2027 edition
Theme
What brings us together
We all have something in common, something that unites us, something that brings us together. Sometimes, we feel it right away—a connection, a shared passion or an affinity for a culture. Sometimes, we have to dig a little, open a discussion or stop to reflect, but we always end up finding a way to connect. In 2027, Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie (RVF) is what will bring us together! The RVF will give us the opportunity to celebrate, laugh and reflect. With workshops and shows put on by our spokespersons and activities organized by local organizations and schools, the RVF will help each and every one of us discover what unites us.
Dive in and enjoy Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie!
Spokespersons
Étienne Fletcher
Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Étienne Fletcher stands out on the Franco-Canadian music scene as one of the most influential artists of his generation. In 2022, Étienne won Francophone Artist of the Year at the West Coast Music Awards. And in 2023, he took home four awards at the Trille Or Gala, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year.
From the very beginning, Étienne has touted his bilingual roots and has never been afraid to cover ground. He has graced the stages of many festivals, including the Regina Folk Festival, Les Francos de Montréal, Le Festif!, the Festival en Chansons de Petite-Vallée, Francofaune (Belgium), Pause Guitare (France) and Voix de Fête (Switzerland).
There’s something truly touching about Étienne, with his soft, raspy voice. This singer-songwriter finds just the right words to capture in song everything from life to death while carrying in his heart the Francophone pride of Western Canada.
Philosophical, highly nuanced and full of imagery, Étienne’s last indie folk album was released in March 2025. It tells the story of a now extinct Hawaiian bird. The last Kauai O’o spent several years calling and waiting for a reply, not realizing it was the only one of its species left. This bird’s plight is a metaphor not only for the situation in which artists find themselves in this apocalyptic era but also for the existential challenges faced by linguistic and cultural minorities.
Coco Belliveau
Coco Belliveau is an Acadian multidisciplinary comedian from New Brunswick. This self-proclaimed “vigilante” with a charming accent is known for her unique storytelling style and her ability to tackle taboo subjects with tact and sensitivity. She is living proof that it’s possible to broach any subject in comedy. You just have to know how to go about it.
For several years, Coco was a familiar face in theatre. In recent years, she has won over TV audiences with her participation in Le prochain Stand Up, Big Brother Célébrités (finalist in 2023 and 2025), Zénith (2026) and Les gérants d’estrades (2026), as well as her roles in Quebec films and series: Arsenault et fils, Libre dès maintenant, La maison bleue and Hantée (fall 2026).
In 2025, she co-hosted Divergentes with Naadei Lyonnais, a show that explores the realities of neurodivergent women. Having been diagnosed with autism as an adult herself, she was the perfect person to co-host this documentary series.
In 2026, she hosted the podcast On rit pareil!, a series in which comedians discuss how humour can build bridges between Quebec and the rest of Canada’s Francophonie and bring them closer together. In the fall, you’ll be able to catch her on Crave in a new show called Rocamboulesque.
Coco is currently touring across Quebec with her show Cocologie. She’ll also be one of the comedians on the 2027 RVF Comedy Tour!
Xavier Watso
Xavier Watso is an Abenaki from Odanak. For over 15 years, he taught drama and shared his love of theatre with elementary and secondary students. Since 2020, he has been a content creator on TikTok and Instagram and now has nearly 100 000 subscribers on his various platforms.
Over time, Xavier has also carved out a place for himself in traditional media. He is a familiar face and voice on Radio-Canada and Télé-Québec, appearing in shows such as La journée est encore jeune, On va se le dire, Bonsoir Bonsoir, Il restera toujours la culture and Kuei! Kwe! He also hosted Savoirs Légendaires, W8ban – Retrouvez nos voix and Ekote, which aired on APTN/TFO, Radio-Canada and Télé-Québec in 2026.
Xavier is also an actor. He performed in the plays AlterNatives, Woch and Ka Uinaksheshet, as well as the online series Pitago Stop and Mukbang on Tou.tv!
As a master of ceremonies during powwows in Odanak and Wôlinak, and a host for the Festival Présence Autochtone and the Festival KWE, Xavier plays an important role in preserving Indigenous cultures. He was also a host for the 2026 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebration in Laval, which drew a crowd of 32 000.
With over 50 presentations under his belt, Xavier’s talks to teachers, students of all levels, unions and private businesses are a hit throughout the Francophonie.
2026 theme
The RVF is an opportunity not only to celebrate the richness of Francophone culture but also to experience it, enrich it and share it. Activating your Francophonie means getting the ball rolling, going out and finding other Francophones and Francophiles, and creating even more opportunities to get together. Whether it’s a sporting event, a cultural outing, a celebration, a creative workshop or an outdoor activity, each event is a way to affirm that the French language is alive and that it unites us.
Activating your Francophonie also means getting involved in your community, creating connections between generations and welcoming the diversity that is Canada’s greatest treasure. Because when you activate the Francophonie, it becomes imbued with multiple accents, various traditions and shared stories.
Throughout the month of March, from coast to coast to coast, Canada will dance to the rhythm of Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie. Everyone is invited to take part and show in their own way that the Francophonie is a dynamic, inclusive and joyful force—an energy source that’s just waiting to be activated.
2027 spokepersons
Mehdi Cayenne
Singer-songwriter
Hello everyone! I’m Mehdi Cayenne. I was born in Algeria and grew up in Montreal, Moncton and Ottawa. But none of that really explains why I became this tender mad dog, this wild crooner, living through countless adventures.
Here’s how I’ve honed my “Animal Chic” style: by playing in alleys, in retirement homes, in prisons, in front of cows, on ferries, for refugees and for street kids. I’ve toured eight or nine countries, done radio and TV, composed soundtracks, released six albums and carried my songs from Ontario to Italy, France and Armenia. Every experience is a branch on my tree, and every branch grows from the same root: connection.
No matter the place or the language, it all comes down to one thing: invoking the spectacular in the simplest, most human way. Writing songs and performing is my way of sharing a hunger for freedom that eats at me … and, apparently, is contagious.
That’s why I can’t wait to meet you in your hometown and stir up the Cayenne Club together: a gang of escapees from the prison in our heads, who don’t feel like one thing or another but rather like everything all at once. And don’t forget your dancing shoes!
Katherine Plouffe
Professional basketball player
Hello! My name is Katherine Plouffe, and I am from Edmonton, Alberta. I come from a family of seven! There are five kids in my family, and I am the youngest. I have always loved playing sports and being a part of a team. For the last 11 years, I have played professional basketball all over the world. I have learned so much from all of my travels and experiences. One of the main things is gratitude! I am so grateful to have had the chance to meet people, see different cultures and share memories with teammates and friends.
I am also so grateful to live in Canada, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. My basketball career also gave me the opportunity to live in France, playing in its top professional league for seven seasons. And while I was there, I leaned into learning the French language! It’s wonderful, now that I can share connection and conversation with more people.
Sports have been a large part of my life but not the whole part. I love to encourage and teach others through my experiences and knowledge and help them to be the best they can be for life—whatever they choose to do!
