Franco-Ontarian Day celebrated with flag raising (4 photos)

A flag was raised Monday afternoon at city hall to recognize Franco-Ontarian Day.

Students from French immersion and French programs had planned to attend, but were unable due to the extreme heat warning in effect today.

Sept. 25 was officially named Franco-Ontarian Day in 2010.

"It's very symbolic," said Jean-Marc Pelletier, council member of the Centre Francophone in Sault Ste. Marie. "I'm proud (the flag) is up there."

Pelletier was born in Quebec, but raised in Ontario and moved to Sault Ste. Marie in 1978.

"We barely knew the Francophone existed in the Sault," he said of the late 1970s, before the Centre Francophone was established. 

He also mentioned the motion passed on Jan. 29, 1990 by Sault Ste. Marie City Council, which resolved that English was the sole working language of city government. "It did a lot of harm, but we've turned the page." he said. "We have a seat (at the table now)."

The day was also special for Aurelia Pecheux, French as a Second Language special assignment teacher for Algoma District School Board (ADSB), who immigrated to Sault Ste. Marie from France six years ago.

"It means a lot," she said. "Even though I wasn't born here, I feel part of this community and I find this is great for students who feel they are part of (the Francophone) community."

Pecheux said she regretted students coudn't attend but Franco-Ontarian Day was part ADSB's French-immersion curriculum. "We want to say that 'we exist, we're here and there's lots of events going on'. I feel lucky to be able to work with students that have decided to study French." 

"Today is a day to celebrate (being Francophone) in Ontario," said French as a second language administrator for ADSB, Nancy Rancourt. 

"It's exciting. It's an exciting day to share with students part of my heritage and it has been very alive in our french immersion schools today," she said.

The Franco-Ontarian flag consists of two bands of green and white, which represents the summer and winter months. The flag features a trillium, floral symbol of Ontario, and the fleur-de-lys which represents the French-Canadian heritage of the Franco-Ontarian community.