Sudbury officials ready with slate of activities ahead of Franco-Ontarian Day
Organizers are busy getting ready for an entire slate of activities this week in Greater Sudbury, to promote the French culture, but no one may be more excited than L’Association Canadienne Francaise de L'Ontario du Grand-Sudbury.
The group, which has worked tirelessly promoting the French culture within the city, is getting set to mark 49 years since the flag first flew at Université de Sudbury.
The Franco-Ontario flag was created by history professor Gaétan Gervais and political science student Michel Dupuis at the Université de Sudbury. It was flown for the first time on September 25, 1975. (File photo/CTV News)
“This year’s celebrations for Franco-Ontarian Day are like usual,” said the organization’s executive director Joanne Gervais.
“We have the flag raising at 10:30 in front of Université de Sudbury … and in the evening we have banquet where we’re inviting the community come and celebrate with us. At this banquet we also hand out an annual price, la prix de la Francophonie, to a deserving member of the community.”
Gervais told CTV News they are treating this year like a launch for next year, given 2025 will mark the 50th anniversary.
Joanne Gervais, the executive director of L’Association Canadienne Francaise de L'Ontario du Grand-Sudbury, talks with CTV News in September 2024 ahead of Franco-Ontarian Day. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontario)
“Well like all celebrations, it’s about permitting the community ahere or to celebrate with members of their own community. In our daily lives, especially a community like ours that’s in the minority, we often get lost in the shuffle of the majority,” she said.
“Celebrations, taking the time to celebrate, taking the time to either have a flag raising, have a dinner, have a show, a French presentation, whatever it might be, allows us to see that we have a place in the community. It allows us to celebrate our contributions and allows us to celebrate what we represent to the whole of the community,” she said.
“Franco-Ontarian Day is a day to celebrate for all community members and we welcome everyone to come celebrate with us and I want to wish everyone a 'Happy Franco-Ontarian Day,'” added Gervais.
Events have also been planned with both French school boards in town, Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord and Conseil Scolaire Catholique Nouvelon, and Collège Boréal.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Post strike continues as sides clash on wages
Negotiations between Canada Post and the union representing its workers appear to be in a deadlock as the two sides remain far apart on wages and other issues.
BREAKING Facebook, Instagram and other Meta apps experience widespread outage
Meta users are experiencing a widespread outage, including applications like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Facebook Messenger, according to third-party website Downdetector.com.
Bank of Canada drops key interest rate to 3.25%, Trump tariff threat 'new source of uncertainty'
Canada's central bank has cut its key rate for the fifth consecutive time – now sitting at 3.25 per cent – as the country's economy grows at a slower rate than projected.
5 suspected organized crime figures arrested for 3 Montreal and Quebec homicides
Montreal and Quebec police arrested five suspects they believe have organized crime ties in connection with three homicides in 2023 and 2024.
'Baseball-sized hail': Toronto man owes car rental company $18K after hailstorm
A Toronto man is on the hook for about $18,000 after a car he rented over the summer was pelted by baseball-sized hail.
Poilievre's Conservatives still in majority territory: Nanos seat projections
The Liberals' promise of a temporary GST break and $250 rebate cheques haven't benefited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his minority government when it comes to public support, according to Nanos Research data.
New Vancouver mom temporarily discharged from hospital to see Taylor Swift concert
A Vancouver woman didn’t let an emergency C-section keep her from Saturday’s Taylor Swift concert.
Manitoba nurse found not criminally responsible for killing parents has licence to practice suspended
A Manitoba nurse who was found not criminally responsible for killing his parents and attacking another nurse in a Winnipeg hospital has been suspended from practicing.
Boy, 8, killed in crash involving snow plow on B.C.'s icy Highway 3
An eight-year-old boy has died following a crash between a snow plow dump truck and a car on B.C.'s Highway 3.