The enclosed statement is being issued by the Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Digital Government and Service and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs:
“Twenty-five years ago, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador recognized May 30 as Provincial Francophonie Day.
Of course, the French influence here goes back much further than that and is an important part of our rich and vibrant history.
This morning, I joined members of the Francophone and Acadian community, including many young Francophones, to celebrate the many ways that they, and their ancestors, have contributed to the linguistic, cultural, and historical diversity of Newfoundland and Labrador.
It is an exciting time for the Francophonie in our province. We recently renewed the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Agreement on French Language Services, and we look forward to exploring innovative opportunities to serve this community through this new, expanded agreement with the Government of Canada.
I extend my sincere thanks to the community leaders and volunteers who work passionately on behalf of the Francophone and Acadian community. I commend your dedication and determination and congratulate you on the work you do every day to advance the Francophonie.
I would also like to thank the staff in our Office of French Services for their hard work and commitment to providing services to the French-speaking residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Please join me in wishing everyone bonne fête de la francophonie provinciale!”
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