Kayanou
FR EN
Donate

SILAB

The Salon interculturel du livre de l’Alberta. Writing, the imprint of our stories.

Francophone heritage in Alberta is enriched by communities that came from Africa, the Caribbean and elsewhere. At SILAB, students read, write and meet the authors in the morning, and the public joins them later in the day.

Three women in a discussion in front of the Kayanou backdrop and the SILAB banner.
A girl smiles and shows her canvas.
Young people paint canvases around a table during a workshop.
A girl paints a canvas with paint pots on the table in front of her.

SILAB 2026, Edmonton

October 8 to 10, 2026, at Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta.

On Thursday and Friday, each day runs in two parts. Young people first discover literature alongside authors and artists. In the afternoon and evening, writers meet the public in panels and artistic performances. Saturday is devoted entirely to the general public.

The program below is the one published before the event, and it was subject to change.

Edmonton program in French (PDF, 2.1 MB)

Edmonton, Thursday, October 8

Youth morning

  • Group AReading round: “In the footsteps of Marie-Anne Gaboury”With Ruth Moke, Salle Dorval, 45 to 50 minutesWorkshop sponsored by the SHFA
  • Group BBehind the scenes of a bookWith Wanda Jemly, Grand Salon, 45 to 50 minutes

Opening ceremony, open to the public

Grand Salon

  • 4 to 5 p.m.Welcome and activitiesVisit the booths, exhibitions, screenings and musicBook sales and signingsMedia interviews
  • 5 to 5:30 p.m.Official openingWelcome and land acknowledgementShort speechesSlam performance
  • 5:30 to 6 p.m.Opening talk by featured author Wanda Jemly“Bridges of the imagination: making oral tradition and cultural diversity resonate in children’s literature”
  • 6 to 6:30 p.m.Questions and discussionHost: Carol Offi
  • 6:30 to 7 p.m.Buffet and book signingEnd of the evening

Edmonton, Friday, October 9

Youth morning, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In collaboration with Pont Culturel Bridge (PCB)

  • Group AMemory podcast: Marie-Anne GabouryWith Ruth Moke. Using the commemorative plaques on 91 Street, students tell her story in a short podcast.Workshop sponsored by the SHFA
  • Group BMeeting and reading with Wanda JemlyA reading by SILAB’s featured author, followed by a discussion about the craft of writing.
  • Group CSlam and spoken wordWriting, rhythm and performance of a text that takes a stand.
  • Group DThe Salon’s favouriteWith Carol Offi. Discover a selection of the Salon’s books and make the case for a favourite.

Public program

  • 2 to 3 p.m.Welcome and activitiesVisit the booths, exhibitions, screenings and musicMeeting with Grégoire Gagnon, executive director of Culture Works Canada (COC): conversation with artists, authors and emerging cultural workers

Panels

  • 3 to 4 p.m.New directions in Francophone research: literature, translation and comicsGrand ConseilDepartment of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies (MLCS), University of AlbertaTheme 1: Memory and transmissionModerator: Dr. Sathya RaoPanelists: Dr. Aude Jehan, Dr. Sylvia Madueke, Dr. Christian Reyns-Chikuma
  • 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.Health and health services in FrenchSalle DorvalCentre collégial, Réseau santé Alberta and CBEPTheme 4: Access and services in FrenchModerator: Dr. Christophe DanumahPanelists: Patrick Vanasse, Marie-Claude Côté, Dr. Luki Nganda

Meeting and closing

  • 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.Meet and chat with Ivorian artist BoukarySalle DorvalIn collaboration with Pont Culturel BridgeConversation with the audience about his career and artistic approachPrelude to his show presented by Pont Culturel Bridge on Saturday, October 10 at 6 p.m. in the Campus Saint-Jean amphitheatre
  • 6:15 to 7 p.m.Activities and book signing

Edmonton, Saturday, October 10

Panels, open to the public

  • 11 a.m. to noonIntergenerational dialogue: young people and elders in conversationSalle DorvalLa Colonne, AJFAS, FAFA and FJATheme 1: Memory and transmissionModerator: Ruth Moke NgalaPanelists: Serena Teya, Alice Musele, Elisabeth Ndjock, Ebinette Kibina
  • 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.From historic Francophonie to plural Francophonie: a heritage on the moveGrand SalonSHFA, ACFA and KAYANOUTheme 1: Memory and transmissionModerator: Dr. Gamaliel Njoya NtiechePanelists: Denis Perreaux, Nathalie Lachance, Dorothy Akaelu
  • 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.Francophone pride: memories, identities and transmissionSalle Dorval, hybrid format CFQOTheme 1: Memory and transmissionModerator: Rose-Eva Forgues-JenkinsPanelists: Laurier Tiernan, Émanuel Dubbeldam
  • 1:15 to 2 p.m.Break, booth visits and book signings
  • 2 to 3 p.m.Migration journeys: from exile to welcomeGrand ConseilFRAP and Parallèle AlbertaTheme 2: Journeys and belongingModerator: Victor Moke-NgalaPanelists: Sabelle Gueye, Lazare Koko
  • 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.Women’s voices: memory, leadership and belongingGrand ConseilCoalition des femmes de l’Alberta, AJFAS, FRAP and EdiCaTheme 1: Memory and transmissionModerator: Asma NoomaniPanelists: Sabrine Mzad, Dulari Prithipaul, Mariama Gueye, Ama Dogbefou
  • 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.Writing as a legacy of Francophone cultureGrand SalonRAFA, AJFAS, Fun d’écrireTheme 3: Writing as a legacyModerator: Robert Suraki WatumPanelists: Jocelyne Verret-Chiasson, Joyce Bukasa, Carol Offi
  • 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.Identities, cultures and transmission in the African and Caribbean diasporaGrand SalonAfrica Centre, CCACH and Yoruba AssociationTheme 1: Memory and transmissionModerator: Dr. Christiane AbuimamaPanelists: Layla Rguigue, Olami Roth, Wumi Awujoola

SILAB 2026, Calgary

November 5 to 7, 2026: the second edition in Calgary, held alongside National Francophone Immigration Week. Admission was free. The activities took place in French, and Francophiles were warmly welcomed.

All panels were offered in hybrid format, in person or online. Here is the program published before the event.

Program in English (PDF, 382 KB)

Program in French (PDF, 398 KB)

Calgary, Thursday, November 5

  • MorningYouth mornings in schoolsPartner schoolsReading and writing workshops led by the SILAB team and featured artist Wanda Jemly, reserved for registered school groups
  • 5 to 6:30 p.m.Women’s voices: an intergenerational dialoguePIA, 600 6th Avenue SW, Suite 500Women, young people and elders talk about language, culture and belonging
  • After the panelBook signingPIA, 600 6th Avenue SW, Suite 500Meet the authors and have their books signed

Calgary, Friday, November 6

  • MorningYouth mornings in schoolsPartner schoolsThe reading and writing workshops continue with featured artist Wanda Jemly, reserved for registered school groups
  • 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.Guided walk through RouleauvilleMaison Rouleau, 1880 1st Street SWA walk through Calgary’s historic Francophone neighbourhood with the guest authors, followed by a discussion
  • 5 to 6:30 p.m.From historic Francophonie to plural Francophonie: a heritage on the moveMaison Rouleau, 1880 1st Street SWAn Alberta Francophone heritage enriched by communities that came from Africa, the Caribbean and elsewhere
  • After the panelBook signingMaison Rouleau, 1880 1st Street SWMeet the authors and have their books signed

Calgary, Saturday, November 7

Parkland Community Hall

505 Parkvalley Road SE

  • 10 a.m.Opening of the SalonExhibitors, booths and book signings
  • 10 to 10:55 a.m.Living on the land, weaving connectionsA dialogue with an Indigenous knowledge keeper about the land, memory and the ties that bind communities to it
  • 11 to 11:15 a.m.Open forum with authors and exhibitors
  • 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Migration journeys: from exile to welcomeStories of leaving and arriving, and the welcome given to newcomers in Francophone communities
  • 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.Lunch break
  • 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.Rouleauville, cradle of the Francophone presence in CalgaryAt the same time as another sessionAn illustrated talk on the history of the neighbourhood, led by ACFA régionale de Calgary
  • 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.Author meeting with Wanda JemlyAt the same time as another sessionA chance to talk with SILAB 2026’s featured artist
  • 2:15 to 2:30 p.m.Open forum with exhibitors
  • 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.Writing as a legacy of Francophone cultureAt the same time as another sessionWriting as a way to preserve and pass on Francophone culture, with FAFA, FJA and RAFA
  • 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.African and Caribbean diaspora: identity and transmissionAt the same time as another sessionIdentities, cultures and transmission within Alberta’s African and Caribbean communities
  • 3:45 to 5 p.m.Book signings and booth visits
  • 5 to 7 p.m.Closing ceremony and community banquetSpeeches by elected officials, dignitaries and partners, slam, excerpts read by young people and the announcement of SILAB 2027

Featured artist

Wanda Jemly

Born in Cameroon and based in British Columbia, Wanda Jemly is a storyteller, children’s author, host and producer. She hosts the show Raconte à Wanda Jemly on TV5MONDE. She is the featured artist and official ambassador of SILAB 2026.

Authors and artists

  • Suzanne de Courville NicolAuthor, community historian and Francophone activist based in Calgary. For decades she has promoted Francophone education, culture and history.
  • Roger FodjoWriter of Cameroonian origin based in Edmonton, novelist and translator in French, English and Spanish.
  • Judith JustePoet and author born in Haiti and based in Alberta. Her work draws on memory, exile, adaptation and resilience. An active member of KAYANOU.
  • Kristina Kamba KasenguluYoung author from Edmonton. Her novel My Miami 1992, written in her teens, was published in 2024.
  • Carol OffiAuthor trained in communication and journalism in Côte d’Ivoire. She founded Fun d’Écrire, a program that helps bilingual and Francophone children strengthen their speaking and writing.
  • Sathya RaoProfessor at the University of Alberta, specialist in translation studies, Francophone literatures and minority media. Cofounder of Alternative Francophone.
  • Salamane YameogoEntrepreneur, trainer, speaker and essayist, active in leadership, team cohesion and personal development.
  • Alice ProphèteProfessor and researcher at Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta. She works on equity, diversity and inclusion in Francophone education. Author of Destination Canada, le froid de l’étranger.
  • Ariane Mahrÿke LemireBilingual author, composer and performer from Alberta. Her folk poetry brings together folk, jazz, blues and electroacoustic sounds. Winner of two Western Canadian Music Awards.
  • Robert Suraki WatumOriginally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, writer, poet and playwright based in Edmonton. His work explores exile, identity and cultural memory.
  • Albert TshiakatumbaAuthor, publisher and retired teacher of Congolese origin based in Edmonton. His works for young people and adults connect cultures and generations.
  • Amson SaintiméMusician born in Haiti, bassist, music teacher, producer and speaker. He has enriched communities for four decades.
  • Medgine MathurinPoet and spoken word artist, author of the bilingual collection Attendre dans le monde des vivants. Poet laureate of the City of Edmonton since July 2025.
  • Pierrette RequierBilingual poet from Alberta.

SILAB 2024

SILAB 2024 brought ten authors together at Campus Saint-Jean from June 4 to 6. About 150 people visited the fair, of whom 80 to 100 took part in the activities, with the help of 19 volunteers. The public especially enjoyed the variety of works and the quality of the workshops. A poem by Judith Juste was chosen for grade 11 and 12 courses at École Maurice-Lavallée.

Funding and partners

Edmonton: an initiative funded by the Edmonton Arts Council, the Edmonton Heritage Council and the Government of Québec.

Calgary: with the financial support of Canadian Heritage, the Government of Alberta and the Québec office in Calgary (Antenne du Québec à Calgary).

Edmonton partners: University of Alberta, Portail de l’immigrant Association (PIA), Mosaïque Interculturelle, FrancoZone, Francophonie canadienne plurielle (FRAP), ACFA, Alliance Jeunesse-Famille de l’Alberta Society (AJFAS), Regroupement artistique francophone de l’Alberta (RAFA), Société historique francophone de l’Alberta (SHFA), Africa Centre, Réseau santé Alberta, Afro Canadian Entrepreneurs Association (ACANEA), Culture Works Canada, Coalition des femmes de l’Alberta, Pont Culturel Bridge, The Learning Centre Literacy Association, Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord, Association La Colonne, FAFA, La nouvelle plume, REFC, Pacifique Nord-Ouest Éditions, Council of Canadians of African and Caribbean Heritage (CCACH), EdiCa, MiKAM Cultural Foundation and Parallèle Alberta.

Calgary partners: University of Alberta, Portail de l’immigrant Association (PIA), ACFA, ACFA régionale de Calgary, AJFAS, ACANEA, Culture Works Canada, FRAP, RAFA, Coalition des femmes de l’Alberta, Conseil scolaire FrancoSud, Société historique francophone de l’Alberta (SHFA) and Mosaïque Interculturelle.