FREDERICTON (GNB) – The 33rd Provincial French Pride Week will be celebrated from March 21 to 25. This year’s slogan is Accents d’ailleurs, accents d’ici, fêtons la francophonie! (accents from elsewhere, accents from here, let’s celebrate the Francophonie!)

“The vitality and dynamism of the Francophonie in New Brunswick improve and shape the social fabric of our communities,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dominic Cardy. “The slogan created by the students of École Place-des-Jeunes in Bathurst bears witness to the significant cultural and linguistic diversity of schools and early learning and childcare centres. This diversity strengthens social cohesion and the development of a feeling of belonging to a pluralistic Francophonie, a Francophonie that is vigorous and is also spoken with accents from elsewhere and cultural contributions from newcomers, which enriches our life together in our communities.”

As a new feature this year, the organizing committee has brought together several creations by Acadian artists, including video clips and other visual presentations for various age groups that will be posted on the website dedicated to the week.

Although the theme-based art contest was not held this year, students of the three francophone school districts had the opportunity to participate in a photo contest. The photos appear on the poster and calendars for the week. The six contest winners are students at École des Bâtisseurs and École Les Éclaireurs in Fredericton, École Arc-en-ciel in Oromocto, and École Champlain in Moncton.

This year, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development launched the slogan contest for the week with French-language schools in the fall of 2021. Preparation of activities and exchanges requires months of planning. Cardy said that due to the need to continue to learn to live with COVID-19, most of the activities will be organized and presented virtually again this year. A video will be shown in the schools to mark the opening of the week.

“Education stakeholders are committed and help to create inclusive environments to value and share the rich contribution of the French language,” Cardy said. “Educators give children the opportunity to celebrate, in their own way, during this week and throughout the school year, this linguistic dimension that distinguishes our province so well.”

21-03-22