Speech of Suzanne de Courville Nicol Founding president

Speech of Suzanne de Courville Nicol
Founding president, Bureau de Visibilité de Calgary,
For the official launch of the Fonds BVC/SdCN Endowment Fund
Restaurant La Chaumière, Calgary, AB
December 5, 2013 – 2:00PM – 4:00PM
Suzanne speaks about the BVC's mandate and explains the difference between the BVC as
a non-profit organization and the Fonds Bureau de Visibilité de Calgary/Suzanne de
Courville Nicol Endowment fund officially launched today.
(details follow speaking notes below)
Speech begins:
If I could meet someone from the past, other than our Francophone Pioneers whose
stories inspire me to move forward, it would be the inspiring Ralph Waldo Emerson. He
said, among many other memorable things:
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a
trail.” ...that's exactly what we're doing with the BVC.
Meet some of Calgary's Francophone Community Trailblazers and dear friends of mine,
founding members of the BVC.... Dany Côté – Ann Boiteau - Estelle Valois and Marc
Lalonde (physically unable to be here today)
Some of our accomplishments and projects:
Hello-Bonjour Alberta (formerly H-B Calgary initiated in 2012 by Franco-Fun Calgary
Productions ... oui, c'est moi)
« Parlez-vous ... ? » Alberta Francophone and Francophile personalities and
community leaders share their stories, in English & en Français ! i.e.: Brian
Pincott, City of Calgary Councillor Ward 11 - Stampede Royalty – Robert LeBlond
architect/Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump – to name only a few special guests
featured on our program in 2013.
First ever Calgary Francophone Community Calendars 2014 available here or on
order – They feature photos of all 21 Hello-Bonjour Calgary episodes on Shaw TV –
including photos of our lovely Calgary Stampede Royalty - as well as various
activities held throughout the year
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Bringing our history to Life - Historic Float in Calgary Stampede Parade 2012 & 13 –
see calendar for history of the Float
Keeping our history alive - Heritage Park - in the works
Spreading the Word ! Teaching our history to all Calgarians – adults as well as
students
Ken LaPointe's ppt: “Rouleauville - Calgary's French Connection” translated to
French by le CDÉA /Joad Clément; (Conseil de développement économique d l'AB),
both recorded thanks to Shaw TV at Fort Calgary March 9, 2013 – soon available on
DVD
1994 Rouleauville Then & Now TV special researched, writen, hosted and produced
by yours truly in 1994 – The City of Calgary's Centennial - now available on
YouTube
to name only a few exciting accomplishments
“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” - Ralph Waldo
Emerson
That is the magic of what has been happening and is happening here today.
.... Launching Fonds BVC/SdCN etc.
Explain ... little frog on our banner ... Feu Roger Lalonde, Order of Canada - and the
story of the little frog that could ...
Our dear friend Roger Lalonde passed away at age 80, two years ago already.
Roger collected frogs and the little frog you see at the bottom of the Calgary Tower on
our gorgeous new banner, is there in his memory.
A little story for you about the “little frog that could” ... a bit like the little train that
could...
...some little frogs gathered at the bottom of the Calgary Tower (Look at BVC Banner)
and felt overwhelmed at its height! “We will never be able to climb to the top ... it's
much too high!” they continued saying as they started the long climb up... “No way can
we do it” they kept saying and sure enough, one by one, they gave up ... except for one
little frog who just kept right on going until reaching the top! The others marveled at
this success. “How in the world was it possible?” they wondered.
The secret? The little frog was deaf and couldn't hear all the negative and discouraging
remarks.
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Throughout our lives, there will always be those who tell us we are wrong, that we can't
possibly do what we plan to do. That we're not strong enough – that we don't have the
means or resources to get things done – that we're aiming way too high... So we have to
be like “the little frog that could” and stop listening to the nay-sayers – the voices of
discouragement and negativity – because –
if you believe it – you can achieve it !
Thank you everyone here today and for everyone's already generous donations, and
please, spread the word. There are SO many generous philanthropists here in Calgary and
elsewhere. I urge one ... or many of you, to please consider supporting “la vitalité et le
rayonnement de la Francophonie de Calgary with donations to the Fonds Bureau de
Visibilité de Calgary/Suzanne-de-Courville-Nicol.
We've already reached and surpassed the initial $10,000 needed to make the fund active
and our goal is to reach $100,000 as quickly as possible. The more our fund increases, the
sooner we can start giving back and awarding bursaries in keeping with our objectives.
We need you and believe me when I say ....
We'll be your greatest fans ... (photo-op - Suzanne ouvre l'éventail souvenir du Stampede
2012 qui porte le drapeau Franco-Albertain – et que l'on voit de plus en plus ... belle
visibilité n'est-ce pas ?)
In closing I quote one last time my greatest inspiration, Ralph Waldo Emerson:
"The purpose of life is not to be happy. (although I certainly am ! Ha! ) It is to be useful,
to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have
lived and lived well.”
Thank you / Merci beaucoup
Le BVC is ... Le Bureau de Visibilité de Calgary (BVC), was incorporated on May 6, 2013 as
a non-profit organization under the Societies Act of Alberta.
Its mandate is to increase the visibility of Calgary's francophonie by fostering community
engagement and partnerships, inclusif leadership and encouraging team work, diversity,
volunteerism and philanthropy.
The Fonds BVC/SdCN Endowment Fund's objectives are to:
increase and maintain visibility for la Francophonie in Calgary and surrounding areas
by way of unique and innovative projects;
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create new interest and attract increased participation by Francophones and
Francophiles (friends of French and Anglophones who speak French) to programs
and activities presently available and yet to come;
promote the little known history of Calgary's Francophone roots and heritage which
dates back to 1872 in the Mission District, the cradle of Calgary, formerly known
as Rouleauville;
promote and highlight the value and importance of learning and using the French
language;
solicit support from mainstream groups and individuals in order to ensure the
recognition, continued growth and developpement of la francophonie;
maintain and strengthen ties with the Metis Nation of l' Alberta, Region 3;
maintain, increase and strengthen ties with mainstream anglophone organizations
and their representatives at the community, municipal, provincial, national and
international levels.
Donations can be made by cheque made out to La Fondation franco-albertaine
(please indicate for the Fonds BVC/SdCN on the memo line) or very conveniently online by credit card via the link below and also indicating Fonds Bureau de Visibilité
de Calgary/Suzanne-de-Courville-Nicol in the Message box which you will see :
https://www.canadahelps.org
Immediate confirmation and tax deductible receipt for your on-line donation will be
sent to the e-mail address which you will provide. Your credit card statement will
show a transaction from "CanadaHelps.org".
Donations received prior to December 31, 2013 will be very generously matched,
up to $100,000 by M. Gaétan Gagnon of Edmonton.
En français...
Suzanne parle du mandat du BVC et explique la différence entre le BVC même – et la
création du Fonds BVC/SdCN. Les argents donnés aujourd'hui et à l'avenir, vont au Fonds
et non au BVC.
Le BVC est ... Le Bureau de Visibilité de Calgary (BVC), créé en mai 2013, a pour mandat
d’augmenter la visibilité de la francophonie de Calgary en favorisant le partenariat
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communautaire et le leadership inclusif et en encourageant le travail d’équipe, de
diversité, de bénévolat et de bienfaisance.
Le Fonds BVC/SdCN a comme objectifs de:
augmenter et soutenir la visibilité de la francophonie de Calgary et régions de façons
uniques et innovatrices
créer un nouvel intérêt, attirer une participation accrue de francophones et
francophiles aux programmes et activités disponibles et à venir
promouvoir l'apprentissage de l'histoire de la francophonie de Calgary qui date de
1872 et favoriser son rayonnement
promouvoir et valoriser l'importance de l'apprentissage et de l'usage de la langue
française
susciter l'appui de groupes cibles afin d'assurer le rayonnement, l'épanouissement et
l'essor de la francophonie
favoriser l'accroissement des liens avec la Nation Métis de l'Alberta, Région 3
favoriser des liens avec des représentants et organismes de la majorité anglophone
aux niveaux communautaire, municipal, provincial, national et international
Les donateurs peuvent faire un don par chèque à la Fondation franco-albertaine
(pour le Fonds BVC/SdCN) ou par carte de crédit qui se fait très facilement en ligne à
l’adresse ci-dessous en indiquant Fonds Bureau de Visibilité de Calgary/Suzanne-deCourville-Nicol dans la boîte à cet effet:
https://www.canadahelps.org
Seuls les dons reçus avant le 31 décembre seront appariés par le programme
“matching” très généreux de Gaétan Gagnon.
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