March 20 - International Francophonie Day

International Francophonie Day (Journée internationale de la Francophonie) is observed every March 20th to celebrate the French language and Francophone culture.

The International Day of La Francophonie is an opportunity to highlight the beauty of the Canadian Francophonie in all its richness and diversity as well as its traditions that continue to shape identities.

Created in 1988, the date celebrates the signing of the Niamey Convention in Niger on 20 March 1970. The Convention established the Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique, the precursor to the International Organization of La Francophonie, an international organization representing countries and regions where French is a customary language, where a significant proportion of the population are francophones (French speakers), or where there is a notable affiliation with French culture. The organization comprises 88 member states and governments, including Canada.

Chatham-Kent is home to a vibrant francophone population. In the 2016 Census, 7% of Chatham-Kent community members said they spoke both French and English, and 3% identified French as their mother tongue. In fact, Tilbury and Dover areas are Francophone designated areas under the French Language Services Act, indicating that the province strives to offer services in English and French.

We wish all of our Francophone colleagues and community members Joyeuse Journée internationale de la Francophonie!

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