OVERVIEW
Celebrating 50 Years – Shaping the future together! is a provincial artistic and community initiative marking the 50th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag. From 2025 to 2026, artists and communities are coming together to celebrate the diversity and vitality of the province’s Francophonie. This initiative is led by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, in collaboration with the Alliance culturelle de l’Ontario and with support from the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Arts Council, and TFO.
MID-POINT REVIEW
Remarquable Engagement
The call for projects launched in September 2025 sparked remarkable enthusiasm across Ontario’s Francophone community. More than 140 proposals were received from all regions of Ontario.
The submitted projects reflect:
Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria
Among the proposals received, some individuals and organizations applied for financial support of up to $10,000 to help carry out their projects. These applications were submitted through the Ontario Arts Council platform, which oversaw the jury selection and coordinated the evaluation process.
Projects were evaluated on their artistic vision, the extent of community participation, their cultural, social, and artistic value, as well as feasibility, originality, and commitment to inclusion and co-creation.
Following this process, a first set of projects was selected. These projects are to be completed by June 2026.
NEXT STEPS
Supporting Selected Projects
The next phase of the initiative will focus on supporting the selected projects. A liaison team will work with project leaders to:
Participation: the Initiative Remains Open
Although the submission period for projects seeking financial support has now ended, the initiative remains open for participation.
Artists, organizations, and communities wishing to contribute may:
The initiative is intended to be dynamic and inclusive. The team will work with interested parties to explore how their ideas can contribute to the collective endeavour.
Projects selected through the initiative
The projects below were selected by an independent jury among the proposals submitted for financial support through Celebrating 50 Years – Shaping the future together! They reflect the diversity of artistic and community approaches within Ontario’s Francophonie.
Project title: (dé)collage
Project title: 50 ans de fierté : le prochain chapitre (Celebrating 50 Years: The Next Chapter)
Project title: Ancrage et exil : Écrire le courage, l’amour et l’identité (Belonging and Exile: Courage, Love and Identity)
Project title: Chansonnons (Let’s Write a Song Together)
Project title: Chants des lacs et du vent (Songs of the Lakes and Wind)
Project title: Ce qui nous relie, à plusieurs voix (What Connects Us, in Many Voices)
Project title: Cultiver la table, nourrir la culture franco-ontarienne (How Culinary Traditions Nourish Franco‑Ontarian Culture)
Project title: Expressions croisées : nos arts, nos voix, nos mondes (Crossing Worlds, Crossing Voices)
Project title: Fleurir la francophonie ensemble (Together, We Help Francophonie Flourish)
Project title: Jasons Sarnia : Portraits d’une francophonie vivante (Jasons Sarnia : Portraits of a vibrant Francophonie)
Project title: Le Loup de Lafontaine en animation carton! (The Wolf of Lafontaine in Cardboard Animation)
Project title: Les artisans des arts visuels franco-ontariens célèbrent l’histoire du patrimoine forestier de l’Est de l’Ontario (Franco-Ontarian Visual Artists Celebrate the Forest Heritage of Eastern Ontario)
Project title: PATENTEUSES
Project title: Pionnières d’hier, femmes d’aujourd’hui (Pioneers of Yesterday, Women of Today)
Project title: Un festival en héritage (A Festival in Legacy)
Project title: Un Mur, Nos Voix (One Wall, Our Voices)
Project title: Whitby Mural Celebrating French and Multilingualism in the Community
For more information:
Celebrating 50 Years, Shaping the Future Together! initiative website: www.franco50.com
Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario website: www.lgontario.ca
Media Contact:
Laetitia Walbert
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Laetitia.walbert@ontario.ca
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Toronto (Ontario), March 6, 2026—With more than 140 artistic and community projects from across Ontario, the Celebrating 50 years, Shaping the future together! initiative has generated remarkable engagement among Ontario’s Francophone community.
Of these proposals, 72 applications were officially submitted and evaluated by an independent jury from the Ontario Arts Council. At the end of this rigorous process, 17 projects were selected that reflect both the Francophone community in Ontario today and the one taking shape for tomorrow.
“The 50th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag deserved a celebration commensurate with its importance,” said the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. “The community’s response to this call for projects is a fine demonstration of that. I look forward to seeing these creations come to life in the coming months.”
“The Franco-Ontarian flag is a symbol of pride and resilience for Francophones across Ontario,” said the Honourable Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Francophone Affairs. “As we celebrate the flag’s 50th anniversary, the work created through this initiative will reflect the vitality of Ontario’s Francophonie for years to come.”
“Since the 1970s, the Ontario Arts Council has been proud to support the richness and uniqueness of Franco-Ontarian creativity, and we are delighted to be associated with this important initiative and celebration,’ said Michael Murray, CEO of the Ontario Arts Council. ’The projects funded by this program offer an exceptional opportunity to connect the past, present, and future of Francophone arts in Ontario.”
Sustain enthusiasm since the initiative’s launch
Launched in September 2025 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag, Celebrating 50 years, Shaping the future together! is a provincial artistic and community co-creation initiative led by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in partnership with the Alliance culturelle de l’Ontario, and supported by the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Arts Council and TFO.
The journey continues!
The liaison team will now assist project leaders in bringing their visions to life and shaping this collective work.
Although the period for projects seeking financial support has now ended, the initiative remains open to artists, organizations, and communities who can still join the process, either by collaborating on an existing project or by proposing their own contribution.
To learn more about the initiative and view the list of selected projects: www.franco50.ca
Quick Facts
For more information:
Celebrating 50 Years, Shaping the Future Together! initiative website: www.franco50.com
Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario website: www.lgontario.ca
Media Contact:
Laetitia Walbert
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Laetitia.walbert@ontario.ca
Share
OVERVIEW
“Celebrating 50 Years — Shaping the Future Together!” is a comprehensive artistic and community initiative marking the 50th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag. From September 2025 to September 2026, artists, organizations, and communities from across Ontario will come together to create a collective body of work that showcases the diversity, vitality, and creativity of Ontario’s francophonie.
Led by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, this initiative is delivered in partnership with the Alliance culturelle de l’Ontario, and with the support of the Ontario Arts Council, the Government of Ontario and TFO.
Recognized in 2001 as the official symbol of Ontario’s French-speaking community and, in on September 25, 2021, as an official provincial emblem, today, the Franco-Ontarian flag is proudly flown all across Ontario, from schools to Queen’s Park. It stands as a symbol of resilience, creativity, and diversity. This initiative honors that legacy and looks to the future, inspiring new artistic expressions that reflect the evolving character and composition of Ontario’s francophonie.
At its heart, the project is inclusive and participatory. It welcomes contributions from Ontarians of all backgrounds and experience levels, recognizing that Ontario’s francophonie is enriched by diverse voices, stories, and art forms.
OBJECTIVES
The initiative aims to:
WHAT IS SUPPORTED
Open to all artistic mediums, from visual arts, music, dance, theatre, digital creations, and interdisciplinary projects. Each selected project could receive up to $10,000 in funding, along with mentorship and regional support.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Projects are evaluated based on artistic vision, community participation, cultural, social and artistic value, feasibility, originality, and commitment to inclusion and co-creation.
SHOWCASE OPPORTUNITIES
Selected works will be featured as part of a collection in the form of an exhibition, digital and web format, and as part of a showcase at the 2026 Francophonie Summit in Cambodia.
PARTICIPATION
Community members, artists, organizations, and institutions interested in taking part can submit an expression of interest through the initiative’s website (www.franco50.ca). The process is designed to be accessible and inclusive, with support available at every stage.
Potential funding and in-kind partners may also support subsequent phases of this initiative by contacting lg@ontario.ca.
How to Participate:
For more information:
Website: www.franco50.ca
Media Contact:
Laetitia Walbert
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
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