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 address on 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.
News Release
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