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<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">March 20, 2006 <i>(6:35 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 24</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">CANADA CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LA
FRANCOPHONIE </span></span></p>
<br>
<p>Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official
Languages Josée Verner today presided over a ceremony celebrating the International
Day of La Francophonie. Several hundred guests attended the event at the National
Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. </p>
<br>
<p>“I am proud of the energy and vitality of Canada’s francophone community and its
influence on the international stage. Not only is the French presence an essential
component of Canada’s history and heritage, it is also a vital asset for our
future—culturally, socially and economically,” said Minister Verner. </p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p>In her address, Minister Verner pointed out that Canada will host the ministerial
conference of La Francophonie on conflict prevention and human security in
St. Boniface, Manitoba, from May 12 to 14, 2006. Canada will also take part in the
Summit of La Francophonie, to be held in Bucharest, Romania, on September 28 and
29, 2006. </p>
<br>
<p>Minister Verner also paid tribute to Léopold Sédar Senghor by marking the 100th
anniversary of the birth of this poet, statesman and founding father of La Francophonie.</p>
<br>
<p>A performance by Canadian storyteller François Lavallée, a gold medal winner at the
Games of La Francophonie in Niamey, the Niger, in December 2005, closed the
ceremony.</p>
<br>
<p>To find out more about the events celebrating the International Day of La Francophonie
around the world, please go to <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071116082003/http://20mars.francophonie.org/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://20mars.francophonie.org</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000">. For more information on
events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Léopold Sédar Senghor,
please visit </span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071116082003/http://www.senghor.francophonie.org/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.senghor.francophonie.org</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000">.</span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071116082003/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"></span></p>
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