By Colin McGregor
Ascot is Sherbrooke’s most multiethnic neighborhood. It serves as a port of entry for new immigrants. And it is important to have an international place, characterized by an openness of spirit, at which newcomers and locals alike can exchange and learn.
A gathering point that welcomes artists, speakers, social workers and humanitarian benefactors; inclusive, antiracist programming that includes a bit of everything.
This place exists. It is called the Baobab café du quartier. Its mission is to boost solidarity through socio-cultural and intergenerational events, as well as through the sharing of meals and nourishing moments. They have multiple ways to do this: art workshops, sociocultural activities (storytelling, music, crafts), different citizens’ committees…
It’s a participative gathering point, founded in May of 2018. Over a hundred people have invested thousands of hours in its creation and development.
Baobab café du quartier is a warm, open meeting place that creates unlikely encounters, adding value to diversity.
Three cameras on the ceiling, a shoulder-held camera, a sound and video console, lighting, microphones… Equipment that the Sherbrookers use for different arts, conferences and community meetings. Ian Fournier, an author whose works have been published by Éditions TNT, was program director at the Baobab: “During the pandemic, during Black History Month (in February), we had 12 on-line activities – we had people virtually present from Africa, the Caribbean and Europe. We were in contact with people geographically very far from us.” There were, in total, over 80 participants!
Ian recalls: “We did a twin event. Artists from the Bistro Ste-Cath in Montreal with artists from the Baobab. Two in Montreal and two in Sherbrooke. The musicians from the two regions could get better known by a new audience.”
“On top of that, it allowed people to participate without having to move around,” says Catherine Larouche, director general of the Baobab café du quartier. “It let us reach folks who couldn’t have access to events for different reasons – the disabled, seniors who couldn’t travel at night, families with young children, those who were sick.” An inclusive project, but also a window on the world.
Once they received and installed their equipment and cameras, the Baobab became a place where knowledge was exchanged and shared, she says. On top of musical performances, there were several book launches, as well as discussions with authors and researchers. The creators of works in the domains of social work and community development are particularly drawn to the Baobab.
Professors, especially researchers in social work, sit on panels that deal with important societal questions. Prof. Denis Bourque of l’Université du Québec en Outaouais, a renowned social work researcher, is among those who have used the Baobab’s cameras and space.
Not too long ago, the Baobab welcomed “Recherche avec”, the international multidisciplinary Francophone network. Researchers from Mexico, Brazil, France and Canada met in Sherbrooke, and the Baobab was one of their seminar sites. Forty members of Recherche avec were in Sherbrooke for study days. The Baobab is preparing to help host a scientific week in April of 2025.
Today’s videoconferences are much more professional than the ones they put on during the pandemic, Catherine says. The Baobab’s technicians have learned a lot over time, especially in the use of the equipment. When there is a rendezvous at the Baobab, they can reply to audience questions from the café or from online.
Community meetings include those of the Fédération des cooperatives d’habitation de l’Estrie. It consists of 52 co-ops responsible for the management of over 1800 accommodations.
These international and regional meetings have economic spin-offs. The cost of renting out the room and its equipment permits the organization to produce and create free social activities, to subsidize their intervention projects, and to offer services to the community. A well-appreciated example of social economy in action.
Community groups use the Baobab’s audiovisual capabilities to make special announcements and to launch new projects, as well as to hold assemblies and discussions.
Ascot’s artists, and indeed those of the whole Eastern Townships, adore the Baobab. Once a month they hold a blues night. The café’s website is full of information and performances thanks to visual and auditory contributions from artists. According to Catherine: “We can film, record and give our artists material so they can promote themselves.” Baobab can offer technical equipment to artists, as well as help so that they can develop their own competencies. That’s why they attract the region’s best talent.
The Baobab is also home to L’Accorderie de Sherbrooke. Catherine is its director-general. There are 12 such organizations in Quebec, but only one that has a café where they can meet. L’Accorderie is a barter program where people can exchange services for hours, offering an alternative to the current economic system. Their mission is to fight poverty and social exclusion. They contribute by creating social links and improving the lives of their participants.
For more information: baobabcafe.ca, 1551 Dunant Street, Sherbrooke. Or, accorderie.ca/sherbrooke-accueil/
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