Cultural Recreation Center.
At the very start of the award ceremony, Réseau Ontario presented the Martin Arseneau Prize, which rewards an employee or volunteer who has been involved in the team of a network member broadcaster. It was Élaine Legault who won the honors to the sustained applause of the crowd.
The international delegation, for its part, gave its support to the Fransaskois Shawn Jobin and the Ottawa duo Moonfruits, who had not presented a showcase this year, but had been noticed in 2024.
25 years of Ontario Network
The 2025 edition of Contact ontarois ended with a show to mark 25 years of incorporation of Réseau Ontario, which has been organizing Contact ontarois for 23 years.
23 years is also the number of years spent on the board of directors for Élaine Legault, whose involvement was highlighted in broad strokes during the show, in addition to the Martin Arseneau prize won a little earlier.
The contribution of several other people was also highlighted by the hosts, Yao and Stef Paquette. This is particularly the case of technical director Claude Faucon, who was involved for 35 years at Contact ontarois.
The public was engaged throughout the evening, with people in the room telling various anecdotes and even engaging with each other, in what took on the appearance of a large family reception.
In performance, in addition to the hosts, we were able to see, among others, Hey, Wow, Geneviève Roberge-Bouchard, Improtein and Makhena Rankin-Guérin.
Questioned by ONFR following this 44e edition of Contact ontarois, the general director of Réseau Ontario, Marie-Ève Chassé, said she was satisfied.
“We are really happy. It was an edition under the seal of discovery. That’s the word I heard the most this week” from broadcasters. She emphasizes that they will have difficult choices to make, among other things because of the variety of the offer. “No matter who I spoke to, it was never the same favorites (…) This means that the offerings in the communities will be varied in the coming year. »
About the show, she emphasizes having been happy to see on stage again certain artists who have marked the last 25 years. “I also think that for those who are less familiar with the organization, it gives a good snapshot of what we are, the energy, the dynamics. It also allowed us to honor people who built the Ontario Network, she emphasizes.
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