Thunder Bay’s Francophone community celebrates 50 years of the Franco-Ontarian flag with a city hall ceremony highlighting heritage and resilience.
Community gathers in green and white
Thunder Bay’s Francophone community came together Thursday at city hall to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag. Dozens of residents, students, and community leaders attended the ceremony, underscoring the importance of cultural recognition for a group that represents less than three per cent of the local population.
A flag with deep roots
The Franco-Ontarian flag was first raised on September 25, 1975, at the University of Sudbury. Designed by professor Gaétan Gervais and student Michel Dupuis, the green and white banner has since become a symbol of unity and resilience for Ontario’s French-speaking communities. Thunder Bay joined the provincewide anniversary by raising the flag at city hall.
Recognition for a small but strong community
For Claudette Gleeson, president of L’Association des Francophones du Nord-Ouest de l’Ontario, the moment was “fantastic.” She emphasized the significance of official recognition for a minority that often feels invisible. “We’re less than three per cent of the population and we are officially recognized here today,” she said. “The flag is symbolic of that—we matter.”
Youth see future in French identity
Local Francophone students also played a prominent role. Isabella Belda-Wright, a Grade 12 student at La Vérendrye Catholic High School and trustee with the Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales, called the ceremony validation for young people. “It’s so important to encourage younger people to keep our Franco-Ontarian spirit going since we are the minority,” she said, noting that her French education has already opened doors for her future studies and career.
Tight-knit bonds in Northwestern Ontario
While communities in northeastern Ontario, like Sudbury, have much larger Francophone populations, Thunder Bay’s French-speaking residents describe themselves as particularly close. “I think we resemble more French communities in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, or Nunavut—small, isolated but strong,” Gleeson explained. “If you don’t get along, then you disappear.”
Building visibility through culture
The event also reflected years of growing cultural visibility. Paula Haapanen, vice president of the Northern Policy Institute and co-coordinator of Festival BONJOUR, said the Franco-Ontarian community has become more dynamic and inclusive. “They work very hard to develop services and create opportunities for people, and that includes those who don’t necessarily speak French,” she said.
A lasting symbol of resilience
For many in attendance, the flag raising was more than an anniversary—it was a statement of survival and pride. By raising the Franco-Ontarian flag at city hall, Thunder Bay highlighted not only the history of French speakers in the province but also their continued role in shaping the cultural fabric of Northwestern Ontario.
