On Tour in the Temiskaming Region

I am proud to officially start my third and last mandate as French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario. I am also glad to be with the warm, welcoming people of Northern Ontario on this occasion.

Indeed, I arrived in New Liskeard this morning where I met with the Centre culturel ARTEM’s team who exclusively gave me a glimpse of an interactive community tour that will officially be launched tomorrow. The concept of this tour is highly captivating: using their smart phones, citizens and visitors will be able to access footage that will lead them to discover the history of the region’s Francophone community while following a precise path. I will say more about this great initiative in a forthcoming post.

The tour that I took is entitled “Le Vent dans les voiles” and is narrated by Rose-Aimée Bélanger, an internationally renowned local artist. I warmly thank Nicole Guertin, Executive Director of the Centre culturel Artem; Réjeanne Bélisle-Massie, Vice-President of the Centre; Madeleine Beaulac, author of the footage’s scripts; and Ginette Quevillon, volunteer, for giving me this tour.

Furthermore, I met with the staff and some students of École élémentaire publique Les Navigateurs and visited Collège Boréal’s campus in New Liskeard on the first day of the school year. Thank you to Pascale Pellerin, Principal; Michael Philbin, Superintendent of Education ; and Chantal Théoret, Director of Collège Boréal’s New Liskeard campus, for their warm welcome.

Lastly, I had the chance to meet with Tina Sartoretto, Mayor of Cobalt, and members of the Association française des municipalités de l’Ontario’s (AFMO) Board. I will deliver a speech on the opening of AFMO’s 23rd annual congress tomorrow in New Liskeard.

The first day of my third mandate was therefore quite a busy one! There is more to come in the next two days. Stay tuned.