March 20, 2006 (6:35 p.m. EST)
No. 24

CANADA CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LA FRANCOPHONIE

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

To find out more about the events celebrating the International Day of La Francophonie around the world, please go to http://20mars.francophonie.org. For more information on events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Léopold Sédar Senghor, please visit http://www.senghor.francophonie.org.

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