Les Grands Explorateurs Is Celebrating Africa In A Real Way!

Curiosity has to be the most incredible human quality there is and Les Grands Explorateurs has been putting it on the forefront for the past 50 years!

Read More: Isabelle Mugwaneza Desmarais: An Unlikely Journey For An Unlikely Unique Success Story

We are now entering an era where we want to know more about what is going on on the other side of the world.

How people are living, their culture and what is their reality compared to ours.

Sometimes the depiction of such reality is either unfair or made to look down at somebody. Other times, filmmakers have the challenge to depict a reality in a way to uplift what other cultures are bringing to the table.

Milan Bihlmann and Muammer Yilmaz are two filmmakers who know where they stand when it comes to that.

”Rêves D’Afrique” is the epidemy of that. The two filmmakers decided to go to 7 countries in Africa to not only paint the picture for the world but to give the good people out there something we forget to give one another : ”a piece of yourself’.

Armed with a backpack, film gear and true altruism, the duo spread love and good deeds wherever they could throughout their trip.

Watch The Trailer

Les Grands Explorateurs being this platform to uncover the world made the right choice by adding this beautiful piece to their program.

Up until November 1st, you still have the chance to see the beautiful piece in theater and then online starting November 2nd.

Tickets Here

A Change Is Coming…Finally?

I grew up in the 90’s and although we can only realize it now but seeing people like Isabelle Mugwaneza Desmarais striving in a space where not a lot of us do is what was missing this whole time.

Read More: Lobster Season Has Arrived And The Homard Gaspésien Is Still The Best You Can Find On The Planet

The thing about representation is that you won’t know you need it until you need it. As most of us were just looking at society, we didn’t see ourselves but also normalized it.

I think Isabelle saw something that we couldn’t see in ourselves. The truth is not at the extreme it’s right in the middle. The intersection between being different but also a part of the ecosystem was what she saw.

Representation is not about doing what’s right because it’s right but more so because it needs to be done.

Starting her career in the public sector wasn’t a thrill anymore. Then she did some soul searching and probably came to the conclusion we all come to at some point in our existence:

Life Is A Joke

For her it was literal though. She figured out that humor and the business around it was her calling so what was the first step? Becoming a comedian herself and teach a thing or two to Dave Chappelle?

What about producing your own show with up and coming artists? Well, for Isabelle Mugwaneza Desmarais the start of this new chapter was simple as getting a non-paid internship.

Just For Laughs became her new home and with that started her mission to be at the forefront of what the landscape in comedy was to become.

Through thick and thin, work and dedication, intuition and know-how, she pulled through and the big way too!

Isabelle Mugwaneza Desmarais became the director of ZooFest. With her pulse on the scene, she fought and pushed for upcoming talents that are more than just tanned.

We’re seeing more BIPOCs getting a chance on stage and I would like to believe that this is just the beginning.

Speaking of ZooFest, if you want to see for yourself how this festival has grown in diversity and get a good kick out of it. You still have the opportunity to do so tomorrow as the last day of the celebration

With french performers like Lenny M’Bunga, AZ, Marine Ella, Meryem Benoua, Ayoub Marceau & Hugo.

Live podcasting will also be a part of the last run of the show. In the corner of Jeanne-Mance & Maisonneuve, you can can get a good view, a good potential date, you get to see greatness in all shapes, size or color AND of course a good laugh!

The Homard Gaspésien Is What Your Plate Been Missing

2 weeks ago our good people at L’association Des Pêcheurs De Gaspésie sent us the email we’ve been waiting for all year long: The Homard Gaspésien Is Back!

Read More: Renzel Dashington Creates The Line Between Social Commentary & Comedy And We Love It!

Not only that but for this season, we were blessed not only with 1 but 2 dozens of lobsters from the region. I know what you’re thinking right now? Why would one person do with all those lobsters?

I will answer this question in a bit but while I have your attention, let me tell you all that I’ve learned about the Homard Gaspésien.

First, this is probably one of the few lobsters in the world that you can trace where it was fished at.

Indeed, they add a little tag to their claw that traces the lobsters from Gaspésie to your home so by then you know the authenticity of lobsters at all time.

Gaspésie is also one of the main resource provider in Canada when it comes to lobsters and all kind of seafood. (and yes my taste buds do appreciate the fishermen that went out and got them).

Back to the business. Once I got the email, I felt the need to do something special this year. I wanted something challenging and something where I could share my love for those lobsters.

Then I thought about my good people at Never Was Average and how they usually go about things. They bring people together in a meaningful way.

That’s when ”Meeting Of The Minds” came to me. I like to conversate with my fellow creatives, exchange ideas and compliment them on their artistry.

With the help of Never Was Average we were able to thank those same creatives for their contributions with a special dinner over lobsters and bubbles. Sophia Traiteurs Cathering came through with her magic touch and prepared us a seafood bowl in cajun style.

Since we like to give our audience a glimpse into our creative process, we made it a point to document this entire experience. Those moments that were shared and lived got captured and frozen in time by our collaborator Carl Apollo.

This experience reminded me of two things: We should always take the time to build and celebrate each other more and of course doing it over lobsters is a plus.

As the lobster season is closing on us. Treat yourself and grab your loved ones for an experience you won’t regret.