On September 25, 2024, Christ the King Catholic School in Wallaceburg proudly celebrated Franco-Ontarian Day, a day dedicated to recognizing and honouring Franco-Ontarian heritage, culture, and language. The day was filled with excitement and pride as students and staff embraced their Francophonie spirit, wearing green and white to symbolize the Franco-Ontarian flag.

Franco-Ontarian Day marks the anniversary of the first raising of the Franco-Ontarian flag in Sudbury in 1975. The flag, which became an official provincial symbol in 2001, represents Ontario’s French-speaking community with the trillium and fleur-de-lis, symbolizing Ontario and the French language, along with the colours white for winter and green for summer. During the celebration, Father Chris blessed the school’s two Franco-Ontarian flags, further uniting the community in pride and cultural significance.

Principal Angèle spoke to the school’s commitment to celebrating their Francophone heritage, stating, “Aujourd’hui nous prenons le temps de s’unir pour célébrer notre culture. Nous devons être fiers d’appartenir à la culture Francophone. Nous devons s’unir et célébrer chaque jour. Soyons Franco-fiers!”

In the afternoon, the entire school participated in an exciting afternoon of play with their school “families”, groups made up of students from all grades and ages. Activities included musical chairs, relay races, and thrilling ball sports in the gym. Laughter, cheers, and French conversations could be heard throughout the school as students engaged in the festivities and celebrated together.

Superintendent of Education, Michelle Sawa highlighted the importance of St. Clair Catholic’s French Immersion program, saying, “Our French Immersion programs provide students with the tools to become functionally bilingual, enhancing their cognitive abilities, problem-solving skills, and cultural sensitivity. Students who study a second language gain an educational experience that prepares them for success in a globalized world.”

Christ The King Catholic School’s celebration of Franco-Ontarian Day underscored the importance of French culture and language in the lives of students, fostering a vibrant, bilingual community ready to thrive in a diverse, interconnected world.