Visit to Moncton City Hall

Upon their arrival at Moncton’s City Hall, Their Excellencies and Marie-Éden were welcomed by His Worship George LeBlanc, Mayor of Moncton, and city councillors.

Her Excellency delivered a speech in which she admitted to be thrilled to be in Moncton because the city “has set a standard for all of Canada in terms of the inclusion of linguistic groups, the bridging of generations and an openness to the world. (…) Moncton was the first city in Canada to be given official bilingual status; it set up advisory committees made up of elders and youth; and it established a partnership with the Commune of Kaladougou in Mali: these are just a few recent developments that demonstrate the vibrancy and fraternity that drives the people of Moncton.”

During her visit on the eve of National Acadian Day, Her Excellency attended the raising of the Acadian flag. The tricolour — with a golden star in its sea of blue – was first presented by Father Marcel-François Richard, the priest for Saint-Louis-de-Kent, in New Brunswick, on August 15, 1884.

The three colours of the Acadian flag, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, demonstrate the attachment Acadians have to the French language and culture. One star, Stella Maris, guides Acadia “through storms and reefs.”