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Québec, Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Cap sur les ports francophones! Today, we join together in a spirit of encounter and dialogue; in a spirit of celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the City of Québec, an important chapter in our collective history here in Canada and proof positive of the continued existence of the French fact and of the French language and culture in the Americas.
My husband Jean-Daniel and I are so proud to be the honorary patrons of this unique adventure that has brought us all here today.
In Bordeaux, we had the pleasure of meeting some of the participants from the French leg of the Cap sur les ports francophones, and our conversations were so delightful, so promising for what is to come as we continue the discussion tomorrow at the Citadelle.
Creators, writers, philosophers, architects, city planners, academics from different Francophone backgrounds, from different continents, you are committed to revisiting and rethinking ports as spaces for openness, for dreaming and imagining, for coming together, for discovering roots, for turning wishes into reality, as your declaration of intent so wonderfully proclaims.
The idea is intriguing, and I am eager to hear from you and to see where this collective adventure will take us. To a safe harbour, no doubt!
From Bordeaux, France, to Saint-Louis, Senegal, from Fort de France, Martinique, to Jacmel, Haiti, all the way to Cape Diamant in the City of Québec! I can only imagine the discoveries, landscapes, places and stories you have to share!
Yesterday, dozens of youths from member countries of La Francophonie, brought together by the CIJEF, the Conseil International des Jeunes de la Francophonie, spoke with me about their challenges, their commitment, their efforts in their own countries to help strengthen democracy and civil society. It was an exciting discussion!
La Francophonie is alive, buoyed by the momentum of solidarity and fellowship. You, too, are proof of that. And it is thriving here in Canada, in every province and territory, from coast to coast to coast, in its diversity of accents and stories.
How wonderful to be together!