From March 7 to 23, Across the Country - Rendez

From March 7 to 23, Across the Country
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The 16 Rendez-vous de la Francophonie Celebrates Joie de Vivre the French Way!
OTTAWA, MARCH 7, 2014 – The Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue invites everyone across
Canada to take part in the 16th edition of Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie (RVF), which will run from
March 7 to 23, 2014. The RVF is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate, bring people together and spread
the word for Canada’s Francophones and francophiles.
“Francophones and francophiles across the country invest themselves heart and soul in their community.
They are proud of their language, culture and origins,” announced the Honourable Shelly Glover,
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. “Congratulations to the RVF organizers for
identifying humour as the vector around which our communities develop. On behalf of Prime Minister
Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada, I invite all Canadians to take part in the 16th RVF.”
TOWARDS A FESTIVE AND HISTORIC THEME: THE FRENCH JOIE DE VIVRE!
Joie de vivre brings to mind exhilaration, liveliness and light-heartedness. This is a feeling with which
people associate Canada’s Francophone and Acadian communities. Anglophones are quite familiar with
the expression, which is reminiscent of good mood, sense of humour and fun times. The 2014 edition of
the RVF revolves around this theme, and incorporates a historic component. “Upon his arrival in Canada,
Champlain instituted the Order of Good Cheer in an effort to bring some life and activities to the PortRoyal Habitation,” explains Guy Matte, Executive Director of the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural
Dialogue. “Already back then, humour and entertainment were used to build the community, and the
RVF is proud to continue the tradition this year with its own celebration of joie de vivre.”
LES RENDEZ-VOUS DE LA FRANCOPHONIE 2014
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SPOKESPERSON DAMIEN ROBITAILLE
Franco-Ontarian writer, composer and performer Damien Robitaille eagerly and proudly accepted the
mandate to represent the 2014 RVF. “It really is a tremendous honour for me to be at the heart of this
year’s event, and to once again be able to promote our language across the country. I invite everyone to
celebrate the French fact and to delight in speaking this language that draws us together.”
RENEWED AND STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS
The Just for Laughs Group
The RVF team is continuing its partnership with the Just for Laughs Group for a second consecutive year
in staging a pan-Canadian comedy gala tour. Hosted by rising star Jérémy Demay, this gala featured a
lineup of French comedians from different provinces. The Gala Juste pour rire des Rendez-vous de la
Francophonie, which started in February, visited six provinces and appeared in more than a dozen cities
http://rvf.ca/tournee.php. The closing event of this comedy tour will take place this evening in Ottawa.
The École nationale de l’humour (L’ÉNH)
This year, the RVF is renewing its collaboration with the École nationale de l’humour for the Drôles de
Rendez-vous national comedy skits contest. From March 7 to 23, the RVF will post a dozen skits on its
Web site, all around the theme of La Joie de Vivre. Rate the skits online and qualify for the draws for one
of the following two prizes:
 a trip for two to Paris on Air Canada; or
 a visit to the Citadelle de Québec in collaboration with the Corporation du Royal 22e Régiment.
The National Film Board (NFB)
For the ninth consecutive year, the National Film Board is pleased to bring four film programs featuring
free viewings across the country, as well as an exclusive Web offer that will be available during the RVF
at www.rvf.ca.
The Association des Universités de la Francophonie canadienne (L’AUFC)
The Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue and the Association des universités de la
francophonie canadienne have together organized for March 19, 2014 the GRAND RENDEZ-VOUS DES
FRANCOPHONIES CANADIENNES. This approximately 90 minute-long video conference will feature postsecondary institutions in a cultural program involving the different AUFC member institutions.
A RECORD NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES!
The hundreds of activities organized by Francophones and Francophiles in their communities are at the
heart of the RVF, and are listed in the national RVF calendar: contests, film viewings, shows, official
ceremonies, get-togethers in libraries and cultural centres, to mention but a few. To see the full list of
activities, visit the RVF Web site at www.rvf.ca.
LES RENDEZ-VOUS DE LA FRANCOPHONIE 2014
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ABOUT LES RENDEZ-VOUS DE LA FRANCOPHONIE
The RVF is part of the events surrounding the Journée internationale de la Francophonie (March 20),
which is organized every year around the world to promote the French language and its many cultural
expressions. Every year for more than 16 years the RVF has given Canadians from every segment of
Canadian society the opportunity to celebrate their connection with the French language in Canada. The
representative organizations are an integral part of the RVF, coordinating RVF activities at the provincial
and territorial levels. Everyone is invited to join in the RVF celebrations.
Since 2005, the RVF has been organized by the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue, which
works to promote and sustain dialogue and bring together Francophone and Acadian communities and
the many different components of Canadian society.
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INTERVIEWS
For an interview with Guy Matte, Executive Director of the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue:
In the Ottawa-Gatineau area
Julie Dumoulin
Communications Director
Rendez-vous de la Francophonie
Phone: 819-921-2646
[email protected]
For an interview with Damien Robitaille, RVF spokesperson:
Nicole Desmarais / Véronique Fecteau
Agence Sonia Gagnon
Phone: 514-768-6743
[email protected]
[email protected]
LES RENDEZ-VOUS DE LA FRANCOPHONIE 2014
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