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Location: What's New > Minister's Office > Speeches > October 14, 2006

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Speech by the Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs and Minister of Community and Social Services

at the French première of Moliere's Don Juan presented by the Stratford Festival of Canada in collaboration with the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde

Saturday, October 14, 2006
Avon Theatre
99 Downie Street, Stratford

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Mr. Wilkinson, the Honourable Member for Perth-Middlesex, Ms. Meighen, Chair of the Board of Directors, Mr. Monette, Artistic Director, Ms. Pintal, Director, cast members, distinguished guests, good evening.

I am delighted to be here in the charming city of Stratford.

The Stratford Festival of Canada is world-renowned and it is a privilege to be with you for this first in 50 years: the presentation of a play in French at the Festival.

I am all the more delighted to be here as this evening is part of the celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the Ontario's French Language Services Act.

I also feel privileged to see so much talent gathered together here.

Artists representing all genres of Franco-Ontarian arts and culture from all across the province are here in addition to all those taking part in the play.

I have moreover had an opportunity to appreciate the work of many of you.

I feel that this evening we are taking part in a unique event: a meeting of French Ontario, Quebec and English Canada that will, I am sure, forge new links and strengthen old ones.

The French fact is definitely present and is playing an increasingly decisive role in the culture, not only of Francophones, but also of all Ontarians.

In addition, I regularly see this in Toronto, an international metropolis, where the place of Francophone artists from Ontario, Canada and all of la Francophonie continues to grow.

At a time when conflicts all too often dominate the headlines, culture can act as an instrument of dialogue and a change agent.

I would also like to point out that Jean-Louis Roux, one of the greatest actors Canada has seen and whom we will see at work this evening, is president of the Fondation pour l'avancement du théâtre francophone au Canada.

When I was Minister of Culture, I had the pleasure of awarding, in partnership with the federal government, a grant of $100,000 to the Fondation for the establishment of a capitalization fund.

This fund was used to set up and give out awards of excellence to young theatre professionals who had won renown for their work within Canadian Francophonie.

Four awards, each of which included a $5000 scholarship, were presented last June: one to an artist in Western Canada, one to an artist from Acadia and two to Ontario artists.

The two awards given out in our province are called the Prix du ministère de la Culture de l'Ontario.

The two Ontario recipients are Isabelle Bélisle and Pierre Simpson, who were, unfortunately, unable to join us this evening.

Isabelle and Pierre are marvellous representatives of the next generation in the cultural life of Ontario, as those of you who know them are well aware.

I am also proud to see here other worthy representatives of this next generation. We have with us a group of ten people from Laurentian University's programme d'arts d'expression.

These young people are about twenty years old, the same age as Ontario's French Language Services Act.

They know their rights, they know that their provincial government has an obligation to offer them quality service in French and they are proud of their culture.

Their presence here, like our own, shows that the Franco-Ontarian cultural environment is very much alive and focused on the future.

Twenty years after the French Language Services Act was adopted, a large number of recently implemented initiatives continue to promote the development and vitality of French Ontario.

I am tempted to talk to you about our cultural initiatives, since you know that this is one of my passions, but I will let my colleague John Wilkinson do so, since he is here this evening on behalf of the Minister of Culture.

I would nevertheless like to mention that, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the French Language Services Act, the Ontario Francophonie Awards have been created. These awards will be presented on November 20th and, who knows, perhaps we will see someone here tonight win an award.

In addition, TFO has been given full governance and in this way has become an independent organization with its own board of directors, and it will be managed independently in terms of both its administration and its budget.

Take advantage of our reception to network and dialogue.

I will now yield the floor to my colleague, the member for Perth-Middlesex, Mr. John Wilkinson.

Happy 20th and bring on the play!