The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, and the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, today joined the province’s Francophone and Acadian communities to celebrate Provincial Francophonie Day. May 30 was proclaimed Provincial Francophonie Day in 1999 and every year on this date the Francophone Federation of Newfoundland and Labrador joins the Provincial Government to raise its flag at Confederation Building. This event celebrates the province’s Francophone and Acadian communities and their strong partnership with the Provincial Government. In February 2018, the Provincial Government released the first annual Diversity Calendar, meeting a key commitment in the Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador to publicly acknowledge cultural holidays and events. Partnering with service providers and community organizations to increase Francophone immigration and retention is also a commitment in the Immigration Action Plan. This initiative delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation and deliver better services and better outcomes for residents. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca. Quotes “Today we celebrate the historic past and vibrant present of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Francophone and Acadian communities. Provincial Francophonie Day pays homage to the social, linguistic, cultural, and economic contributions the francophonie and French language continue to make in our diverse and multicultural province.” Honourable Al Hawkins Advanced Education, Skills and Labour “The Francophone and Acadian communities of Newfoundland and Labrador form an integral part of our province’s social, cultural and economic fabric. Our Government is proud to support the community as we join them in raising the Franco-Newfoundland and Labrador flag today. I congratulate all the tireless volunteers in these communities who dedicate their time and talent not just to preserve, but to develop and expand their Francophone heritage, culture and language in our province.” Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs « La Journée de la francophonie provinciale est très significative pour la communauté francophone et acadienne de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. C’est en effet le 30 mai 1987 que fut hissé pour la première fois le drapeau franco-terre-neuvien-et-labradorien à La Grand’Terre, et c’est ce jour qu’eut lieu la première pelletée de terre du futur Centre scolaire et communautaire Sainte-Anne. Depuis 1999, le 30 mai est officiellement la Journée de la francophonie provinciale grâce à un décret du gouvernement de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. Cette journée permet désormais à toutes nos communautés, dans toutes nos régions, de se rassembler pour affirmer et célébrer ensemble notre culture, notre langue, et nos plus de 500 ans de présence. » Sophie Thibodeau Présidente de la Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador (FFTNL)

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Learn More Diversity Calendar – www.gov.nl.ca/immigration/settlement-and-other-resources/ Information in French – www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/renseignements_en_francais.html Provincial Government Highlights Progress on Francophone Initiatives at Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/servicenl/0629n01.aspx Bilateral Agreements – www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/frenchservices/english/agreements.html Francophone Community Portal – www.francotnl.ca Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL , @AESL_GovNL  and @TCII_GovNL Media contacts Ryan Crocker Advanced Education, Skills and Labour 709-729-1795, 725-9595 RyanCrocker@gov.nl.ca Eric Humber Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation 709-729-4819, 725-9655 erichumber@gov.nl.ca Gaël Corbineau Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador 709-722-0628 dg@fftnl.ca