Fransaskois Flag to be Dedicated Today in Moose Jaw on St-Jean-Baptiste Day

Released on June 24, 2015

Flag Marks 10th Anniversary as a Provincial Emblem

Francophone Affairs Legislative Secretary Wayne Elhard will join Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield and other dignitaries today on St-Jean-Baptiste Day to present the Moose Jaw area with a Fransaskois flag, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year as an official provincial emblem.

“This Fransaskois flag, to be raised on this special day, will recognize the positive social and cultural impacts of Moose Jaw-area francophones, who continue to enrich their community and our province through their ongoing work and dedication,” Elhard said.  “May this flag, as it celebrates a 10 year milestone in 2015, proudly fly in the Friendly City for generations to come.”

The flag was adopted as a provincial emblem in 2005 to recognize the status of French as one of Canada's official languages and to acknowledge the heritage of Saskatchewan's francophones and their significant contributions to the province.  A commemorative plaque will also be presented.

“We are indeed honoured to receive this plaque and this Fransaskois flag, which highlights the contributions of francophones in the Moose Jaw region in preserving French-Canadian traditions in Saskatchewan over the past decades,” Association communautaire fransaskoise de Moose Jaw (ACFMJ) President Chantal Beaudoin said.  “We consider it to be very special receiving these on the 10th anniversary of the adoption of our flag as an official provincial emblem.”

The rectangular-shaped Fransaskois flag has a gold background representing Saskatchewan wheat fields, as farming was the prime occupation of the first francophone settlers.  The cross, representing the role of the Catholic Church in Fransaskois history and culture, is green, which is the colour of the province’s northern forests.  The red fleur-de-lys symbolizes "la Francophonie," which is the international name for French-speaking people.

In the early 1900s, francophones from France, Belgium and central Canada arrived in Ponteix, Gravelbourg, Willow Bunch and Val Marie.  Later, many migrated from these small communities to larger urban areas like Moose Jaw.  Adjacent is 15 Wing Moose Jaw, an airbase that is home to many francophone military families.

As part of a province-wide recognition initiative by the Government of Saskatchewan, the Fransaskois flag has been presented to Duck Lake, Ferland, St. Denis, Gravelbourg, Zenon Park, Regina, Saskatoon, Bellegarde, the Battlefords, Ponteix and Prince Albert.  St-Jean-Baptiste Day is held annually on June 24 and named after the patron saint of French-speaking Canadians.

To learn more about Government of Saskatchewan services available in French, visit its new website at www.saskatchewan.ca/bonjour or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Bonjour.Saskatchewan.

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For more information, contact:

Dan Palmer
Intergovernmental Affairs
Regina
Phone: 306-787-2155
Email: dan.palmer@gov.sk.ca