NEWS RELEASES
March 11, 2004(5:00 p.m. EST)
No. 38
CANADA SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL TOUR HIGHLIGHTING
CANADIAN FRANCOPHONIE
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today announced that Canada is supporting an
international tour promoting Canada's Francophone communities. The "Tournée
internationale de promotion de la Francophonie canadienne" is an initiative of the
Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA).
"We are proud to partner with the FCFA on this international tour highlighting Canadian
Francophonie as we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the French presence in North
America," said Minister Graham. "In addition to promoting Canadian culture and values
in Eastern Europe, Latin America and West Africa, this tour will provide an opportunity
to demonstrate the wealth and diversity of the arts and culture of Francophone
communities in Canada."
From March 11 to 16, the Manitoban musical group Madrigaïa will perform in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil; Montevideo, Uruguay; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. From March 15 to
25, Acadian singer Marie-Jo Thério will be in Bamako, Mali; Ouagadougou, Burkina
Faso; and Dakar, Senegal. The Ontario group Swing will also perform from March 14 to
24 in Warsaw, Poland; Prague, Czech Republic; Bratislava, Slovakia; Budapest,
Hungary; and Bucharest, Romania.
This project, the result of close collaboration between the FCFA, Les Rendez-vous de
la Francophonie, Canadian Heritage and Citizenship and Immigration Canada, was
organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as part of its
programming to promote abroad the growth and development of Canada's
Francophone communities.
Representatives of these communities and Citizenship and Immigration Canada will
accompany the artists on their promotional tours in South America and Eastern Europe
to hold information sessions on Francophone minority communities in Canada and the
services available to French-language immigrants.
In addition, Canadian embassies in the countries toured will take the opportunity to
promote college and university programs in the artists' home communities in order to
attract foreign students.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Isabelle Savard
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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