The Timmins French community is celebrating and dancing.
This afternoon, Algonquin Boulevard was blocked off so the local francophone community could celebrate Le Jour des Franco-Ontariens et Franco-Ontariennes in front of City Hall. Centre Culturel of La Ronde Executive Director Lisa Bertrand says this is a birthday celebration for the Franc-Ontario flag.
Bertrand says one thing that is great about this celebration is that it doesn’t matter if you are old, young, Catholic, or in public school, the French language and culture bonds the community. “It’s such an amazing gift to speak French and we just want to show that to the community.” She says the community is all connected by the language.
Bertrand says even though the Centre Culturel of La Ronde currently doesn’t have a building, “we just want to show the city that we are still alive and will be planning various activities.”
She adds that it was great to see most of the French-speaking schools come out to celebrate, but she hopes to grow the event even more next year. “I’m hoping that the street will be filled from Cedar Street to Pine Street in the future.”