The Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada would like to invite you to the launch of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie 2006 in the Public Service of Canada. The event will take place on Friday, March 10, 2006, at 9 a.m. at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau (Hull sector).
Mr. Michel Cheff, Director, Special Initiatives, Office of the President and CEO, Canadian Museum of Civilization, will be our host.
The theme for 2006 is cultural diversity. Francophones and Francophiles are invited to share and celebrate the richness of their cultural diversity.
Ms. Véronique Cloutier, the official spokesperson for Les Rendez-vous, will be celebrating with us.
The activities are designed to highlight the vitality of the French language. This year’s festivities will include presentations by employees, musicians, storytellers, and writers from various institutions.
Mr. Paul Lefebvre from the National Arts Centre will participate in the event.
Program
| 9:00 |
Reception and snack
Visit booths in the River View Salon
Networking with the spokesperson, exhibitors, presenters, and colleagues
Book, CD, and DVD exchange
Musical performance
|
| 10:00 |
Start of the official ceremony Welcoming remarks by Mr. Michel Cheff |
| 10:03 |
Opening address |
| 10:15 |
Ms. Carole Beaulieu, managing editor of L'actualité, will present her vision of La Francophonie |
| 10:25 |
Performance by Mr. André Constant, who will entertain us as Sol, the wordsmith who upholds the vitality and richness of the French language |
| 10:35 |
Language game by the Translation Bureau (PWGSC) with the participation of students from the Canada School of Public Service |
| 10:55 |
Musical performance |
| 11:00 |
Closing |
Many surprises and much more!
Participate in the contest and you could win a prize.
Take advantage of the event to exchange or donate French-language books, CDs, or DVDs to strengthen cultural sharing. Bring them with you the morning of the launch.
Registration
Please confirm your attendance by Monday, March 6, 2006, using the Official Languages Web site at the following
address:Registration
You may also confirm by fax at (613) 952-3231.
Name of organization:
Name of participant:
Acknowledgments
A special word of thanks to all our partners: the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Privy Council Office, National Arts Centre, Canadian Heritage, the Canada School of Public Service's Language Training Centre, Export Development Canada, Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, the Translation Bureau (Public Works and Government Services Canada), the network of departmental champions, and the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada.
Once again this year, we are pleased to award door prizes.
We would like to thank all the institutions that contributed these prizes.
To celebrate the 36th anniversary of the coming into force of the Official Languages
Act, we are holding a contest for Francophones and Francophiles in the Public Service:
In 150 words or less, define what la Francophonie in Canada means to you.
You could win one of the following prizes:
- A one-year subscription to L'Actualité
- Books or CDs by Francophone artists
- Tickets to events
The names of the three prize winners will be revealed on March 10, 2006, at the launch of the
Rendez-vous de la Francophonie at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau. As a demonstration of the vitality and diversity of
la Francophonie and its contribution to the richness of Canada's culture, the definitions of the 36 winners will be posted on our Web site and at the Museum of Civilization.
To participate, please e-mail your entry to concours36definitions@hrma-agrh.gc.ca
or send it via our Web site, under the heading Francophonie, before February 28, 2006.
We look forward to receiving your entries!
The Organizing Committee.
Click here to consult the contest rules.
Launch of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie 2005 in the Public Service of
Canada
Thank you. What a success!
On March 4, 2005, at the invitation of the Honourable Mauril Bélanger,
Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister
responsible for Official Languages, some 660 Francophones and Francophiles
from the National Capital Region gathered at the Canadian Museum of
Civilization in Gatineau to celebrate the 7th edition of the Rendez-vous
de la Francophonie 2005 in the Public Service of Canada.
The morning was kicked off with a French-language folk rock performance
by the Saskatoon duo Polly-Esther, who warmed up the crowd. The participants
enjoyed the good company and pleasant atmosphere, and spent time mingling
and hunting for treasures at the various booths.
A message seemed to come from the beyond. We were in for a surprise.
Véronique Cloutier, spokesperson for Rendez-vous 2005, gave us a warm welcome.
Mélanie Riendeau, radio cultural reporter for Radio-Canada, and Normand
Latour, cultural reporter for the Radio-Canada television show Le
Téléjournal Ottawa/Gatineau, put the crowd at ease with their dynamic and
extremely professional presentation.
Minister Bélanger shared with us his vision of la Francophonie and his
speech was met with warm applause. Three young Haitians thanked him by
reciting poems from their country, highlighting Haiti's participation as a
founding member of la Francophonie and its role as the host country for the
International Day of La Francophonie, which will be celebrated on March 20,
2005.
Eight students from the Canada School of Public Service's Language
Training Centre put on a short play inspired by a work from Quebec author
Roch Carrier. The actors were Bill Mattews, as the teacher, and Eric Alscher,
Kate Beauchamp, Erin Mostovac, Rachel Nadeau, Bonnie Royle, Chris Wright and
Kathy Tsui as grade three students. The budding artists demonstrated a
strong grasp of the French language and delighted the crowd with their
performance.
Playwright and author Laurier
Gareau, outgoing President of the
Saskatchewan Historical Society, highlighted the contribution of
Francophones from Western Canada since 2005 marks the 100th anniversary of
Saskatchewan and Alberta. You can read his reflections in his speech.
Bertin Dzangué, an artist with the company Ekongo ya Mbé-Mbé, made us
realize that la Francophonie speaks to the entire world. With its diversity,
the French language is often surprising!
When we came back down to earth, the Translation Bureau from Public Works
and Government Services Canada entertained us with an interactive language
game entitled "La petite école," a takeoff of a Radio-Canada game
show. The host, Éric Charette, bombarded the two teams with language
questions. With the help of two Bureau employees, Kathleen Hedley, Kenneth
Lawrence, Stan Lipinski, John Samuel, Heather Stecliffe and Stephen Van Dine—six
worthy students from the Canada School of Public Service's Language Training
Centre—cheerfully made it to the post-doctoral level by answering language
questions prepared by Fanny Vittecoq on the theme of Western Canada, its
history, its geography and its artists. This game helped make the event a
success. Language games are a fun way to test one's second language
knowledge!
The 54-student choir "Les deux rives" from Lycée Claudel in
Ottawa and the school l'Escalade in Gatineau closed the ceremony. Choir
master Judith Pelletier and teacher Jacky Lepeintre left us with some
wonderful memories of a beautiful musical performance.
The organizing committee wishes to thank all the institutions that
contributed to the door prizes. The participants appreciated the generosity
and the quality of the prizes. Once again this year, the door prizes
included books from local authors who work or who have worked in the Public
Service.
Finally, we were lucky to have among our guests Officer Anick Bernard
from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Gilles
Provost, director of
Gatineau's Théâtre de l’Île, who played Jules Verne, the father of
French-language science fiction, marking the 100th anniversary of the
writer's death.
The organizing committee members were:
Marie-Ève Sylvain, Canadian Museum of Civilization
Lyne Labrèche, Privy Council Office
Michèle Paré, Canadian Heritage
Jacinthe Mathieu, Language Training Centre, Canada School of Public
Service
Hakima Adjali and Hocine Toulait, Export Development Canada
Nathalie Samure, Rendez-vous de la Francophonie
Nathalie Jamault and Constant Mudekereza,
Health Canada
Aline Manson, Public Works and Government Services Canada
(Translation Bureau)
Marie-Édith St-Vil and Brian Murphy, Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada
Francine Dubé, Olivier Legros and Bernadette Larrue,
Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada
What a celebration!
Here's to future events that promote the bringing together of Canada's
two linguistic communities.
Archives
Launch of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie 2004
in the Public Service of Canada
The Rendez-vous de la Francophonie celebrates the vitality and
vigour of the French-speaking communities in Canada. This year some 600 National
Capital Region Francophones and Francophiles attended the launch at the
invitation of the Honourable Denis Coderre, President of the Queen's Privy
Council for Canada and Minister Responsible for La Francophonie.
On the morning of Friday, March 5, historic figures including Samuel de
Champlain (Yves St-Denis), accompanied by his wife Hélène Boulay and a band of
adventurers, welcomed the participants and directed them to the River View Salon
in the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau. Outstanding accordionist
Benoît Rémillard greeted them as they approached the booths, playing music
appropriate to the occasion. Good humour and renewed acquaintances were the
order of the day, around the dozen booths. A short, amusing presentation by the
historic personages transported the participants back to the 17th
century.
Information booths promoted discussions and highlighted the importance of the
French fact in Canada.
This year the launch marked the 400th anniversary of the first
French settlement in North America.
With a few words from town crier Daniel Richer, the participants were invited
to take their seats opposite the stage for the performance. The masters of
ceremonies were cultural columnist Jasmine Lalonde and program host Christian
Milette, both from Radio-Canada television; they entertained the audience
throughout the morning.
After a word of welcome from Michel Cheff, the Museum's Director of Special
Initiatives, Minister Coderre opened the official launch ceremony. "The
Rendez-vous celebrates the vitality and strength of French culture in Canada.
Linguistic duality is at the heart of our identity," Mr. Coderre said. His
address on the vitality of the French language and culture in Canada gave the
participants a feeling of renewed pride that will encourage them to further
promote the use of French in their workplaces and give it more importance in
their everyday activities.
Five Language Training Canada students gave a presentation in speech and
song, inspired by the voyages of Samuel de Champlain. "Every day we
discover the wealth and beauty of the new world. For Champlain, it was Canada;
for us it is the French language", they said.
Other distinguished guests helped make the launch of the Rendez-vous de
la Francophonie a success. The first, Michel Tétu, President and Executive
Director of the publication l'Année francophone internationale and a
professor at Laval University, gave a vibrant address to mark the 400th
anniversary of Acadia. He pointed out that Champlain was not the first to settle
in North America, and he recounted the history of that period.
A group of young public servants directed by Claude Dubois of Natural
Resources Canada transported the audience into a world of mystery.
Continuing on the same theme, Michel Noël, a Quebecois writer and
storyteller of Aboriginal descent, told a wonderful story about a grain of sand.
Everyone was hanging on his words!
To finish off the show, singer Lina Boudreau, a New Brunswick native,
captivated the audience with her unique voice by singing about Acadia in rich,
warm and heartfelt tones.
The presence of an RCMP officer in ceremonial dress, Constable Vincent
Proulx, lent an official air to the event.
The MCs closed the ceremony by thanking the sponsors for their generosity.
They were: the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Library and Archives Canada, the
Privy Council Office, the Public Service Commission (Language Training Canada),
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Industry Canada, LesRendez-vous
de la Francophonie, Canadian Heritage, Radio-Canada, Natural Resources
Canada, Health Canada, the Treasury Board Secretariat and the Public Service
Human Resources Management Agency of Canada.
The MCs also thanked all the institutions for their contributions to the door
prizes, which delighted so many participants.
--------------------
All in all, it was yet another unforgettable Rendez-vous de la
Francophonie.
News
Release and Backgrounder
Program
Pictures
Rendez-vous de la Francophonie 2003 in the Public Service of Canada
|
The Rendez-vous celebrates the vitality and vigour of
Canada’s Francophone communities. Some 600 Francophones and Francophiles
from the National Capital Region responded to the invitation from the
Honourable Lucienne Robillard, President of the Treasury Board.
The morning began with a dynamic, uplifting presentation
by the band Châkidor. This energetic and humorous performance thrilled
the audience.
The masters of ceremonies, veteran Radio-Canada
television announcers Valérie Lessard and Normand Latour, entertained the
audience and added their own note of good humour to the morning’s
activities.
After a word of welcome from NAC community programming
producer Michel Dozois, Language Training Canada student Allan Wood,
accompanied on the guitar by his wife, sang a song he had written about
conjugating the verb "savoir". It was quite a feat!
On behalf of the President of the Treasury Board, Mauril
Bélanger, M.P. for Ottawa-Vanier and Chairman of the Standing Committee
on Official Languages, officially launched the Rendez-vous. His address
on the vitality of the French language and culture in Canada gave the
participants a renewed feeling of pride that will encourage them to
further promote the use of French in federal workplaces and to give it
more importance in their daily activities. "By taking our French
language and culture to heart, you advance the cause of official
bilingualism more than any policy or any law. It is a matter of pride and
of attitude," Mr. Bélanger concluded.
Other distinguished guests contributed to the success of
the launch, particularly Roch Carrier, National Librarian of Canada, who
gave an account of his personal journey as a writer. The participants
enjoyed hearing how he had lived his personal life and about his
successful breakthroughs as a writer, playwright, storyteller, novelist
and poet. His anecdotes gave everyone renewed pride in their heritage.
An interactive game, "a passion for words",
was created for the event, with the help of the Translation Bureau’s
Martine Racette and consultant Frèdelin Leroux. The six participants,
Marie Bergeron, Brigitte Mousseau, Georges Tsaï, Claude Dubois,
Christopher Gibbins and Benoît Morissette, kindly agreed to play the
game, to everyone’s pleasure. A good time was had by all!
Internationally renowned illustrator and cartoonist Paul
Roux closed the morning and created a drawing inspired by the launch
activities.
The participants were able to have books signed by the
fifteen or so local authors who were in attendance. The atmosphere was
exciting!
A string quartet of students from De La Salle High
School created a subdued mood by playing appropriate music. The performers
were Myriam Sadeg, Emmanuelle Lambert-Lemoine, Shasta Ellenbogen and
Thaddeus Morden.
Two Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers in dress
uniform, Constable Renaud and Corporal Lafond, helped give the event a
ceremonial flavour.
There were also information booths to promote discussion and highlight the
importance of the French fact in Canada.
Special thanks are due to the sponsors for their great
generosity: the National Arts Centre, the National Library and National
Archives, the Public Service Commission of Canada (Language Training
Canada), Communication Canada, National Defence, Human Resource
Development Canada, Finance Canada, Industry Canada, the Rendez-vous de la
Francophonie, Canadian Heritage, Radio-Canada, Health Canada and the
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.
Further thanks go out to all institutions for their
contributions that were awarded as door prizes. Again this year, many
people were delighted thanks to the generosity of the institutions.
All in all, it was another memorable Rendez-vous de la
Francophonie.
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Press release
Photos Album
Rendez-vous de la Francophonie 2002 within the
Federal Public Service
For the fourth consecutive year, the
Ottawa National Arts Centre, as a partner in the event, warmly welcomed
some 600
Francophones and Francophilesfrom the region.
The morning began with a rousing performance by the group La
Corde de Bois.
The hosts were veteran Radio Canada announcers Julie Huard and Marc
Charbonneau, who entertained the audience and highlighted each of the
guests.
After a word of welcome from Denis Marleau, Artistic Director of the NAC's French Theatre, the President delivered a
stirring addresson the vitality of the French language and culture in Canada.
She urged the public service of Canada to further promote the use of
French in federal workplaces, and encouraged us to give it more importance
in our daily activities.
Other distinguished guests helped make this launch a success.
Well-known actor and singer Robert
Marien gave a moving testimony, in poetry and song, on the French
language and the important place Victor Hugo has occupied in his career.
Drawing inspiration from Hugo's literary works, particularly Les
Misérables and Notre-Dame de Paris, Mr. Marien gave a presentation that
was enthusiastically applauded. He also took the opportunity to pay homage
to the French author, whose bicentenary is being celebrated this year, by
holding an improvised
interview with "Victor Hugo", portrayed by actor Gilles
Provost. It was a fascinating performance!
For the occasion, young Montreal actor Éric Paulhus read "Une
lettre du bout du monde", an ode to the French language by Stefan
Psenak of Aylmer, the silver medal winner in the poetry competition at the
2001 Games of La Francophonie. Both poem and presentation were marvellous!
Some brave Language
Training Canada studentsbriefly described for us their perception of
French, then and now. It was quite an exploit!
Language
technology experts came to talk about the launch of the Site
for Language Management in Canada.
The Ottawa musical duo Les
Ouimet and the choir La
boîte à chansons, directed by Yvon Thibodeau, of Gatineau, rounded
out the artistic presentations.
There were also information
booths that promoted discussion and highlighted the importance of the
French fact in Canada.A special word of thanks goes out to the sponsors
for their great generosity: the National Arts Centre, the Public Service
Commission of Canada (Language Training Canada), Communication Canada,
National Defence, Human Resources Development Canada, Industry Canada,
Canadian Heritage, Health Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada
Secretariat.Thanks are also due to all the institutions for their door
prizes. Again this year, books by local authors who are working or have
worked in the public service were presented.
Two Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers in dress uniform and officer
cadets from the Royal Military College of Canada helped give the event
a ceremonial flavour. All in all, it was a most memorable occasion.
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News Release
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