The survival and vitality of our communities really depends on four pillars. The two major ones are education and health. The third is culture, which concerns all of our institutions and has a daily impact. The last pillar is the economy. It is very important that these four pillars can work together on the ground. It's this synergy that is here, in Manitoba, because of an exercise we did in 2008 to ensure that our organizations work together. It's no different from what I've seen elsewhere, even on an international level. People often tend to work in a vacuum, to protect their own little territory and to forget that they are there as beneficiaries to ensure the full growth and development of our communities.
We saw this in St. Laurent, for example. I was a school principal for 16 years and taught for nine years in communities where the ethno-linguistic vitality was fading. The community took charge through an educational program, which made sure that people developed new cultural references. They re-emerged in the socio-institutional communities, including recreation facilities and major festivals. That is why that community now has the Festival Manipogo and one of its exhibitions is in Washington.
After being beaten down for 100 years, people regained their pride. We mustn't forget either that this happened to the Métis twice at the hands of the anglophone majority and even of the French-Canadian communities. Today, francophones can be found in health centres and schools that are part of the large family of the Franco-Manitoban School Division and the network of 631 francophone schools in Canada, outside Quebec. It's an about-turn that no one expected. It's because of taking charge and leadership from the community that this could happen.
So hopes are high, but the four pillars need to work hand in hand.