THUNDER BAY – The Association des francophones du Nord-Ouest de l’Ontario (AFNOO) is proud to announce the recipient of the 2017 North Western Ontario Francophone Personality Award.
This award, given every five years, does intend to recognize a person who, through his or her volunteer work or paid work, would have excelled, would have shown great initiative and would have made a remarkable contribution to the development of the Francophone community in the North West.
In 2014, Michèle Alderton created the Association Francophone de Red Lake (AFRL) and thanks to her dedication and tenacity, she opened the door to Francophones in the region to regroup and enjoy their culture once again. During the 2015 winter carnival organized by the Association Francophone de Red Lake, the municipality not only accepted to offer its support, it even decided to take over the carnival following the great success of the event. Michèle also highlighted the Association Francophone de Red Lake with the launch of a community play presented in March 2017. In addition to writing, planning, organizing, implementing innovative and unifying activities for the AFRL, Michèle set up a solid structure that allowed her to obtain programming funding.
“Her contribution touched the lives of many people. Offering a sense of belonging as a Francophone has always been the ultimate goal of the Association and Michèle. Francophones who are not from the region can now feel “at home” thanks to the various activities undertaken by the Association.” affirmed Marielle Pellerin, vice-president of AFRL.
“Michèle has succeeded, through her commitment and her collaborations, to make the Francophone community flourish in the Red Lake region. Her work has highlighted the Francophonie while creating links with the native people and the Francophiles of Red Lake.” summarized Donald Pelletier, president of AFNOO.
“It is truly an honor for me to receive such a prestigious award. Big thanks to AFNOO for their incomparable support during the last three years. I would like to share this award with a group of Francophone women from Red Lake who each day motivates me with their passion, dedication, friendship and sense of humor. Be aware that this prize belongs to you as much as to me. ” said Michèle Alderton.
Ms. Alderton succeeds Claire Drainville (2012), Angèle Brunelle (2009), Denyse Culligan (2002) and Gaston Dufour (1997) as the recipient of the North Western Ontario Francophone Personality Award.
AFNOO ensures the development and the prosperity of the Francophone community in Northwestern Ontario at the political, educational, economic, linguistic, social and cultural levels.
