News Release

FREDERICTON (CNB) - New Brunswick will celebrate International Francophonie Day with a celebration in Saint John on Saturday, March 20.

"International Francophonie Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate our membership in the Francophonie along with more than 200 million French speakers around the world," said Wellness, Culture and Sport Minister Hédard Albert, who is also the minister responsible for the Francophonie. "I am delighted that the show will be held in Saint John this year as part of Provincial French Pride Week. I invite all New Brunswickers to take part in the celebrations."

The show will take place at the Louis Vermeersch Theatre at the Centre scolaire Samuel-de-Champlain in Saint John. The event will feature Pascal Lejeune and other New Brunswick performers such as Isabelle Pelletier, Josée Vautour, the band Tradition and two special guests.

"The performers will use the evening to highlight our solidarity with the people of Haiti, who are struggling to recover from their terrible ordeal," Albert said. "This will be a way of saying to our Haitian friends that our hearts are with them."

The free show, produced by Marc Chouinard and hosted by France Maillet and Lucie Savoie, will be presented by the governments of Canada and New Brunswick. Show time is 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 20. Tickets are available at the centre or by telephone, 506-658-4600.

In addition to the celebrations in Saint John, many partner associations and institutions from around the province are organizing various activities to celebrate March 20 and to educate New Brunswickers about the Francophonie.

New Brunswick has been a member of the International Organization of the Francophonie since 1977. The province's bilateral and multilateral relations with the other members provide opportunities to forge economic and cultural ties with countries in five continents.