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Backgrounder:
The Ontario Francophonie Awards 2008

March 19, 2008

The Government of Ontario created the Ontario Francophonie Awards in 2006 as a component of the celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the French Language Services Act. The awards recognize individual citizens, Francophones and Francophiles, who have made valuable contributions to the social, economic, political and cultural vitality and well-being of Ontario's Francophone community.

The Office of Francophone Affairs established an independent selection committee representative of Ontario's geographic, demographic, cultural and professional diversity. Five people formed the 2008 selection committee:

• Dyane Adam, former Commissioner of Official Languages
• Ghislaine Pilon, Vice-President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) du Canada
• Jeannine Proulx, Executive Director, ACFO Mille-Îles
• Léonie Tchatat, Executive Director, La Passerelle I.D.E.
• Raymond Tremblay, Rector, Université de Hearst

The recipients of the 2008 edition of the Ontario Francophonie Awards are:

• Robert-Guy Despatie, responsible for the promotion of cultural activities at the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud, received the award for a Francophone
• Chad Gaffield, president of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, received the award for a Francophile.

The recipients received their award on March 19, 2008, at a ceremony hosted by Premier Dalton McGuinty and by Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs Madeleine Meilleur.

RECIPIENTS OF THE FIRST ONTARIO FRANCOPHONIE AWARDS

Four people received the first Ontario Francophonie Awards, presented in November 2006:

• Caroline Andrew, Professor of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa
• Annie Dell, Regional Director of the Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité de l'Ontario (RDÉE), Centre/Southwest Region
• Gérald Savoie, President and Chief Executive Officer of Montfort Hospital
• Raymond Tremblay, Rector of the Université de Hearst.

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Julia Sakas, Minister's Office, 416 325-5219
Charles Jean Sucsan, Communications Branch, 416 325-4968
ontario.ca/francophone-news

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