The Francophonie celebrates 50 years!
Every March 20, Francophones and Francophiles around the world celebrate the International Day of La Francophonie. In 2020, Canada is joining with the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) to mark La Francophonie’s 50th anniversary.
The International Day of La Francophonie was inaugurated in 1988 to commemorate the creation of the institution of La Francophonie, a place for solidarity among French‑speaking countries and a recognized force in international relations. It is an opportunity to show how proud we are of Canada’s membership in La Francophonie and an opportunity to showcase our commitment to the French language and the diversity of Francophone culture. From the Yukon to Manitoba to New Brunswick, Ontario and, of course, Quebec, French is spoken in all regions of the Canada. Our Francophone and Francophile community is an integral part of the Canadian identity and has helped make Canada a dynamic, inclusive and open country.
Around the world, French is an official language of 32 states and governments and of most international organizations. It is the language of education of more than 80 million people and is a foreign language learned by over 50 million people. The International Day of La Francophonie also helps us remember the important role played by La Francophonie in promoting peace, democracy, human rights and sustainable development, and the central role that women, youth and vulnerable people play in its initiatives.
We acknowledge that unfortunately many celebrations this year were affected by the outbreak of COVID-19/Coronavirus, but are hopeful that we can still mark this important day (virtually) together. Whether through song, dance, food, books or film – to everyone celebrating: Bonne Journée internationale de la Francophonie à toutes et tous!
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