Célébrer ‘la base de notre communauté’

Excursion exceptionnelle, conférences et défi financier, voici ce qui attend la Société historique de Saint-Boniface (SHSB) pour ses 125 ans. Fondée le 4 septembre 1902 par l’archevêque Adélard Langevin, cette institution garde entre ses murs les archives du patrimoine franco-manitobain et métis de l’Ouest canadien.

Un trésor précieux mis à disposition de la communauté. Ce rôle de passeur de mémoire, la nouvelle présidente, en poste depuis juin 2026, Michelle Smith le revendique : “Pour moi, la Société historique ça dit qui nous sommes, c’est comme la base de notre communauté. Ça vient confirmer qu’on existe, que nous avons une place ici.”

”Ces institutions fondées par Monseigneur Langevin, comme La Liberté, font partie des bases qui ont supporté la société francophone dans un contexte minoritaire pendant des décennies, rappelle Émilie Pigeon, directrice générale. C’est merveilleux qu’on ait réussi non seulement à préserver ces institutions pour plus de 125 ans, mais à les faire croître au point tel que la SHSB est désormais un incontournable pour tout ce qui a trait aux questions du passé collectif du Manitoba francophone.” Une mission réussie qui vaut bien une célébration d’anniversaire pour la saison 2027, qui se veut “plus mouvementée” que la saison 2026.

Une programmation exceptionnelle

PQ leader says referendum isn’t immediate priority after his party’s election victory

QUÉBEC - Quebec's premier-designate says a referendum on sovereignty is not among his immediate priorities as he focuses instead on homelessness, government spending and attempting to sever the province's ties to the monarchy as his first acts in office.

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon outlined his plans on Tuesday, one day after Quebecers chose to hand his party a minority government in the provincial legislature.

He has promised to call an independence referendum in his first term in government, but not until after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office in 2029.

"We’ve got time and we’ve got plenty of urgencies and problems to solve," he said. "I think the upcoming months will be more about topics I mentioned, things that are urgent."

French riot police fire tear gas as more than 250,000 rally nationwide for school funding

PARIS (AP) — Police fired tear gas to control crowds in Paris and elsewhere in France on Tuesday as more than a quarter of a million people rallied nationwide to support high school students demanding more education funding, according to government figures. The protests increased pressure on the administration of outgoing President Emmanuel Macron.

As pupils blockaded high schools, large crowds waving flags and placards gathered in Marseille, Strasbourg and other cities. The demonstrations showed how protests that began at a high school in the Paris region in mid-September have grown into a nationwide movement — the latest of many that have marked Macron’s nearly decade-long tenure.

“We need to listen to them,” said Léa Monimart, an adult demonstrator in the northern city of Lille. “They are 17 years old; they are not completely clueless, and they know what they are talking about. It’s important to show that there are adults who support them.”

The Interior Ministry estimated that 266,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country on Tuesday, including 56,000 in Paris, where small groups of protesters clashed with riot officers at a city square at the end of a largely peaceful march.

Respectful separation: an obvious oxymoron

“We want a fair and respectful relationship with Canada,” Alberta separatist leader Keith Wilson told the CBC commentator. He paused. Briefly. “On our terms.”

Province invests $3.8M in culinary arts training facility for francophone high school students

A new dedicated culinary arts training facility will give francophone high school students a place to learn the trade in French.

Canada, France pledge to work together on space infrastructure, economy

SAINT-PIERRE - Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to work together in the areas of space infrastructure, business and economic growth as the leaders met Sunday in the French territory of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.

Speaking to reporters, Carney said he and Macron will task their space agencies and defence ministries to develop and share common infrastructure, including space launch systems and ground-based reception facilities.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office said the countries plan to work together on infrastructure that can receive data from satellites.

Carney said that he and Macron will also task the regional joint cooperation commission between Atlantic Canada and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to expand its work in economic growth, energy transition and climate resilience.

Winnipeg, source d’inspiration pour la philanthropie canadienne

Dirigé par le Franco-Manitobain d’origine Jean-Marc Mangin, l’organisme Fondations philanthropiques du Canada (FPC) sera à Winnipeg du 23 au 25 septembre prochains pour sa conférence nationale, organisée tous les deux ans. Une première pour FPC, et un retour au bercail attendu pour son président-directeur général.

Pour la première fois depuis 26 ans que l’organisme existe, FPC a choisi le Manitoba pour sa grande conférence nationale de 2026. “On a été dans plusieurs gros centres urbains du Canada, notamment Ottawa, Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver ou encore Calgary, mais ce sera notre première fois à Winnipeg,” se réjouit le PDG de FPC, Jean-Marc Mangin, lui-même originaire de Saint-Boniface.

Ce n’est toutefois pas la nostalgie de l’enfance qui a fait pencher la balance en faveur du Manitoba, mais plutôt un vent de changement observé par bon nombre dans la capitale manitobaine.

“Nous ne sommes pas les seuls dans le secteur caritatif à choisir Winnipeg,” constate Jean-Marc Mangin. “Plusieurs organismes y tiennent leurs conférences nationales cette année ou la suivante. Et ça, ça dit quelque chose sur ce qui se passe au Manitoba : c’est très actif, il y a beaucoup d’innovation sociale qui prend place.”

Anglophones hail Quebec ruling ordering elections agency to send bilingual documents

MONTREAL - Members of Quebec's anglophone community are hailing a Quebec Superior Court ruling that ordered Élections Québec to mail voting reminder cards in both French and English.

The ruling provides a temporary resolution to a controversy triggered by the adoption of legislation in 2022 that required public institutions to communicate with citizens in French, with few exceptions.

The ruling suspends provisions of Quebec's Charter of the French language for 10 days so that the provincial agency overseeing the elections can send out the reminder cards for voters in both languages.

"This is an important victory for English-speaking Quebecers and for democratic participation in Quebec," said Eva Ludvig, president of anglophone advocacy group TALQ.

La facture grimpe mais Ottawa répond présent

‘Préserver ce lieu, ce n’est pas seulement préserver un bâtiment. C’est préserver notre mémoire. C’est transmettre notre histoire.” C’est sur ces mots que Ginette Lavack, députée fédérale de Saint-Boniface-Saint-Vital a annoncé un nouvel investissement fédéral de 400 000 $ au nom du ministre Marc Miller pour le Musée de Saint-Boniface.

Un beau cadeau d’anniversaire pour les 175 ans de l’édifice abritant le musée. Désigné lieu historique national par le gouvernement du Canada en 1958, celui-ci est le plus vieux bâtiment de Winnipeg et, selon le musée, la plus grande structure en rondins de chêne d’Amérique du Nord. Construit entre 1846 et 1851, il était à l’origine le couvent des Sœurs Grises, arrivées à Saint-Boniface depuis le Québec en 1844.

“Depuis 1851, cet édifice a connu plusieurs vies. Il a été un couvent, un hôpital et une école. Il a accueilli, protégé, soigné et enseigné. Il témoigne de l’histoire complexe de Saint-Boniface, de la nation Métisse de la rivière Rouge et de la francophonie,” énumère la députée fédérale, également secrétaire parlementaire de la ministre des Services aux Autochtones.

Un héritage historique et culturel également souligné par Robert Loiselle, député provincial de Saint-Boniface, qui évoque un bâtiment issu d’une époque où une grande partie de la population du Manitoba était francophone. Il a d’ailleurs tenu à rappeler le lien particulier qu’il entretient avec le site : “Sur une touche personnelle, c’est le 4 juin 1892 qu’une nouveau-née fut trouvée dans un petit panier sur le perron des Sœurs Grises : Joséphine Perron, nommée par les Sœurs Grises. Connue sous le nom de Joséphine Payette, mon arrière-grand-mère fut rapidement adoptée par sa famille Payette le lendemain.”

PQ leader says his immigration comments were ‘distorted’ by opponents in campaign

MONTREAL - Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said comments he has made about immigration have been "distorted" by his opponents as Quebec's political parties wrapped up the second week of the provincial election campaign on Friday.

Immigration and anglophone rights took centre stage over the week as leaders continued to campaign ahead of the Oct. 5 provincial election.

The Parti Québécois, which has maintained its lead in the polls despite growing support for the governing Coalition Avenir Québec, is facing criticism after St-Pierre Plamondon stirred up controversy with comments about immigrants in schools.

In recent days, the PQ leader has linked immigration to overcrowded schools and the decline of the French language. On Saturday, he held a press conference outside a Quebec City high school where modular classrooms are being used to accommodate students.

Élections Québec says it’s too late to print voter documents in English

MONTREAL - Élections Québec says it is too late to make changes to the unilingual French documents it is mailing to voters ahead of the Oct. 5 election despite facing backlash from the anglophone community.

The provincial elections authority was reacting to comments made by Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette, who said she is in discussions with Élections Québec to determine the next steps.

"We will see what our obligations are," Fréchette said.

The unilingual documents have prompted an outcry from advocacy groups representing anglophones in Quebec, who say they are creating an unnecessary barrier for voters.

Candidates talk affordability on Day 4 of Quebec’s election campaign

Affordability and the economy took the spotlight on Sunday as Quebec's election campaign entered its fourth day, with party leaders unveiling their visions to ease financial pressures while grappling with the province's budgetary constraints.

The Quebec Liberal Party and Québec solidaire promised to make housing more affordable, while the Conservatives promised more tax cuts and the Coalition Avenir Québec released its full fiscal plan. Meanwhile, the Parti Québécois emphasized protecting the French language by proposing stricter immigration policies.

According to Quebec’s auditor general, the next government will face significant budgetary constraints. A pre-election report published earlier this month highlighted that Quebec’s multi-billion dollar deficit must be eliminated by 2029-2030 under the balanced-budget law, leaving little room for ambitious campaign promises.

The Coalition Avenir Québec called on the other parties Sunday to follow its lead and release their own fiscal blueprints.

Assurer la continuité bilingue

À la suite de la nomination cet été de Glenn Joyal à la Cour suprême, l’Association des juristes d’expression française du Manitoba (AJEFM) a adressé une lettre à l’intention de Mark Carney.

Dans cette dernière, L’AJEFM demande au premier ministre du Canada de nommer un juge en chef bilingue pour remplacer Glenn Joyal qui occupait ce rôle à la Cour du Banc du Roi du Manitoba depuis 2011.

En préambule, l’association de juristes francophones souligne les contributions de Glenn Joyal pour faire progresser l’accès à la justice en français et insiste sur le fait que la prochaine nomination doit absolument s’inscrire dans la continuité du travail réalisé par Glenn Joyal, mais aussi celui de Marc Monnin, juge en chef de la Cour du Banc du Roi du Manitoba de 2003 à 2011.

Tarik Daoudi, directeur général de l’AJEFM met de l’avant la fierté d’avoir eu des Franco-Manitobains pour remplir ce rôle mais il indique également que cela va au-delà des sentiments.

Parties talk taxes, trade war and parental leave on Day 2 of Quebec election campaign

MONTREAL - Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette came under attack from her rivals on Friday, as taxes, parental leave and the U.S. trade war all took centre stage during the first full day of campaigning on the Quebec election trail.

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon promised to reduce taxes for Quebec businesses by 20 per cent in his first term as premier if his party wins the Oct. 5 election.

St-Pierre Plamondon made his announcement at the site of the cancelled Northvolt electric battery plant, which he described as a symbol of the failure of the Coalition Avenir Québec government's "economic interventionism."

The Quebec government pledged up to $2.9 billion in financing for the project, including a $270-million investment in the Swedish parent company that was lost when it went bankrupt. Fréchette was energy minister when the project was scrapped.

Discoverability, not French-language labels, the issue in’ trade talks: LeBlanc

OTTAWA - The United States has withdrawn demands that Canada shelve French language protections as part of future trade talks, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Thursday, as he also acknowledged demands to remove French language labels from products were not part of the latest round of negotiations.

In a social media post LeBlanc said "Canada welcomes that the U.S. is now withdrawing its positions on discoverability and labelling and is confirming that measures to promote French language and Canadian culture will not be subject to future U.S. trade actions," LeBlanc said on social media Thursday.

He said Canada looks forward to "further constructive U.S. clarifications on their other positions which would create the possibility of a mutually beneficial trade agreement that respects Canadian sovereignty."

The Liberal government cited French language protections as one of the reasons it ended trade talks with the Americans, with Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioning both the visibility of Canadian content on streaming services, and French-language product labelling, when he spoke on Aug. 22 about the trade talks dissolving.

Quebecers support a right to cooling during heat waves, poll finds

MONTRÉAL - A new Léger poll has found that three-quarters of Quebecers support recognizing a so-called right to coolness that would guarantee safe places during heat waves.

Overall, 74 per cent of survey respondents said they support the Quebec government recognizing a person's right to living conditions that include temperatures that are considered safe for human health. Sixteen per cent of respondents said they were opposed, while 10 per cent declined to say.

The results also show that 64 per cent of respondents have experienced at least one effect of extreme heat over the past three years.

Those can include headaches, sleep disturbances or breathing difficulties, as well as a need to adjust daily or work activities.

Célébrer des employés qui mettent la main à la pâte

L’immigration francophone joue un rôle grandissant dans la vitalité de Saint-Pierre-Jolys. À la Boulangerie Saint-Pierre, des employés venus de plusieurs pays contribuent à la croissance de l’entreprise tout en s’intégrant à la vie du village. Une diversité que l’entreprise souhaite célébrer avec une nouvelle murale.

La Boulangerie Saint-Pierre, à Saint-Pierre-Jolys, connaît une importante expansion depuis quelques années. Pour Jocelyn Gagné, propriétaire de l’entreprise familiale, cette croissance repose largement sur le travail de ses employés, dont plusieurs sont des immigrants francophones. C’est pour souligner leur contribution que la boulangerie, en collaboration avec l’artiste franco-manitobain Gérald Laroche, a entrepris la création d’une murale qui ornera bientôt sa façade.

Jocelyn Gagné, qui travaille dans l’entreprise depuis l’âge de 13 ans, alors que ses parents étaient propriétaires, constate bien que la société a changé à travers les années. “On est rendu dans près de 150 magasins, on a grandi pas mal vite dans la dernière année. On a beaucoup plus d’employés que dans le temps de mes parents.” Avec une telle croissance, le besoin d’engager davantage de main-d’œuvre est venu naturellement.

Un Folklorama à l’année longue

France’s top court blocks under-15 social media ban, citing constitutional freedoms

PARIS (AP) — A top court in France on Friday struck down a law banning children under 15 from using social media, saying it infringes on fundamental freedoms.

The Constitutional Council ruled that provisions in the ban “disproportionately infringe freedom of expression and communication" and haven't provided legal guarantees to ensure those rights, according to a press release summarizing the decision.

France last month became the first country in the European Union to pass a blanket ban on the platforms amid rising worldwide concerns about the harmful effects of digital content on kids.

Both chambers of the Parliament had voted in favor of the measure, which also banned the use of mobile phones in high schools.

Lawyer challenges Quebec’s law ending manadatory oath of allegiance to the King

A University of Ottawa law professor is challenging a 2022 Quebec law that made it optional for legislature members to swear an oath of allegiance to the King.

À Granby, le Manitoba francophone au micro

Bercée par la musique depuis l’enfance, Mercédès Beaudry sera la seule représentante du Manitoba à Jamais Trop Tôt, le volet jeunesse du Festival international de la chanson de Granby (FICG), au Québec. Le 16 août, l’auteure compositrice-interprète de 17 ans montera sur la scène du Palace de Granby aux côtés de 19 autres artistes de la relève francophone venus des quatre coins du Canada.

Mère, père, frère et même ses chats : à peine sélectionnée, Mercédès Beaudry s’est empressée de leur annoncer la bonne nouvelle. La jeune artiste se trouvait avec un ami quand le téléphone s’est mis à sonner : “Pour la première fois dans ma vie, je dois prendre un appel,” s’amuse-t-elle. C’est avec un grand enthousiasme qu’elle a accueilli cette sélection.

Après le dévoilement public de la cohorte, la nouvelle de sa participation s’est vite répandue dans son entourage. “Il y a des personnes qui m’ont textée et qui ne savent pas forcément en quoi consiste Jamais Trop Tôt, alors je dois expliquer ça à tout le monde.”

Au programme du FICG, qui se déroulera du 13 au 23 août, Jamais Trop Tôt n’est pas une compétition, mais un projet musical pancanadien avec un spectacle à la clé. Vingt interprètes de la relève francophone venus des quatre coins du Canada, dont près de la moitié du Québec, passeront cinq jours à l’Université Bishop’s, du 11 au 15 août, pour suivre une formation vocale et scénique. Ils se produiront ensuite en spectacle le 16 août à 19 h 30 au Palace de Granby.

City seeking proposals to lease, manage, program St. Boniface heritage buildings

The future of three key St. Boniface heritage buildings should soon become clearer, following years of debate over what to do with them.

The city is seeking proposals to lease, program and manage the Carré Civique de Saint-Boniface (St. Boniface Civic Square), which includes the former St. Boniface city hall (219 Provencher Blvd.), former St. Boniface fire hall (212 Dumoulin St.) and the former St. Boniface health unit building (233 Provencher Blvd.)

The city would continue to own the buildings.

“Promotion of francophone art, language, culture and history are all things that I’d like to see continue and thrive and prosper (through this lease),” said St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard.

Young Quebec sailor, 17, aims to challenge gender stereotypes in sailing

MONTREAL - At 17, Jasmine Pernot is set to become the youngest skipper and one of only three women leading crews in Quebec's new offshore sailing race, hoping to show other young women they belong at the helm.

Jasmine Pernot will lead a crew of seven in the inaugural St-Laurent 400, a 400-nautical-mile race that begins in Tadoussac, at the mouth of the Saguenay River on Quebec's North Shore, on Aug. 6 and finishes in the Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

"Everyone has been looking forward to this race because it's a format we haven't had yet in Quebec," Pernot said Thursday before a training session at the Deux-Montagnes sailing club, northwest of Montreal.

Unlike shorter races where crews return to shore at the end of the day, competitors will spend more than 24 consecutive hours at sea.

Familles en transition: une réflexion sur une transition cruciale

À travers six épisodes et des conversations avec plusieurs parents et experts, France Adams en est venue à mieux se comprendre — et à mieux comprendre sa fille transgenre. Maintenant, elle revient sur son expérience et sur l’impact, l’importance et l’avenir du balado.

Pourquoi est-ce que tu as voulu faire ce balado?

Le but était de briser un peu la solitude et le stigmate auxquels nous faisons face. On entend parler de l’expérience de la personne transgenre, mais c’est comme si les parents vivaient dans le silence.

Est-ce qu’on est toujours avec notre enfant si on le verbalise? Est-ce qu’on a le droit de verbaliser ce qu’on ressent à l’intérieur? Est-ce que je suis seule à vivre ça? Tant et aussi longtemps que tu ne le verbalises pas, t’as l’impression d’être seule.

A Life's Story: Advocate Lucien Loiselle celebrated the French connection in Manitoba

A pillar in the local French community, Lucien Loiselle wanted francophone culture to be shared as widely as possible.

“I remember him telling us to be proud of being francophones and of our culture, to never let anyone speak negatively of francophones or make fun of the French language,” said his middle son, Richard, who shares his father’s passion for French language and culture and served for 20 years as the French language services co-ordinator for Manitoba Health.

“He helped us appreciate and keep francophone music, movies, books and comic books in our lives,” eldest son Michel added. “I have an MP3 player full of French music, and shelves loaded with French-language comic books.

“I passed that love on to my five kids, one of whom works in French media and another who intends to become a teacher in the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine.”