The Salon du livre de l'Outaouais, the French Embassy in Canada, and French for the Future proudly announced the winners of the Launch Your Podcast contest February 1st at a press conference at 11 a.m.
From an array of remarkable submissions, the panel of judges has selected a team that has demonstrated exceptional creativity, originality, and a profound exploration of the contest's theme, "Reading the Future." Congratulations to Vincent Gagné and Samba Basse, from Louis-Riel College in Winnipeg, for their podcast "Sous-sol secret"!
"Launch Your Podcast is an opportunity for young Francophones and Francophiles in Canada to make their voices heard through unique creations. It's always a little heartbreaking to have to choose just one team to invite to the Salon du livre de l'Outaouais, but we can confidently say that Vincent Gagné and Samba Basse's " Duo Épique" well deserved their prize! We hope all the contest participants had a great time producing their podcasts. Who knows, this experience may have sparked new passions!" - Mélanie Rivet, Executive Director of the Salon du livre de l'Outaouais
Their victory comes not only with the honor of being crowned champions but also includes a unique, all-expenses-paid opportunity to attend the Salon du livre de l'Outaouais, which runs from February 22 to 25, 2024. In addition to the trip to the Salon du livre, the winning team will work with post-production professionals to perfect their podcast and will have the chance to engage with influential figures in the industry.
“This contest gives young people the chance to have fun and let their imaginations run wild, all while practicing their spoken French. It’s particularly interesting for youth who don’t have French as their first language, since they have fewer opportunities to speak French outside of school." - Emeline Leurent, Executive Director of French for the Future
Here’s the full list of this year’s winners:
Overall winners (1st place): Vincent Gagné and Samba Basse, from Collège Louis Riel in Winnipeg, for the podcast Sous-sol secret.
French First Language:
- 2nd prize - Samia Lyons, Sofia Velasquez Zapata, for the podcast entitled "EVE", Lycée Claudel Ottawa
- 3rd prize - André Botros and Hans-Alan Arthur Desiu, for the podcast entitled "Lire l'avenir", Lycée Claudel Ottawa
French Second Language:
- 2nd prize - Alyssa Bacaran and Onora Siraj, for the podcast entitled "Lecture: À Quoi Ressemble-t-elle Demain?", Doon Public School Kitchener
- 3rd prize - Manha Kashif for the podcast " Avenir des Livres Luminaires ", Doon Public School Kitchener
The Launch Your Podcast contest has been a platform for students in grades 7 to 12 to showcase their passion for literature and podcasting, all while using the French language to express their ideas. With a theme that inspired a wide range of entries, the judges faced the challenging task of selecting winning teams in two categories: French as a first language and French as a second language, as well as a single overall winning team for the trip to the Salon du livre de l’Outaouais. The contest was an opportunity for these students to accelerate their linguistic development and embrace the French language in a real-world context.
The winners will be officially celebrated at an awards ceremony during the Salon du livre de l'Outaouais, which runs from February 22 to 25, 2024, at the Palais des Congrès in Gatineau.
“Podcasting in French has become a uniquely motivating and creative teaching tool for young people. By taking part in the Launch Your Podcast contest, students had the opportunity to have their voices heard and share their ideas on a theme that dealt with the future of literature, all while honing their French skills. At the same time, their experience gave them the chance to learn more about journalism and radio production.” – Charlotte Montel, Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of France in Canada
The Salon du livre de l'Outaouais, French for the Future, and the Embassy of France in Canada extend their sincere congratulations to all participants for their dedication and enthusiasm in contributing to the success of this contest. The quality of the podcasts reflects the exceptional talent and creativity of the young minds that took part.
Thank you also to the sponsors, partners, and the esteemed panel of judges for their support in making the Launch Your Podcast contest a success for a second consecutive year.
