Hundreds of students march to Montfort to celebrate Franco Ontarian solidarity
Ottawa, March 20, 2017 – A celebration of Franco-Ontarian solidarity took place this morning to highlight the 20th anniversary of the great student march of March 20, 1997, when close to 2000 Francophone students had gathered to create a human chain around Hôpital Montfort.
This morning’s event brought together some 600 students from the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE), the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) and La Cité College.
The day started at the Collège catholique Samuel-Genest with an educational panel comprised of Gisèle Lalonde, Pierre Bergeron, Michelle de Courville Nicol and Ginette Gratton. The panel was facilitated by the Franco-Ontarian comedy group Improtéine. Students had an opportunity to ask questions and interact with these well-known figures of the SOS Montfort movement.
The participants then gathered at the Monument de la Francophonie at La Cité College, where they started a commemorative march to Hôpital Montfort, ending the event with an aerial photo showing Franco-Ontarians proudly taking “our place, today for tomorrow.”
Hôpital Montfort wishes to thank the CECCE, the CEPEO and La Cité College for their collaboration in making this event a true success and ensuring the continuity of health services in French.
The week of celebrations of Franco-Ontarian solidarity continues on March 22, with a concert at TD Place, at 7:30 p.m., organized by the Montfort Hospital Foundation. Free tickets for the show must be reserved at the TD Place ticket office or by calling 613 748 4920.
Hôpital Montfort is Ontario’s Francophone academic hospital, offering exemplary person-centred care. The hospital serves over 1.2 million people, in both official languages. In 2014, it earned Accreditation with Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada.
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Gisèle Lalonde, Pierre Bergeron, Michelle de Courville Nicol and Ginette Gratton attending
a panel on SOS Montfort and facilitated by the Franco-Ontarian comedy group Improtéine.