January 18, 2002
French-language magazine
promotes Nunavut to francophones
Le Toit du Monde covers
travel, culture and history in fabulous colour
JANE
GEORGE
MONTREAL Nunavuts
francophone association is promoting the territory with a new French-language
magazine released this month.
Called Le Toit du Monde,
which translates as "rooftop of the world," the magazine targets local
francophones, as well as the potential tourism market of francophones who live
outside Nunavut and are curious about the territory. Its stories are meant to
entice them to visit Nunavut or even come to live.
"Because were
new, Nunavut is seen as the last frontier," said Jean-Sébastien
Charron, editor of Le Toit du Monde.
About 6,000 copies of the
Winter 2002 issue have been produced. Of those, 2,000 are being distributed
throughout the North, while 4,000 will go to Quebec and to French-speaking countries
around the world.
"We wanted to make
Nunavut more well-known outside the territory," Charron said.
While it is mainly about
Nunavut, the magazine will also carry stories about other places.
"Were putting
it together here," Charron said. "So, we want the content to emphasize
Nunavut. But were interested in the circumpolar world in general."
The Winter 2002 issue includes
stories on the filming of Zacharias Kunuks Inuktitut feature film, Atanarjuat,
ice roads in the Yukon, Finnish spirituality, as well as a historical look at
a Christmas celebration aboard the CGS Arctic during the early 1900s.
The magazine has been published
twice before, but not on a regular schedule. One issue was produced in 1999,
and another in the spring of 2001. Charron said the association plans to produce
three issues a year, to coincide with winter, spring and summer.
The magazine is also a
way to discuss social and economic life in the North current and historical,
he said.
"We dont plan
on limiting ourselves to travel articles. We want to touch on a large variety
of subjects," Charron said.
Money from Heritage Canada
covers basic expenses, although advertising is expected to pay for production
costs as Le Toit du monde becomes better known.
Charron, who is employed
by the Association des francophones de Nunavut, works part-time on the magazines
production. Iqaluit is home to about 450 French-speakers, and many of them are
longtime residents. Following the creation of Nunavut in 1999, the Iqaluits
association for francophones became Nunavuts association for francophones.
To receive a copy of Le
Toit du monde, e-mail tdm@nunafranc.ca
or call (867) 979-4606.
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