What is the RVF?
Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie (RVF) is part of the cultural events surrounding the Journée Internationale de la Francophonie (March 20), which is organized every year in Canada to promote the French language and the many ways it can be expressed!
The 22nd annual Rendez-vous de la Francophonie will be held in 2020! It is an initiative of the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue, whose mandate is to promote dialogue and forge closer ties between the Francophone and Acadian communities and all other communities in Canada.
Nearly 9.5 million people in Canada keep the French language alive and share it with others. Most of these people live in Acadian communities or in Quebec and Ontario, but some of them live in western and northern Canada. Some are Francophones whose families have been in Canada for generations, and some are French‑speaking immigrants, while others are Anglophones or allophones who have chosen to learn French and immerse themselves in the language.
The RVF is a time for Canada’s Francophonie to celebrate! Hundreds of activities take place across Canada: community gatherings, multicultural meetings, ceremonies, performances, film screenings, word games, contests, educational activities—in short, a whole series of events that provide an excuse for celebrating.
By creating a directory of activities organized by Francophones and Francophiles across the country, the RVF conveys the tremendous energy of these communities and regions. By promoting these celebrations through the pan‑Canadian event calendar, the RVF invites you to join the party.
The RVF is an extraordinary opportunity to come together in celebration!
2020 Spokespersons
ANU BOUCHER
My name is Annette Anulik Boucher, but I prefer to be called Anu, which is a short form of my Inuktitut name. I was born and raised in Rankin Inlet (Kangiqliniq), in Nunavut. It’s a small community in the Kivalliq Region, located on the western shore of Hudson Bay. My mother, Leonie, is an Inuk from Rankin Inlet. My father, Yves, is a Quebecer from Rimouski.
My passion for nature spurred me to study in the Environmental Technology Program at Nunavut Arctic College, where I learned about wildlife and marine biology, as well as wildlife and fisheries management, and had the opportunity to participate in field camps.
This passion likely comes from my heritage. Inuit have survived in one of the harshest climates by means of their hunting skills and their understanding of their environment.
As a spokesperson for the RVF 2020, I hope to share our values, traditions and customs with you, while at the same time drawing closer to the Francophone culture.
BERNARD VOYER
My name is Bernard Voyer. I’m an explorer, mountaineer and motivational speaker. From the days of my childhood on the shores of the Saint Laurence, in Quebec, I’ve been gazing out at the horizon. As my curiosity grew, my taste for exploration became stronger. I therefore dedicated my life to adventure, because I wanted to see farther, to find my way.
From my first expeditions, I discovered that winter and I got along beautifully. I wanted to learn more. I have over 30 years of experience in expeditions and adventure under my belt, including reaching the North Pole in 1994; the South Pole, with no outside assistance, in 1996; and the summit of Everest in 1997 and 1999!
Today, I share my passion in various ways. I go to schools and talk to students about the path I’ve chosen, and I listen to them talk about their own. I also give talks at various corporate events to link the world of adventure to the world of business.
I hope I inspire you to load up your backpack, too, and explore this environment, in French and in all the languages and cultures that distinguish us.
2020 Theme
Each year, Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie chooses a national theme for that year’s activities and contests. For 2020, the RVF plans to focus on many facets of the environment: climatic, social, communal and cultural.
This year’s slogan: Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, at the centre of a change.
“A sustainable environment depends upon a society that is concerned about all aspects of the human being, including language.
This society must express a cross-cultural solidarity that is supportive of local initiatives to ensure the longevity, stability and development of firmly rooted Francophone communities throughout the country.”
The aim of the 2020 RVF is to show that in its own way, the Francophonie is leaving a positive footprint for the future. What about you? What footprint will you leave behind?
Board of Directors
Hon. Allister Surette, C.E.N.É., Chair
Rector and vice-chancellor
Université Sainte-Anne
Nova Scotia
Renée Champagne, Vice-President
Consultant
Ontario
Françoise Sigur-Cloutier, Director
Consultant
Alberta
Suzanne Jacob, Treasurer
Chair of the Société de développement économique (SDE) de la Colombie-Britannique
British Columbia
Bernard Voyer, Vice-president
O.C., C.Q., Explorer
Quebec
Ania Kolodziej, Director
Lawyer – Juristes Power
British Columbia
Yvon Godin, Director
Consultant
New Brunswick
Claire Thibideau, Director
Consultant in francophone education
Ontario
Chedly Belkhodja, Director
Teacher and Director, Concordia University
Québec
Paulette Duguay, Director
Consultant
Manitoba
Yves Ducharme, Director
Chair of Regroupement des gens d'affaires de la Capitale nationale
Québec
Jenny Matingu, Director
Consultant
Ontario
Georges Arsenault, Director
Historian, ethnologist and communicator
Prince Edward Island
Daphné Kathia Rosalber, LL.L, Director
Lawyer
Quebec
Jean Johnson, Director
Chair, FCFA du Canada
Provincial and territorial coordinators
Alice Vincent
La Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique
Diane Fournier
Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta
Marc Masson
L’Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise
Myriam Leclercq
Société de la francophonie manitobaine
Ngoné Diagne
Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario
Éric Dow
Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick
Giselle Thibault
Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse
Germain Arsenault
Fédération culturelle de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard
Roxanne Leduc
Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador
Julie Gillet
Association franco-yukonnaise
Xavier Lord-Giroux
Fédération franco-ténoise
Karine Baron
Association des francophones du Nunavut