FREDERICTON (CNB) - On March 20, New Brunswickers are invited to join francophones around the world in celebrating International Francophonie Day, announced Hédard Albert, Minister of Wellness, Culture and Sport and Minister Responsible for the Francophonie.
"March 20 is an important day on every continent," Albert said. "International Francophonie Day is a celebration of the French language, which is shared by over 200 million francophones and francophiles in the 68 member countries of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF)."
Last year, in a bid to familiarize residents with the member countries of the OIF, the Government of New Brunswick decided to invite a partner country to share in its International Francophonie Day celebrations each year. Romania is this year's guest of honour.
The Romanian delegation will include members of the arts, culture, and education communities, including actors from the UNESCO National Theatre Institute and well-known singer Corneliu Montano, who has studied with Richard di Renzi and with the great soprano Virginia Zeani, as well as at the prestigious Purchase Conservatory in New York, the Conservatorio di Mantova in Italy, and the Bucharest Academy of Music.
"I am very pleased to welcome our friends from Romania this year," the minister said. "Our partnership with Romania is relatively recent, but has been growing rapidly since the 11th Francophonie Summit, which was held in Bucharest in September 2006."
Twinning of schools is one of the co-operation activities between New Brunswick and Romania. École Clément-Cormier in Bouctouche is twinned with Lycée Ion Creanga in Bucharest, and Cité-des-Jeunes A.-M.-Sormany in Edmundston with the National College in Brasov. There are also partnerships and exchanges between Transilvania University in Brasov and the Université de Moncton.
The International Francophonie Day celebrations will include cultural and educational activities around the province. From Saturday, March 15 to Thursday, March 20, an exhibition of Romanian popular art will be on display at the Dieppe City Hall. On Monday, March 17, the Université de Moncton will host a free showing of the Romanian film Fiancées de l'Amérique, with French subtitles. On Thursday, March 20, Corneliu Montano will join a group of New Brunswick artists in a free performance at the Pays de la Sagouine.
The program of activities for the week is attached.
New Brunswick has been a member of the International Organization of the Francophonie since 1977. The province's bilateral and multilateral relations with the members of the Francophonie provide it with opportunities to forge economic and cultural ties with countries on all five continents.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Below is the detailed program for International Francophonie Day.
Joint Program
Guest of Honour: Romania
International Francophonie Day
Saturday, March 15
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Romanian popular art exhibition
"Dimitrie Gusti" Village Museum, Bucharest
Location: City Hall, 333 Acadie Ave., Dieppe
Contacts: Annie Belliveau, 506-877-7952; Corina Mihaescu from the Village Museum
Monday, March 17
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Romanian popular art exhibition, Dieppe City Hall
9:15 a.m.
Provincial French Pride Week opening ceremony at École Calixte-F.-Savoie, Sainte-Anne-de-Kent
Contact: Sylvain Lavoie, 506-292-1104
Broadcast by Radio-Canada and Rogers Television
7:30 p.m.
Showing of the Romanian film Fiancées de l'Amérique, with French subtitles
Jeanne-de-Valois Pavilion, Université de Moncton
In cooperation with Film Zone
Contact: Marie-Renée Duguay, 506-855-6049
Tuesday, March 18
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Romanian popular art exhibition, Dieppe City Hall
8 p.m.
Performance of Eugène Ionesco's La leçon [The Lesson]
UNESCO International Theatre Institute
Free tickets available at the Théâtre de l'Escaouette box office, 170 Botsford Street, Moncton
Contacts: Élise Desveaux Graves, 506-855-0001, ext. 103; Suzanne Cyr, media relations officer
Wednesday, March 19
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Romanian popular art exhibition, Dieppe City Hall
Thursday, March 20
8 a.m. - 12 noon
Romanian popular art exhibition, Dieppe City Hall
10 a.m.
Provincial French Pride Week closing ceremony
Empress Room, Capitol Theatre, 811 Main Street, Moncton
Awarding of prizes won in the various PFPW contests
Announcement of the school chosen to host the 2009 opening ceremony
Contact: Sylvain Lavoie, 506-292-1104
7:30 p.m.
Performance: Le Pays fête la Francophonie (hosted by Denise Bouchard and Luc LeBlanc)
L'Ordre du Bon Temps Restaurant, Pays de la Sagouine, 57 Acadie Street
Contact: Daniel Castonguay, 506-743-1448
- Monique Poirier, Daniel Léger, Paul Hébert, Christian Kit Goguen, and Carole Daigle
- Corneliu Montano