U of Sudbury commemorates first-ever raising of Franco-Ontarian flag
A plaque commemorating that historic moment was unveiled in September.
A small campus in northern Ontario is celebrating a big role it played in the province’s history. On September 25, 1975, the new Franco-Ontarian flag was raised for the first time in Ontario at the entrance of the University of Sudbury, a bilingual institution federated with Laurentian University. On that same day 42 years later, U of Sudbury unveiled a plaque commemorating that historic moment.
The flag was created by Gaétan Gervais, a Sudbury-born history professor at Laurentian, and students Michel Dupuis and Jacline England following the 1974 founding of the French Students’ Association at Laurentian. It features the fleur-de-lys, a historic emblem of French culture and language, and a trillium, Ontario’s official flower, on a background of green and white to represent the province’s dominant seasons. A grassroots campaign based at U of S promoted the flag as a unifying symbol of the province’s francophone population. It was slowly adopted across the province until its official recognition by the Ontario government in 2001.
The plaque reads in part, “the green and white flag … endures as the most prominent symbol of the province’s diverse francophone community and represents more than 400 years of the French presence in Ontario.”
According to the 2011 census, 493,300 Ontarians speak French as their mother tongue (another 46,605 speak both French and English). In Sudbury, French is considered a mother tongue for more than a quarter of residents.
Featured Jobs
- Vice-President Research & Scientific EngagementMS Canada
- Public Policy - JW McConnell Professor of Practice McGill University
- Economics - Associate/Full Professor of TeachingThe University of British Columbia
- Fashion - Instructional Assistant/Associate Professor (Creative & Cultural Industries)Chapman University - Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- Public Policy - JW McConnell Visiting ScholarMcGill University
More from News
-
Headlines for December 6, 2024
CBC NewsQuebec adopts bill to restrict international student enrolmentUniversities, opposition worry about Bill 74 undermining academic autonomy. CTV NewsUWindsor lands amongst top research universities in CanadaThe University of Windsor has been named one of the top research universities...
-
Headlines for December 5, 2024
City NewsOttawa outlines $2B in spending for artificial intelligence computing powerThe federal government says it will spend up to $1 billion to build public computing infrastructure for the Canadian artificial intelligence sector, part of a $2 billion...
-
Headlines for December 4, 2024
CNW NewsFederal government establishes council to deliver Canada's first National Infrastructure AssessmentSean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, announced the new Canadian Infrastructure Council, an expert advisory body that will deliver the country's first-ever National...
-
New life for Dimensions
A little over a year after the program was quietly shut down, it has been quietly revived.
More from Campus news
-
UPEI implementation plan is underway
There is ‘an overwhelming desire of the community to move forward,’ says new president Wendy Rodgers.
-
Nipissing hosts inaugural fundraising gala
The goal of the gala was to raise money for the Student Support Fund, which provides emergency financial support to students.
-
Canada’s largest student-run fashion show demonstrates the power of university clubs
Queen’s students from all disciplines come together to showcase their creative talents and raise money for charity.
-
Maya Turner makes history in Canadian university football
Former soccer player kicks down barriers.
More from Articles
-
Take part in UA’s gender equity survey
Help promote strategies towards meaningful change.
-
Engaging the public in sidewalk astronomy
The #popscope project energizes public spaces through experiential, free-choice learning.
-
New zine developed by OCAD U students helps artists perfect the art of tabling
‘The goal was to create something both practical and visually engaging,’ says one of the creators.
-
Quebec universities concerned about losing their autonomy
Ottawa has tightened the belt on international student admissions in Canada. Now Quebec wants to implement further changes, but universities are worried the Legault government might go too far.
Post a comment
University Affairs moderates all comments according to the following guidelines. If approved, comments generally appear within one business day. We may republish particularly insightful remarks in our print edition or elsewhere.