Students and community members gathered in front of the Jasper/Junior High School March 6, to raise the Franco-Albertan flag in recognition of the beginning of Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, a national celebration of French culture and heritage.
It was a crisp morning, and young students squealed and giggled as they danced with linked arms to the jaunty fiddle music blaring from nearby speakers. Many carried small, hand-made flags that they waved energetically, or wore in their hair.
Hélène Gendron, the principal of École Desrochers, told the crowd that the day is a special one for the community, giving everyone a chance to reflect on Jasper’s Francophone history.
“Today Jasper is proud to show everyone how both Francophones, Anglophones, friends of the Francophonie live together for the betterment of the whole community,” she said.
Representatives of L’Association de Tous les Francophones de L’Alberta (ACFA), Parks Canada, all three of Jasper’s schools and the Municipality of Jasper also gave brief speeches at the ceremony.
Speaking on behalf of the municipality, Coun. Dwain Wacko told the crowd that Jasper has a long and rich Francophone history.
“Flags are potent symbols with wide-ranging interpretations, and are always flown with respect and dignity. Today in Jasper, with this flag raising, we recognize our Francophone heritage, and it’s deep, historic, roots.”
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the birth of the flag, which was created by Jean-Pierre Grenier as a symbol uniting the Frencophone population of Alberta. Since 2009 it has been raised on the same day in 25 French communities in the province, marking the beginning of Rendez-vous de la Francophonie.
The theme of this year’s festival is My flag, My language, My pride, and Gendron told the crowd that the Franco-Albertan flag is the community’s “emblem to ignite and to be proud Francophones.”
“It’s not enough to speak French, it is important to welcome everyone to recognize it and appreciate it. The flag does that for us: it reunites us as Francophones, but also as friends of the Francophonie, like we see today, like we see in Jasper.”
Raymond Blanchette-Dubé, the principal of Jasper Elementary School, also talked about togetherness and the importance of the whole community celebrating French culture.
“We are all a part of the Franco-Albertian history in Jasper. Each and every one of you here today standing together to sing, eat and speak of the history and growth of French culture in Japer and Alberta.”
After the flag had been raised and the speeches finished, the music started up once again and students from the Grade 8 French immersion class handed out bannock and honey to help kick off the celebration of Rendez-vous de la Francophonie.
The celebration takes place from March 6-22 across Canada. Several events will take place in Jasper to mark it, including a free movie night at École Desrochers March 6, a Sugar Shack at the Jasper Legion March 14, a cooking class at École Desrochers March 19, and more.
Trevor Nichols
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