Who doesn't like to celebrate!
Around the globe, March 20 is the "Journée Internationale de la Francophonie " – or International Francophonie Day – when people celebrate and promote the many ways the French language can be expressed.
Across Canada, and here in Saskatchewan, cultural events called Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie extend these celebrations of the French language throughout the month of March! Communities across the province are planning flag raisings, theatre productions, winter festivals, a Cabane a Sucre and tintamarres, just to name a few!
What is a tintamarre, you ask? Tintamarre is an Acadian tradition of marching through one's community making noise with improvised instruments and other noisemakers, usually in celebration of National Acadian Day. The term originates from the Acadian French word meaning "clangour" or "din."
To carry on that tradition, Corinne Dourlant, director of the Association communautaire fransaskoise de Moose Jaw (ACFMJ) and originally from France, is planning a tintamarre in Moose Jaw to celebrate the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie.
For the past three years, the community took to the streets making some noise and dressed in colourful clothing. Last year, there were roughly 400 people in attendance, including members of the Moose Jaw Police Service, local dignitaries, students from the Holy Trinity and Prairie South School Divisions, as well as students and staff from École Ducharme, and families and supporters in the community. The parade ended at the police station on Main Street with the raising of the Fransaskois flag.
This year's event will take place on March 17 in the morning.
For more details, contact the ACFMJ at acfmoosejaw@gmail.com or follow them on Facebook.
The theme of this year's events is: "Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, at the centre of change." This theme was chosen because a society must consider a person's language, along with all other aspects of that person, in order to create a sustainable environment for all.
Actions related to sustainability are also found in Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan, which is focused on building strong communities and ensuring a better quality of life for Saskatchewan families and communities. Language and sustainability are also topics identified in the Francophone Community Development Plan, developed by the Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise, which aims to increase pride and the feeling of belonging, as well as improving the well-being of the Fransaskois community.
Saskatchewan's Francophone community
Saskatchewan's "Fransaskois" community is connected, resilient and vibrant. What is a Fransaskois, you ask?
“The action of choosing to live at least a part of one’s life in French in Saskatchewan is part of the definition of what it means to be Fransaskois. A Fransaskois is someone who identifies himself or herself with the Saskatchewan francophone community, today or in the past, whether through birth, marriage or adoption, or by identifying with the Fransaskois community, and who contributes to the vitality of the French language as well as the growth and development of the French-speaking communities in Saskatchewan, that while acknowledging that there are many ways to make a contribution.”
As defined by the Commission on inclusion in the Francophone community (2008)
Some francophones in our province are from families that have been in Canada for generations, and some are French speaking immigrants, while others are anglophones or allophones who have chosen to learn French and immerse themselves in the language.
How do we celebrate?
The Rendez-vous de la Francophonie is a time for Canada's Francophonie to celebrate! Hundreds of activities are taking place across Canada.
The Fransaskois community invites everyone to take part in the celebrations, in the language, the culture and to celebrate our diversity! Join the community in Moose Jaw for their tintamarre or discover activities near you at https://rvf.ca/en/calendar.