Francophone Association celebrates 20 years

A 20th birthday merits a major celebration.

That’s why Nunavut’s francophone association is holding a week-long birthday bash from June 22 to 30.

Members and the general public are invited to share in the fun at the association’s centre in Iqaluit.

The entertainment ahead includes performances by Juno-winning folksinger David Francey and traditional Québécois music group “Les Langues Forchues,” a screening of the popular Québécois spoof on hockey players — “Les Boys III” — and, of course, a party on June 24 in honor of St-Jean Baptiste Day, Quebec’s national holiday.

“It’s going to be an exceptional week,” said Daniel Cuerrier, president of the Francophone Association of Nunavut.

Back in 1981, a small group of French-speaking residents first discussed forming what would eventually become the Francophone Association of Frobisher Bay.

“The association started because we wanted to have Radio-Canada’s television programs — [such as] hockey night in Canada,” Cuerrier said.

“People said it was in the mandate of Radio-Canada to bring in the signal, but Radio-Canada said it wasn’t in its mandate because there weren’t enough people. The French-speaking population was under 500, but everyone got together and bought the equipment, thanks to a fundraising campaign.”

In 1988, the association got a permanent home when Andy Thériault, who was then the mayor of Iqaluit, agreed to sell the building known as “Butler 981” for $1. This building was officially inaugurated in October 1989.

During its first decade of existence, the association, which took on a new name, the Francophone Association of Iqaluit, in 1987, also fought to have French taught as a first language at Iqaluit’s Nakasuk School, where there was the highest concentration of French-speaking students.

In 1994, the Northwest Territories’ department of education and the Baffin District School finally agreed to establish a full-time French program in Iqaluit.

“French classes started by drips and drabs,” said Cuerrier. “Now we have a school. People think it happened by magic, as if it dropped from the sky. It took 10 years of negotiations.”

During its 20 years, the association has seen a large turnover in its membership, but Cuerrier said they never lost track of their achievements.

“There was always a transfer of knowledge, which permitted continuity over 20 years,” Cuerrier said.

The association now has 150 members. This represents about 25 per cent of the adult French-speaking population in Nunavut.

“Generally, similar associations only have five to 10 per cent of the population,” Cuerrier said.

The 20th birthday celebration will last all year. Special projects in the works include the publication of a history of the association in French, English and Inuktitut.

The association would also like to establish two annual awards to honor people who make contributions to the francophone population.

The association hopes Nunavut will decide to collaborate with the centre so it can provide a “one-stop” service centre for French-speaking residents who need information and services in French.

“We hope this happens during our 20-year celebration because it would be, after all, a real step forward to create this French-language service centre. If this happens during our anniversary year, it would be a very welcome development,” Cuerrier said.