St. Jean Baptiste Day kicks off with a Franco-Ontarian flag raising in Greater Sudbury
June 24 is St. Jean Baptiste Day, a day when francophone culture and history is celebrated.
Every year on June 24, the Franco-Ontarian flag is raised at a new location in Greater Sudbury. This year the chosen spot was at a local fire hall.
It's an initiative that began in 2003.
“Back when city council refused to float the Franco-Ontarian flag in front of city hall,” said Joanne Gervais, executive director of the Association canadienne-francaise de l’Ontario.
“We took it upon ourselves to increase visibility and increase knowledge on the Franco-Ontarian flag and what it represented.”
Gervais said the flag raising is a celebration for many and she wants people to know it will stay that way.
“If I go back to 2003, a lot of the concerns were or what people were telling us was 'if you put up the Franco-Ontarian flag, we have to put up the Italian flag and we have to put up the British flag,' which is a false equivalency obviously because the Franco-Ontarian flag in Ontario,” said Gervais.
“It’s a celebration of being from here. So extra Franco-Ontarian flags doesn’t hurt anybody. We’re not going anywhere and we are proud.”
The Franco-Ontarian flag was designed in Sudbury by a professor and student at Laurentian University. It was first flown in 1975.
Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger said it’s vital to respect the flag and what it represents.
“It’s very important that we continue raising these flags across Sudbury because it’s a significant part of our heritage," Bigger said.
"I’m very proud as the mayor to be able to participate and support these activities over many years.”
As part of the celebrations, a concert featuring francophone musicians Robert Paquette and Zachary Richard will be held at Collège Boréal Saturday at 8 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.