<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title>PARADIS CONGRATULATES ANTONINE MAILLET, CANADIAN FRANCOPHONE AWARD RECIPIENT HONOURED BY FRANCE</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>October 9, 2003 <em>(3:40 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 156</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>PARADIS CONGRATULATES ANTONINE MAILLET, CANADIAN FRANCOPHONE
AWARD RECIPIENT HONOURED BY FRANCE</strong></font></p>
<p>Denis Paradis, Secretary of State for Latin America, Africa and La Francophonie, today offered his warm congratulations to
Antonine Maillet for her promotion to Officer of the Legion of Honour by the French government. In May 2000, the French
government had promoted her to Commander of Arts and Letters.</p>
<p>"This high honour bestowed on one of the most famous Acadians is an honour for both the Acadian community and the
Francophones and Francophiles of Canada," said Mr. Paradis. "I would also like to acknowledge Ms. Maillet's committed
participation in Canada's activities involving La Francophonie, including the Summit in Moncton and Rendez-vous de la
Francophonie events."</p>
<p>Ms. Maillet is also a Companion of the Order of Canada and an Officer of the Palmes académiques françaises, and is a
member of such organizations as the Royal Society of Canada and the Académie canadienne-française.</p>
<p>- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Jean-François Del Torchio</p>
<p>Office of the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) (Francophonie)</p>
<p>(613) 995-1852</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221100123/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
</body>
</html>
