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Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat

Government partnership raises the spirit of Festival du Bois

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Government partnership raises the spirit of Festival du Bois

https://news.gov.bc.ca/05783

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News Release

Coquitlam
Saturday, March 1, 2014 12:01 PM

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News Release

Coquitlam

Saturday, March 1, 2014 12:01 PM

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(disponible en français en bas de page)

COQUITLAM - Visitors strolling in Mackin Park this weekend are being transported to a world of French Canadian culture as Festival du Bois, the largest Francophone festival on the West Coast of Canada, kicks into full swing. Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Norm Letnick and City of Coquitlam mayor Richard Stewart, along with representatives from the Francophone community, are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the festival with hundreds of visitors today.

The BC Francophone Affairs Program and the municipal government, in collaboration with the Société francophone de Maillardville, have contributed more than $90,000 to the festival. This partnership includes $20,000 from the BC Francophone Affairs Program, through the Canada-British Columbia Co-operation Agreement on Official Languages, and $70,000 in cash and in-kind services from the City of Coquitlam.

The joint funding was used to promote the festival and to showcase Maillardville's unique Francophone heritage. To increase awareness of the festival, the city has created street banners and reusable signage for the event.

Since 1909, the Maillardville community has been an example of French Canadians' important contribution to the development of British Columbia. Every year, Festival du Bois in Maillardville keeps the culture and traditions alive in this French-Canadian quarter. About 15,000 visitors attend the festival for world music, performances, family activities and to celebrate Maillardville's unique history. The sugar shack and food kiosks also draw big crowds who are eager to sample traditional fares.

Quotes:

Norm Letnick, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier -

"The early French Canadian pioneers and loggers were a very important part of British Columbia's history and they have left lasting influence on our province's cultural diversity."

"Our partnership with the City of Coquitlam is a great example of how we can honour B.C.'s French-Canadian heritage by promoting Festival du Bois and the Maillardville neighbourhood in Coquitlam."

"Thank you to Société de développement économique de la Colomibe-Britannique for facilitating the partnership between the BC Francophone Affairs Program and the City of Coquitlam."

Richard Stewart, mayor, City of Coquitlam -

"The City of Coquitlam is proud of our francophone heritage, celebrated annually at Festival du Bois. Not only is it a fun event with music, arts and crafts and traditional food, but it also brings together people of all ages and backgrounds in a collective community spirit. We thank our Provincial partners who are helping to ensure the legacy of this festival for many more years to come."

Quick Facts:

  • Festival du Bois is one of the most renowned Francophone festivals in Western Canada.
  • Established in 1909, Maillardville was the first organized French community in British Columbia.
  • There are more than 290,000 French speaking citizens in B.C., with more than 40 francophone associations and organizations actively representing the francophone language and culture in the province.
  • The Francophone Affairs Program was established in 2001 by the Government of B.C. The program supports objectives and priorities relevant to the province's French-speaking community, focusing on priority areas such as health, social services, justice and arts and culture.
  • The 2013-2018 Canada-British Columbia Official Language Agreements on French Language Services allow the federal and provincial government to work together to serve the country's francophone community.

Learn More:

Festival du Bois: http://www.festivaldubois.ca/

Francophone Affairs Program: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/francophones/fr/index.page

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
250 356-5963

Un partenariat gouvernemental ajoute au succès du Festival du Bois

COQUITLAM - Les visiteurs qui se rendront au parc Mackin cette fin de semaine seront transportés dans tout un monde de culture canadienne-française alors que le Festival du Bois, le plus grand festival francophone de la côte ouest du Canada, prendra son envol. Norm Letnick, secrétaire parlementaire de la première ministre, et Richard Stewart, maire de la Ville de Coquitlam, se joignent aujourd'hui aux représentants de la communauté francophone et à des centaines de visiteurs pour célébrer le 25e anniversaire de ce célèbre festival.

Le Programme des affaires francophones de la Colombie-Britannique et l'administration municipale, en collaboration avec la Société francophone de Maillardville, ont versé une contribution de plus de 90 000 $ à ce festival. Cette somme comprend 20 000 $ provenant du Programme des affaires francophones dans le cadre de l'Entente de collaboration Canada - Colombie-Britannique en matière de langues officielles et 70 000 $ en espèces et en services offerts par la Ville de Coquitlam.

Ce financement conjoint a été utilisé pour faire la promotion du patrimoine francophone particulier de Maillardville. Dans le but d'accroître la sensibilisation au Festival, la Ville a créé des bannières pour les rues et une signalisation réutilisable pour l'événement.

Depuis 1909, la communauté de Maillardville constitue un exemple de l'importante contribution des Canadiens français au développement de la Colombie-Britannique. Chaque année, le Festival du Bois de Maillardville permet de garder bien vivantes la culture et les traditions de ce quartier canadien-français. Environ 15 000 visiteurs participent au festival où les attendent des musiques du monde, des prestations et des activités familiales; ils y viennent aussi pour célébrer l'histoire unique de Maillardville. La cabane à sucre et les stands alimentaires attirent également les foules qui viennent y déguster des aliments traditionnels.

Citations :

Norm Letnick, secrétaire parlementaire de la première ministre -

"Les premiers pionniers canadiens-français et les bûcherons constituent une part très importante de l'histoire de la Colombie-Britannique et ils ont eu une influence durable sur la diversité culturelle de notre province."

"Notre partenariat avec la Ville de Coquitlam est un bon exemple de la façon dont nous pouvons faire honneur au patrimoine canadien-français, en faisant la promotion du Festival du Bois et du quartier Maillardville à Coquitlam."

"Merci à la Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique d'avoir aidé à ce partenariat entre le Programme des affaires francophones de la Colombie-Britannique et la Ville de Coquitlam."

Richard Stewart, maire de Coquitlam -

"La Ville de Coquitlam est fière de son héritage francophone, auquel nous rendons hommage chaque année lors du Festival du Bois. Il s'agit d'un événement agréable qui propose de la musique, des arts et de l'artisanat ainsi que des mets traditionnels, et qui réunit également des gens de tous les âges et de tous les horizons dans un bel esprit de communauté. Nous remercions les partenaires provinciaux qui nous aident à faire en sorte que le festival puisse avoir lieu pendant encore de très nombreuses années."

Quelques faits :

  • Le Festival du Bois est l'un des festivals francophones les plus connus de tout l'Ouest canadien.
  • Fondée en 1909, la ville de Maillardville a été la première collectivité francophone organisée en Colombie-Britannique.
  • On trouve en Colombie-Britannique quelque 290 000 personnes qui parlent français et plus de 40 associations et organismes francophones qui contribuent activement au dynamisme de la langue et de la culture francophones dans la province.
  • Le Programme des affaires francophones a été créé en 2001 par le gouvernement de la Colombie-Britannique. Ce programme appuie les objectifs et les priorités importantes pour la communauté francophone de la province et se concentre sur des priorités telles que la santé, les services sociaux, la justice, les arts et la culture.
  • L'Entente de collaboration Canada - Colombie-Britannique 2013-2018 en matière de langues officielles permet aux gouvernements fédéral et provincial de travailler ensemble à servir les communautés francophones de tout le pays.

Pour en savoir plus :

Festival du Bois : www.festivaldubois.ca

Programme des affaires francophones de la Colombie-Britannique : http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/francophones/fr/index.page

Relations avec les médias :

Communications gouvernementales et Engagements publics
Secrétariat aux Affaires intergouvernementales
250 356-5963

https://news.gov.bc.ca/05783

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