Our name “L’ensemble de la Petit Côte” translates to “Group of the Little Coast”.
La Petite Côte is what this area was called by the French settlers back in the 1700’s. That’s in reference to the bend in the Detroit River. We are on the inside of that bend, so this was called the "Little Coast," contrasting with Detroit's "Grande Côte" or "Big Coast".
We've put together a lively repertoire of music and anecdotes reflecting the history of French people in the Windsor/Detroit area, up and down the great Lakes, and beyond. We touch on the topics of
why our main streets have French names.
why so many French songs are about birds
how many inhabitants married the French king's daughters (les filles du roi)
the Catholic church sanctioned muskrats to be classified as fish, and permissible to eat on Fridays
the big business of the fur trade
the Voyageurs, famous for their singing
the Acadians and the Cajuns
