On September 25, we proudly celebrate Franco-Ontarian Day! This special day recognizes the rich culture, heritage, and contributions of the Franco-Ontarian community in our province.
Let’s come together to honour the Francophone spirit that is an important part of our Board community. Ma Francophonie, j’y tiens! (We are proud of our francophone heritage!)
For more information on Franco-Ontarian Day and its significance, please visit the following resources below:
On September 25, Holy Trinity Catholic School proudly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian Flag with a special flag-raising ceremony. The event marked a historic moment for the school community, as the Franco-Ontarian flag was raised for the first time on school grounds—symbolizing pride, culture, and belonging.
Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Director of Education, Morris Hucal, joined Superintendent Erica Raymond and FSL Learning Consultant Camille Heaton for the celebration. Students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 gathered as Principal Colin Lapalme and Director Hucal spoke about the importance of the day and the significance of honouring Franco-Ontarian heritage and identity.
As the flag rose high, students’ voices echoed with pride as they sang “Franco-Ontarien!”—a joyful celebration of culture and community spirit.
“Moments like this remind us of the importance of celebrating our shared identity and the diversity that strengthens our Catholic school communities,” said Superintendent Erica Raymond.
The flag, which was first raised in Sudbury in 1975, stands as a proud symbol of the Francophone community’s history and ongoing contributions across Ontario.
Holy Trinity’s flag-raising ceremony served as both a commemoration of this milestone anniversary and a reflection of the school’s commitment to fostering cultural pride and inclusion among students.
Sudbury Catholic Schools is proud to share the submissions from this year’s Ma Francophonie Video Contest, which invited French Immersion and Core French students to create 90-second videos showcasing why learning French is meaningful—both personally and within their school communities.
The contest gave students a creative platform to express their connection to the French language and celebrate Ma Francophonie, highlighting the role of French in their daily lives and school experiences.
Submissions are being shared in honour of Franco-Ontarian Day on September 25, 2025. This year is especially significant as it marks the 50th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag raising at the University of Sudbury, first held in 1975. Half a century later, the pride and celebration of Franco-Ontarian culture continue to grow stronger each year.
“We are thrilled to see our students’ creativity and passion for French shine through in this year’s submissions,” said Camille Heaton, FSL Curriculum Consultant. “Their work reflects the importance of French language and culture in our schools and communities.”
Sudbury Catholic Schools invites the community to view the submissions and celebrate the achievements of our students as they showcase their pride in French language and culture leading up to Franco-Ontarian Day.
Junior Core French Students at Pius XII Catholic School have been immersing themselves in the world of French music through Manie Musicale, an international “battle of the bands” competition that took place this past March. The competition features artists from French-speaking countries worldwide, allowing students to explore the diversity of the Francophone world through music.
Under the guidance of Miss Cousineau, students joined schools from across Canada and the United States in this engaging musical event. As part of the experience, students have been listening to songs, watching music videos, and sharing their opinions in French. They have also been actively involved in the competition by voting for their favourite songs, predicting which one will win the contest.
“This is an incredible opportunity for students to experience French language and culture in a fun, meaningful way,” said Core French Elementary Prep Teacher, Michelle Cousineau. “It broadens their understanding of how widely French is spoken and helps them connect with the language through music.”
According to the school, by participating in Manie Musicale, Pius XII students are not only strengthening their French skills but also developing a deeper appreciation for the global Francophone community.
Canadian Parents for French Ontario is offering FREE French enrichment programs funded by the Ministry of Education for FSL (French as a Second Language) students from SK to Grade 12. The program is offered after school in May at 4:00pm, 5:00pm or 6:00pm, featuring a daily 45-minute class over a two-week session. Virtual Programs will be led by OCT certified teachers or Teacher Candidates in an Ontario Bachelor of Education program. Register here for our programs in May today!
Grade 6 students studying Core French at Immaculate Conception school in Val Caron, recently participated in the “Canadian Parents for French Concours Oratoire” (public speaking contest) and they did great! Mme Merotto prepared them for the task with instructional materials provided by CPF, they practiced and then presented to the class.
We thank our Board of Trustees, Senior Administration, staff, students, families, volunteers, community partners, and our parishes for their continued support and commitment to Sudbury Catholic. Together we are providing a caring, progressive, high quality Catholic school system that is nurturing our students – mind, body, and spirit.
The Rams had a blast celebrating French culture in light of la St. Jean Baptiste day on June 24th with a neighbourhood parade, and some classes got to enjoy some poutine with “pudding chomeur” to continue with the French culture. Thank you Mme Hawthorne and Mme Winn for organizing!
French Immersion students at Holy Cross School participated in the Canadian Parents for French public speaking contest and it was a great success! This contest highlights the tremendous ability of our immersion students to communicate in French and is a testament to the amazing support the teacher and school is providing.
