MP Glover and Mayor Katz Celebrate International Francophonie Day

March 19, 2010

Winnipeg, Manitoba – On Friday, March 19, 2010, Shelly Glover, Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface and Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages, along with Mayor Sam Katz, hosted a breakfast meeting to celebrate the International Francophonie Day. 

For 40 years Francophones all over the world celebrate March 20th as the International Day of the Francophonie.  This day is dedicated to the French language, uniting 200 million speakers throughout the world, and bringing together 870 million people living in the 70 government states of the International Organization of the Francophonie.

“The festivities for the International Day of the Francophonie are always an occasion to show the strong, proud character of the Francophones who enrich the culture of Canada.  I am extremely proud to participate with the Francophone communities in Winnipeg, and more specifically St. Boniface.  Francophones not only contribute to our culture but also to the developing economy in our region,” said Shelly Glover, MP for Saint-Boniface and Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages.

"Winnipeg is home to one of the largest French-speaking communities in Western Canada," added Mayor Sam Katz. "Our Francophone community is a fundamental root of national culture and tradition and I am very proud as Mayor to have the opportunity to celebrate International Francophonie Day in Winnipeg."

The celebration took place in the foyer at City Hall on Main Street.  Nearly 100 members of Winnipeg’s Francophone communities were in attendance to commemorate the occasion.  Dignitary guests included The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Mr. Bruno Burnichon, Honourary Consul of France in Manitoba, Police Chief Keith McCaskill, various City Councillors, and The Official Voyageur Family.