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Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is the national celebration of la francophonie in Canada and Québec. It’s an occasion to celebrate what unites us and celebrate the return of pleasant weather. As we all live important challenges, this year’s celebration urges us to reflect on our future.
The situation surrounding French-language university education in Sudbury is no doubt concerning. Our youth is leaving the North to pursue their studies outside the area. Many students have also decided to finish their studies elsewhere. The exodus from the North has been an increasing reality of ours for over half a century. Let’s therefore find solutions, together, to turn the situation around.
As a university establishment, the University of Sudbury has the duty of putting everything in place to inspire our youth to pursue studies here, in the North. We also have a responsibility towards our community to attract new talents hailing from across the globe, for growth, diversity and reaching their full potentials.
The University carries a project of hope, renewal, engagement, collaboration, and cooperation. It seeks to focus on positive experiences that we must provide our students. It dares to break the silos and gives the right to our community to dream of a better future. It’s a project that wants to legitimize the French fact and show the entire world that we can contribute to the cultural, economic and societal upturn of our society.
The University of Sudbury is therefore a societal project by, for and with the students and the entire Sudbury community. It seeks to habilitate its communities to decide their futures for themselves. It seeks to work together with Indigenous Peoples to find viable solutions allowing for our collective thriving.
On this day of celebration, I invite the entire population to dare to dream of the future.
Dr. Serge Miville
President and vice-chancellor
University of Sudbury
