The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs:

Francophonie Day Recognized in Province

I rise today in this Honourable House to inform my colleagues that today, May 30, is Provincial Francophonie Day.

Mr. Speaker, in 1999, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador passed an Order in Council designating May 30 Provincial Francophonie Day. May 30 is a very symbolic date for the Francophone and Acadian community in Newfoundland and Labrador. It was on this date in 1987 that the first sod was turned on the site of the future Sainte-Anne School and Community Centre at Mainland on the Port au Port peninsula, which, of course, is the traditional heart of the province’s French-speaking community.

Depuis cette date, Monsieur le Président, les Francophones, les Acadiens et leurs nombreux amis et partenaires, y compris le gouvernement de Terre Neuve et Labrador, se réunissent le 30 mai tous les ans pour lever le drapeau franco-terre-neuvien-et-labradorien qui exprime l’esprit et la ténacité de la communauté.

Although I was unable to be there personally, last week the Provincial Government continued its long-standing tradition of partnering with the Francophone Federation of Newfoundland and Labrador to mark Provincial Francophonie Day with a flag-raising ceremony just outside of these doors. My colleague, the member for Port au Port, represented the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador at this event and helped raise the flag outside of Confederation Building.

Monsieur le Président, cette manifestation a été un grand succès et les élèves de l’école francophone locale, l’École des Grands-Vents, ont montré leur fierté communautaire en faisant flotter des drapeaux et en se joignant à la chorale francophone, La Rose des Vents, pour chanter Ô Canada et l’hymne de Terre Neuve.

Mr. Speaker, l ask all members of this Honourable House to join me in congratulating the Francophone and Acadian community of Newfoundland and Labrador for its tireless efforts to protect and promote the French language in this province. This past year, this community has been successful in launching a French-language tourism website and initiating a project aimed at enhancing youth identity, which is key to the success of French as a vital language in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Provincial Government is proud to have been a partner on both those projects, as well as on several others.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2012 05 30             2:25 p.m.