My local Francophone association, the Association des francophones des Kootenays Ouest (AFKO), just celebrated its 35th anniversary (hooray!)
The 1980s
AFKO started in Rossland, B.C. in 1985 when several friends met at the home of Paul Picard. It soon became clear that a regional Francophone association was needed, so AFKO incorporated as a non profit society in 1986.
The 1990s
In the 1990s, AFKO created a “bookmobile” to bring French books and materials to communities all over the West Kootenay region. The group also opened an office in Nelson, and Jeanne Huet became AFKO’s first employee.
When a group of about 20 volunteers met in Nelson to start a community radio station in 1998, AFKO was there. Manon Cyr, who also drove the bookmobile, was the first host of a program, which was then called Franco parlant. In 2000, the show’s name was changed to Méli-Mélo and it has been on the air ever since. The show is also podcast and shared on Radio Victoria 107.9 FM.
The 2000s and beyond
Prudence-Elise Breton directed AFKO from 2009 until Lyne Chartier took the wheel in 2013. AFKO offers local Francophones and Francophiles many services and activities; here are just a few: They have an extensive lending library with thousands of books and films. They host a summer camp, a cabane à sucre, la Franco-Fête, and a holiday party. They also run a school book exchange, activities for kids, and a social club for people 50+. They’ve recently installed a podcast studio and are developing a community sewing corner, with a silk-screening workshop planned for 2022.
Recent projects include the Travelling Tree and Portraits of the Kootenays. The Travelling Tree project offered local Francophones a chance to share their reflections about their attachment to the Francophonie and Portraits of the Kootenays features short profiles of local Francophone artists and entrepreneurs.
Thanks to Marie-Paule Berthiaume and her article, L’AFKO célèbre ses 35 ans d’existence. Image courtesy of AFKO
Catherine Fisher, blogger
