News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The 34th Provincial French Pride Week will be celebrated from March 20 to 24. This year’s slogan is Fleurir l’Acadie, unir la francophonie! (flourishing Acadie, bringing the Francophonie together!)

“This slogan shows that the students in francophone schools feel connected and proud when it comes to the Francophonie,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Bill Hogan. “I commend the commitment of the teachers and the child-care educators who organize various activities to celebrate the richness and vitality of the French language in our communities. It is important to do so, not only this week, but all year long.”

As in previous years, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development invited students of the three francophone school districts to take part in the slogan contest. The slogan proposed by Céline Mason, of École Régionale de Baie-Sainte-Anne, was selected for the 2023 edition.

A large number of Grade 12 students who will pursue their studies at one of the three campuses of the Université de Moncton also participated in the writing contest.

A video will be broadcast to launch the week’s celebrations. It will feature Grade 4 and Grade 7 students from École Arc-en-ciel in Oromocto, who will perform the song Apprendre à ma façon (learning my way), which is the theme song for an awareness campaign on supporting career and life readiness plans called Allumez l’étincelle (light the spark).

Again, this year, the organizing committee has brought together several creations by about 20 Acadian artists, including video clips and other visual presentations for various age groups, that will be posted on the website dedicated to the week. The website also features a calendar of activities and events for the week.

“We can be proud to have public schools and child-care facilities at which children benefit from an inclusive environment that values and promotes the richness of the French language while helping to keep the spark of French pride alive in their hearts,” said Hogan. “Let us not forget that the vitality of the Francophonie in our province enriches and shapes the social fabric of our communities.”