L’Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario will reinforce the presence and engagement of the Franco-Ontarian community in the lead up to and during the 28th edition of the Canada Games, scheduled from August 6-21, 2022 in the Niagara Region

March 19, 2021 (Niagara, ON) — The Niagara Host Society and l’Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario (l’AFO) are thrilled to announce a partnership that will see l’AFO become the Francophone Community Network Partner of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. Created in 1910, l’AFO serves as a unifying organization for the Francophone community in Ontario, acting as a voice for more than 744,000 Franco-Ontarians and 1.5 million French speakers living within the province.

In its role with Niagara 2022, l’AFO will help enhance the presence and engagement of our country’s largest Francophone community outside of Quebec both before and during the 2022 Canada Summer Games. Specifically, they will amplify the visibility of the Francophonie by contributing to the Games cultural programming, which features Niagara Place and the 13 for 13 Cultural Festival, and by assisting with the recruitment of bilingual volunteers.

“Understanding the importance and strength of our Francophone and Francophile communities, both here in the Niagara Region and throughout Ontario, we are grateful to be forging this partnership with l’AFO,” said Doug Hamilton, Board Chair of the Niagara Host Society. “The Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games will serve as an opportunity for us to celebrate our country’s linguistic duality, and we are very pleased that l’AFO will help us achieve that between now and Games-time.”

“By joining forces with l’AFO, we are further strengthening the inclusion of Francophone culture with our Games,” said Sue Morin, Official Languages Chair of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. “Given the opportunity afforded to the Niagara Region as host of this one-of-kind event, we are delighted to be working with this important organization and Niagara’s Francophone community to solidify the presence of Franco-Ontarians on a national stage.”

“On behalf of the Franco-Ontarian community, the Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario is thrilled to partner with the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, the largest multi-sport event in Canada,” said Carol Jolin, the AFO’s Board Chair. “The Games are joining forces with a Canadian advocacy organization representing Francophones, marking an era of recognition of French for this important sporting event. The AFO is delighted by the emphasis these Games are placing on the language and on accessibility, which promote inclusion and the representation of Canadian society in its entirety. It’s an event you won’t want to miss!”

In partnership with l’AFO, the Niagara Host Society will be hosting a virtual information session, moderated by Hélène Caron, on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 from 5:00pm to 6:30pm EST to discuss the planning of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, and how the contribution of over 600 bilingual volunteers will be essential to the delivery of Canada’s largest multi-sport event in both Official Languages in the Niagara Region. Anyone interested in registering for this free webinar can do so by visiting this webpage.

 

About the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games

At the peak of Niagara’s boldest summer yet, more than 5,000 up-and-coming athletes, their coaches and support staff will gather to compete for the podium in Canada’s largest multi-sport event. From August 6 to 21, 2022, Niagara will surge stronger than ever on the national stage. The 2022 Games, made possible thanks to funding and support from the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the Niagara Region, and the Canada Games Council, will give rise to new legacies of ambition, confidence, and compassion that will inspire generations to come.

For further information, visit us at niagara2022games.ca or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@2022canadagames).

About l’Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario

L’Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario (AFO) is the uniting organization and the political voice of francophones in Ontario. Its mandate is to consult with the francophone community of Ontario and to serve as its spokesperson. It most notably strives to promote and defend the rights of the 744,000 Franco-Ontarians.