Sudbury, ON (September 23, 2015) – As francophones and francophiles across the province prepare to celebrate Franco-Ontarian Day, Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux today offered congratulations, on behalf of all members of the Laurentian community, to those who have contributed to the many accomplishments of the francophone community in its 400 years in Ontario.
The first bilingual university in Ontario with a partial designation under the French Language Services Act, Laurentian University will partner in a number of events in support of Franco-Ontarian Day, including:
- Gala event, Association of Francophones of Ontario of Greater Sudbury, Sept 24
- Raising of the Franco-Ontarian flag, University of Sudbury, Sept 25
- Le French Fest, La Slague, Sept 25
- The 5th Francophone Symposium, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sept 24-26
“I am proud to be a member of the francophone community in this province, and I congratulate all of those people, both French- and English-speaking, who celebrate this event,” said President Giroux. “I am equally proud of Laurentian University’s long history of leadership in the francophone community.”
In 1975, the iconic green and white Franco-Ontarian flag was created at Laurentian University. Members of the Laurentian community were also central to the development of several important French-language cultural institutions in the Sudbury region, including the publishing house les Éditions Prise de parole, the Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario, and the annual music festival La Nuit sur l’Étang.
Through its Office of Francophone Affairs, Laurentian University will partner this year with more than fifty organizations and community groups to support the continuing growth and vigour of the French language and culture.