A unique partnership between Canada's francophone community and Vancouver 2010

Vancouver 2010, the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique and the Fondation canadienne pour le dialogue des cultures sign collaboration protocol

Richmond - The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games today signed a historic francophone collaboration protocol with the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique and the Fondation canadienne pour le dialogue des cultures that will enhance the preparation and delivery of the 2010 Games in Canada’s two official languages. 

The protocol states that Canada’s Francophone community, in particular the Franco-British Columbian community, will support Vancouver 2010 in cultural, economic and community-related areas.

The protocol specifies that the Fondation will be the key catalyst for Vancouver 2010 in terms of observations and advice from Canada’s Francophone and Acadian communities, except for British Columbia, which will be represented similarly by the FFCB.

In the upcoming months, the Fondation and FFCB will work closely with Vancouver 2010 to plan and set up a national coordinating committee, whose objective will be to mobilize support from the Francophone and Acadian communities for the 2010 Winter Games.

“The power of the 2010 Winter Games provides us with the extraordinary opportunity to highlight the linguistic duality and the cultural diversity that characterizes our country,” said John Furlong Vancouver 2010 CEO. “The signing of this protocol celebrates the shared commitment between the Fondation Dialogue, the FFCB and Vancouver 2010 to showcase and to build lasting legacies for Canada’s Francophone and Acadian communities, and especially the Franco-British Columbian community.”

“The Francophone and Acadian communities believe that Canadian Francophonie can benefit from the significant lasting effects of the 2010 Winter Games,” commented Marc Arnal, Fondation President. “The Fondation Dialogue wishes to take up the challenge of this collective and rallying project, which focuses on both the success of the Games and the influence of Canadian Francophonie.”

Michelle Rakotonaivo, FFCB President added, “The signing of this protocol is the result of extensive collaboration between all three partners. I would like to congratulate the members of the ad-hoc and Torch Bearer committees for their determination, which was decisive in the successful conclusion of this agreement. The Franco-British Columbian community is pleased to be identified as a welcoming Francophone community for the 2010 Winter Games. This status acknowledges our abilities, which may be recognized throughout Canada. We are all enthusiastic about the opportunity that we have been given and we will do our best to play our part satisfactorily.”

The Government of Canada offered its congratulations. “The 2010 Games will showcase Canada’s linguistic duality,” said David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver–Whistler Olympics. “The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that these are truly Canada’s Games, by making sure that both our official languages are fully incorporated into their planning and delivery. To that end, we are pleased that, with this collaboration protocol, Francophone communities will have every opportunity to be involved in the Games.”

The Fondation canadienne pour le dialogue des cultures is a national body, which aims to encourage Canadian men and women of all origins to come together. The FFCB is the provincial body, the main liaison organization of the francophone community, dedicated to promoting and defending the rights and interests of Francophone British Columbians.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

Mylène Letellier, Communication Coordinator, FFCB
Tel.: (604) 732-1420    Fax: (604) 732-3236
Email: mletellier@ffcb.bc.ca

Renée Smith-Valade, Vice President, Communications, VANOC
Tel: 778-328-2010
E-mail: mediarelations@vancouver2010.com