Originally scheduled to coincide with Franco-Ontarian Day on September 25, the Hawkesbury flag-raising event has been moved to October 4.
The event will take place on the Ile du Chenail and is hosted by the Organizing Committee of the Hawkesbury Francophonie Monument. The organizers expect over 400 individuals from the community to attend the ceremony including invited dignitaries.
This year will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Hawkesbury Francophonie monument, which includes Franco music and performances by the artists Matthieu Leroux and Isabel Rodrigue.
Beginning at 9:30 am, Hawkesbury’s elementary and secondary schools will arrive at the monument to start the ceremony. Some commentary will then be provided to attendees including a brief history of the Francophone community in the Hawkesbury region. The flag-raising portion of the celebration will begin around 10:30 am.
A community reception will take place at the Richelieu Pavilion in Confederation Park from 11:30 am until noon.
86 per cent of Hawkesbury’s population is fluent in French and is the third most bilingual town in Ontario. Francophone heritage and culture run deep within the region’s roots and history. The public is encouraged to attend and partake in the rescheduled Franco-Ontarian celebration.
