On Sept. 23, hundreds of elementary and secondary students from various Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO) schools celebrated Franco-Ontarian day.
Wearing green and white clothing, students, parents and staff from a number of schools took part in this celebration of Franco-Ontarian vitality.
While some students celebrated this day in events held in their school, others marched through the neighbouring streets and proudly waved Franco-Ontarian flags and school banners.
Students from École St-Étienne (Dowling) and École Ste-Marie (Azilda) joined École secondaire catholique Champlain students for the Festival Franco Requins event.
École St-Pierre (Sudbury) students marched from their school towards the intersection of Second Avenue and Bancroft Drive. Once there, they proudly waved Franco-Ontarian flags and sang “Notre Place” and “Mon Beau Drapeau.”
Students from École Ste-Thérèse (Val Thérèse) displayed their pride during a fun-filled day of activities that included an animated march through the school’s neighbouring streets and a school rally.
Franco-Ontarian day, celebrated officially since 2010, is every September 25. The date marks the anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag, which was flown for the first time in Sudbury in 1975. CSCNO school students and staff take great pride in celebrating the flag’s 41st anniversary.
The day of activities, while recognizing Francophone and Catholic heritage, also promotes the excellence and dedication ofstudents and staff as they seek to widen their Francophone space and live their own culture to the full in the province of Ontario.
