SUDBURY -- The University of Sudbury and the French-Canadian association of Sudbury celebrated Franco-Ontario Day with a flag-raising Friday morning at the site where it all began.

The Franco-Ontarian flag was raised at the university for the first time on Sept. 25, 1975.

To mark the 45th anniversary of the first flag raising, the post-secondary school honoured the Sudbury group that created the symbol, which has recently been recognized as an official emblem of Ontario.

As another commemorative gesture, a room at the educational institution with a view of the flag has been dedicated to the people that played an important role its creation, Gaetan Gervais and Michel Dupuis, along with committee members Donald Obonsawin, Yves Tasse, Normand Rainville and Jacline England.

The University of Sudbury, a member of the Laurentian University Federation, was chosen to raise the flag for the first time 45 years ago because the committee recognized the role and impact of the school for the Franco-Ontario population.

"As highlighted in an article by Dr. Lucien Pelletier, it was a great example of memorial justice. And in turn, we are now commemorating the members of the committee," said Fr. John Meehan, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Sudbury. "We are honoured to be a part of this whole story."