During Provincial French Awareness Week to be held from April 18 to 24, 1999, the Acadian flag will fly at the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, near the Provincial Buildings and at Government House as well as in Acadian and Francophone institutions and communities of the province. An official flag-raising ceremony will be held on Tuesday, April 20 at 11:30 a.m. behind Province House on Grafton Street. Honourable Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island; Honourable Mitchell Murphy, Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs and Antoine Richard, Chair of the Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin will be in attendance to raise the Acadian flag in celebration of the provincial accomplishments of the past year related to the French Language Services Act.
During this activity, the Acadian Communities Advisory Committee, in collaboration with the Provincial Government, will host a reception with guest speaker Daniel Bourgeois, Island Coordinator for the Francophone Summit, who will address the issue of economic exchange opportunities available in conjunction with the upcoming Francophone Summit in Moncton. Prince Edward Island has considerable economic, tourism and technological development potential and the success of Prince Edward Island's recent accomplishments will serve as examples to attract international conferences.
The Acadian flag is a distinct symbol of the Island Francophonie. It symbolizes the presence and perseverance of the Acadian and Francophone community and recognizes the active contribution of our ancestors and today's leaders to the development of our society, which makes the Island such a wonderful place to live in French.
Everyone is invited to fly their Acadian flag and attend the official Acadian flag raising ceremony during French Awareness Week.
For more information, contact Cécile Arsenault, Planning Assistant, Francophone Affairs Division, at (902) 854-7250.