7/4/2025
Last week, in an atmosphere that was both intimate and deeply emotional, Carla Beauvais, co-founder and CEO of the Fondation Dynastie [Name] received the King Charles III Coronation Medal from the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant. This symbolic distinction is awarded to Canadians who have made significant contributions to their community.
Although this recognition is officially personal, Carla was keen to share it with her team, as she shares everything that has meaning for her: " I receive this medal with gratitude and humility, but above all thinking of my team, the people who support me, and those who, like me, believe that culture is a driver of social transformation. "
It is therefore within the premises of the Fondation Dynastie that the ceremony took place, where ideas are built, projects are planned and a more inclusive future is imagined.
This medal highlights Carla Beauvais' career, but she wanted to use this event as an opportunity to remind everyone how fragile the cultural sector is, especially when it comes to diversity, representation, or simply funding.
“ Every day, we have to be creative to do more with less. Imagining events, creating programs, supporting artists, professionalizing talent—all this in a context where resources are dwindling . It was important for me to share our reality with the minister and, above all, to show him the colossal work of the Fondation Dynastie . »
The discussion with Minister Guilbeault before the ceremony raised these issues: the gradual disengagement of some public funders, the difficulty of ensuring the sustainability of programs, and the need to consider new models of cultural funding. These are issues that the Fondation Dynastie confronts it with lucidity, but above all with determination.
A foundation dedicated to change
Since 2016, the Fondation Dynastie works to promote access, recognition, and professionalization of Afro-descendant artists and artisans working in the arts, media, and culture sectors. It does this through flagship projects such as the Gala Dynastie and the Sommet Dynastie and through structuring programs such as Rire en scène, A vos plumes or more recently Écho musique.
Behind the scenes of these successes, there are women and men who believe in the power of culture as a lever for impact, and who, often in the shadows, build bridges, take on challenges, and invent new ways of doing things.
For today, and for tomorrow
Carla Beauvais is one of those who refuse to see commitment as a sacrifice. For her, it's a legacy. In the presence of her daughter at the award ceremony, she wanted to convey a clear message: " I wanted her to feel the importance of involvement. To understand that getting involved also means dreaming bigger, for yourself and for others. "
His journey, forged in Saint-Michel and nourished by the reality of inequalities and the struggles for social justice, has always been guided by a desire for pragmatic change. Not the kind that is announced with slogans, but the kind that is built on concrete action, listening, and results.
Today, this medal confirms the impact of this commitment. Above all, it reinforces a conviction: that culture is a powerful response to social divisions. And that organizations like the Fondation Dynastie have a fundamental role to play in this project.
To the Fondation Dynastie “We celebrate this recognition with pride. But we remain grounded. Many challenges remain: financing projects, retaining teams, ensuring the sustainability of initiatives , and creating safe and supportive spaces for the artists of tomorrow.”
But the vision is there. The passion too. And as long as there are committed teams, young people who dream of creating and expressing themselves, culture will remain a territory of the future.
