March 20 was International Francophonie Day, a day to celebrate the French language and Francophone culture in all of its forms around the world. Laurentian University is also pleased to recognize March 28, 2025 as the 65th anniversary of its foundation. And on a personal note, April 1, 2025 marked my one-year tenure as President of Laurentian.
On this threefold occasion, I want to reflect on Laurentian's past, present, and future role as a key locus for francophone identity in Northern Ontario.
When I chose to join Laurentian a year ago, a significant factor motivating my decision was Laurentian’s bilingual and tricultural mandate. I have spent time throughout my career working closely with francophone and Indigenous groups, in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario. And as I mark my one-year anniversary, I never cease to be impressed by the significant impact that the bilingual education Laurentian offers has and has had on our local community.
Laurentian’s bilingual mandate is reflected in our full commitment to continue attracting students who wish to study in French by offering a comprehensive suite of programs leading to degrees that are relevant to them and to Northern Ontario’s economy. Not only do we serve our local francophone and francophile community, but we also welcome students seeking a bilingual education from across the country and around the world.
This mandate for inclusive francophone education was built into Laurentian’s identity from its early days. Laurentian was founded as a bilingual institution in 1960, launching its first bilingual bachelor’s program in 1968. Bilingual-designated staff and faculty positions were created in 1974, the same year our first francophone student association – the Association des étudiantes et étudiants francophones – was created.
The franco-Ontarian flag was created by a Laurentian University History professor, Gaétan Gervais, and Laurentian Political Science student Michel Dupuis.
And in 2014, Laurentian was proud to become the first Ontario university designated as bilingual under the Loi sur les services en français, recognizing the fact that we serve our students’ needs in both official languages.
We are also proud of the fact that enrollment in Laurentian’s French-language programs has seen a steady increase in the last five years. Today, Laurentian has over 2,500 students who identify as francophone, registered in 34 programs and over 500 courses that we offer in French. More than 85% of our staff and faculty identify as bilingual, which is itself reflective of the Greater Sudbury community that we serve.
These academic programs, rigorously tested by the provincial government’s quality assurance standards and supported by bilingual student services, create a strong foundation for us to shape the bilingual leaders of tomorrow. That’s why it should come as no surprise that the University boasts a 98% employability rate for its graduates.
As our University community echoed during the broad consultation that led up to the creation of our new Strategic Plan, Laurentian is a bilingual and tricultural university. This is an intrinsic part of who we are as a university and of the unique value and experience we offer as a post-secondary destination of choice. It’s a key part of the identity that makes us attractive to the thousands of students who choose Laurentian every year. This identity will not change.
So, with the International Day of the Francophonie right behind us, we take a moment to reflect on the multitude of forms that this Francophonie can take – depending on time and space, depending on context. And we celebrate all of them. Equally.
And we are grateful for the part we have played - and will continue to play - in the flourishing of the Francophone communities of Northern Ontario.
Lynn Wells, PhD
President & Vice-Chancellor
Laurentian University