News Releases & Announcements

OTTAWA, March 16, 2009 — Vibrant Francophonie

The University of Ottawa enjoys a vibrant Francophonie contributing to a rich learning, teaching and research environment. On the occasion of International Francophonie Week, we are proud to celebrate our Francophone identity that is so much a part of our history and our heritage.

We are taking this opportunity to present a special issue, providing you with a glimpse of Francophone life on the University campus.

News

France Honours Mona Nemer
University of Ottawa Vice-President of Research, Mona Nemer, will receive the National Order of Merit from the French Republic. She will receive her Companion insignia at a ceremony to be held at the French Embassy in Ottawa on April 23, 2009.

Mr. Gilles Patry Appointed Companion of the Ordre de la Pléiade
Mr. Gilles Patry was appointed Companion of the Ordre de la Pléiade 2009 (Ontario Section). This international honour is given by the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie. Mr. Patry will receive his insignia in Toronto on April 22, 2009.

The University Community Improves its French through “Visez juste en français”
The University launched www.visezjuste.uOttawa.ca to help its community improve or review rules of the French language. Students, professors and employees of the University can consult this free interactive tool to review some grammar, writing and vocabulary rules; to recognize incorrect phrases and anglicisms in order to use correct ones, and to apply basic grammar and writing rules using interactive exercises.

Gilles LeVasseur, Custodian of Franco-Ontarian Heritage
Gilles LeVasseur, a part-time professor with the departments of Economics, Communication and the Telfer School of Management, received the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for his contributions to the preservation of Franco-Ontarian heritage. For more details, please visit the Gazette’s website.

News Feature on French Immersion Studies at the University of Ottawa
The French television component of Radio-Canada in Ottawa will present a special feature on French Immersion Studies at the University on Wednesday, March 18, during its evening news broadcast, Téléjournal 18 h. [External site. In French only.]

The University Welcomes Acfas
The University is proud to host the Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas) conference, to be held May 11 to 15, 2009. [External site. In French only.]

 Activities

March 17

L’Écho d’un peuple – Advocacy and Pride of Franco-Ontarians
At 5:30 p.m., Alumni Auditorium, Jock-Turcot Centre (85 University Private)
A lecture and multimedia presentation by the co-author of the show, Félix St-Denis and renown explorer Christian Pilon. For more information, please contact Community Life’s website.

Sugar Bush
The Domaine de l’Ange-Gardien will re-create a sugarhouse on campus for all members of the University community to enjoy. For more information, please contact Community Life’s website.

March 18

Walking Tour of the University of Ottawa’s Historical Centre
Guided tours from noon to 4 p.m., Jock-Turcot University Centre (85 University Private)
The uOttawa Centre for Continuing Education, in collaboration with Michel Prévost, chief archivist at the University of Ottawa, will host two guided tours lasting 1.5 hour each, featuring anecdotes on the Francophonie at the University. For more information, please contact Community Life’s website.

Conference on the Present and the Future of Francophonie in Canada
At 7 p.m., Alumni Auditorium, Jock-Turcot University Centre (85 University Private)
This conference will be facilitated by Radio-Canada reporter Mireille Allaire. Many special guests will participate:

- The Honourable Herménégilde Chiasson, Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick.
- Professor Benoît Pelletier, from uOttawa’s Faculty of Law, and former Minister responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs, Canadian Francophonie, the Agreement on Internal Trade, the Democratic Reform of Institutions, and Access to Information.
- Professor Lucie Hotte, from the Département de français and holder of the Chaire de recherche sur les cultures et les littératures francophones.

Topics discussed will include the place of Francophones in Canada today; whether one can succeed in Canada as a unilingual Francophone; and whether French will still be a factor in Canada in 100 years. For more information, please contact Community Life’s website.

March 20

Breakfast Meeting with Benoît Pelletier
At 7:30 a.m., Rideau Club, 99 Bank St., 15^th Floor, Ottawa
The French Common Law program is holding its sixth annual Michel Bastarache Breakfast Meeting. Professor Benoît Pelletier will deliver a speech entitled “Le retour du Québec dans la francophonie canadienne.”  Tickets are $20. RSVP to Hélène Laporte at 613-562-5800, ext. 3325, hlaporte@uOttawa.ca or by Internet: www.alumboutique.ca.

Mini-Conference: The Bouchard-Taylor Report and the Future of Quebec
At 1 p.m., Lamoureux Hall, Room 475 (145 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa)
This conference was organized by E.-Martin Meunier (CIRCEM, Sociology, University of Ottawa) and Gilles Labelle (CIRCEM, Political Science, University of Ottawa). For more information, please visit the CIRCEM's website.

** PLEASE NOTE THAT DANY LAFERRIÈRE'S LECTURE HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO FRIDAY, MARCH 27 AT 2:30 p.m. AT THE ACADEMIC HALL ** 

Dany Laferrière Gives a Lecture on the Occasion of the Journée internationale de la Francophonie
At 2:30 p.m., Academic Hall, Department of Theatre (133 Séraphin-Marion St., Ottawa)
The Collège des chaires de recherche sur la francophonie canadienne of the University of Ottawa welcomes author Dany Laferrière, a native from Haïti, on the occasion of the Journée internationale de la Francophonie. During his lecture entitled “Je suis un écrivain japonais,” Mr. Laferrière will address the identity issue and explain how he became a Japanese writer. Please visit the Faculté des arts' website to register. For more information, please contact Nadine Saint Amour, at 562-5800, ext. 3149 or nadine.saint-amour@uOttawa.ca.

Throughout the Week:

Fairs
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 16 to 20, in the Agora of the University Centre (85 University Private)
Fairs on different topics related to the Francophonie will be held all week:
March 16: Campus Francophone Services Fair
March 17: French-Canadian Services Fair
March 18: External Services Fair
March 19: International Arts Fair
March 20: Embassy Fair
For more information, please contact Community Life’s website.

Did you know?

-The University of Ottawa is the largest bilingual university in North America.
-The University of Ottawa has existed as a bilingual institution since 1848.
-With 11,000 Francophone students, the University of Ottawa has the highest concentration of Francophone students outside Quebec.
-Some 500 Francophone international students are registered at the University of Ottawa.
-Since 1990, 42,690 Francophones have graduated from the University of Ottawa. Many have become leaders in politics, law, the arts and business.
-With 250 programs of study in French, the University of Ottawa offers the widest range of French training possibilities outside Quebec.
-Programs in nutrition, rehabilitative sciences and social services were developed by the University specifically in response to the needs of Ontario Francophone community.
-Almost 50 per cent of the staff at the University of Ottawa is Francophone.
-For the first time in 2009, a team of uOttawa business students came in first place at the Jeux du Commerce, a competition involving 13 Francophone universities from Eastern Canada.
-Each year, more than 100 students from Ontario French-language high schools take part in the Place à la jeunesse academic challenge, a four component case-study competition on business, marketing, accounting and oral debates at the University of Ottawa.

Here are a few francophone-specific programs on campus:

French Immersion Studies
Research Chairs in Canadian Francophonie
Official Languages and Bilingual Institute
Centre for Research on French Canadian Culture
SFUO’s Bilingualism Centre
Standing Committee on Francophone Affairs and Official Languages

Have a great Francophonie Week!