Mr. Speaker, as a proud Franco-Ontarian, I want to take this opportunity to point out that Monday, September 25, is Franco-Ontarian Day. Francophone communities in Ontario have a rich history dating back 400 years to when Samuel de Champlain explored and mapped parts of Ontario by navigating the Ottawa River and arriving by boat at the current site of the city of Ottawa in 1613.
Ottawa—Vanier has strong French ties because one of the first French colonies was located in today's Lowertown.
I am very pleased that French is still very much alive in Ottawa and across Ontario and is far from disappearing.
I invite my colleagues to take part in the activities and events that will take place this weekend and next Monday, including the celebrations at Lansdowne Park.
Happy Franco-Ontarian Day!