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The University of Ottawa to honour the francophonie with an installation on its campus
OTTAWA, June 28, 2012 — The University of Ottawa together with the organizing committee for the Monuments de la francophonie launched a fundraising campaign today for an installation on the University’s main campus to honour the francophone community.
“Located right in the heart of our downtown campus, the space will become a meeting and greeting place for the entire university community,” says Allan Rock, president of the University of Ottawa. “It will be a symbol of how important the Franco-Ontarian community is to the University of Ottawa and honour the contributions Franco-Ontarians have made to this province.”
“Today we are asking all members of the Franco-Ontarian community to generously support this project, which will truly increase the awareness of the francophonie here on the University of Ottawa main campus,” says Daniel Boivin, chair of the Monuments de la francophonie organizing committee.
The committee’s goal is to raise $100,000 over the next few months for construction, with any additional funds collected above this target used to raise the Franco-Ontarian flag at the University’s Lees campus, located next to Highway 417.
The installation will be, literally, concrete proof of the University of Ottawa’s ongoing commitment to Ontario’s francophone population and French-speaking people everywhere. This commitment, which dates back to the founding of the University in 1848 and is included in the 1965 University of Ottawa Act, has been an important element of the University of Ottawa for a very long time.
Made of materials that reflect traditional Canadian industries, such as forestry, mining and agriculture, the installation will boast benches reminiscent of log booms and beams and pillars that bring the log drive to mind. Granite bases and different steel and stainless steel elements are a reference to mining and metallurgy. The landscape design will be suggestive of traditional harvests and markets. Finally, the colours of the Franco-Ontarian flag will be incorporated into the panels.
About the University Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is the largest bilingual university in the world, where it is possible for students to study in English, in French or in both languages. Located in the capital of Canada, a G8 nation, we have direct access to Canada’s great institutions. Our breakthroughs in health, science and social sciences attract global attention, reflecting our ranking among Canada’s top 10 research universities and our ongoing drive to discover.
