By Rusel Olson
ACFO” is the acronym for Association des communautés francophones d’Ottawa which translates to “Association of Francophone Communities of Ottawa”. This non-profit organization is responsible for politically representing and advocating for the rights of the Francophone community. Their mandate is to work in collaboration with the three levels of government alongside other community organizations and allies to further strengthen and protect the welfare of the francophone community in the national capital.
Every September ACFO’s organizes Ottawa’s annual Franco-Ontarian Day (September 25, 2020) to officially recognize and celebrate the Ontario’s Francophone community’s contribution to the culture, historical, social, economic, and political welfare of Ottawa and they host the annual Bernard Grandmaître Award Gala every February.
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ACFO Ottawa has officially announced the disbursement of $815,000 of Bilingual Ottawa program grants to 53 projects, thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. The funded projects are present throughout the city and will be carried out by francophone, anglophone and bilingual businesses, non-profit organizations and social enterprises in Ottawa. Ottawa Life Magazine will participate in ACFO's program this year by creating a link which will lead readers to French content focused on things to do in and around the capital.
Other funded activation projects include: United Way East Ontario, Unearth Education, VERSeOttawa, Vanier Community Services Centre, Somerset Community Health Centre, Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, Retraite en Action, Regroupement Ethnoculturel des Parents Francophones de l’Ontario, Pole Fitness Academy Inc, Patro Ottawa, Osgoode Township Museum, Musée Bytown Museum, Mosaïque Interculturelle, Montfort Renaissance, Max Ottawa, Marchés d’Ottawa Markets, Lowertown Community Resource Centre, L.A. Pai Gallery, Fondation Tenda Foundation, Dialogue Canada, Coopérative multiservices francophone de l’Ouest d’Ottawa, CB Linguistic Services, and Association communautaire de Vanier.
The funded propulsion projects include: Youth Action and Development, Vanier Museoparc, Vanier Community Services Centre, Unique FM, Société franco-ontarienne de l’autisme, Réseau du patrimoine franco-ontarien, Réseau Ontario, Regroupement Affaires Femmes, Réfugee 613, Preston Street BIA, Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de l’Ontario français, PATRO Ottawa, Mouvement d’implication francophone d’Orléans, Mosaïque interculturelle, MASC : Mulcultural Arts Schools Communities, National Capital FreeNet, Lowertown Community Resource Centre, La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins, House of painT Festival of Urban Arts and Culture, Funeral Co-operative of Ottawa, EnviroCentre, Diefenbunker : Canada Cold War Museum, Coopérative multiservices francophone de l’Ouest d’Ottawa, Coopérative Enseignants Pas Á Pas, Canadian Parents for French, Carlsbad Springs Community Association, Britannia Woods Community House, Bank Street BIA, and Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario.
Ottawa Life Magazine Publisher and Managing Editor Dan Donovan said, "The magazine is excited about being able to provide French content on our popular website, ottawalife.com. We recognise the large Franco-Ontarian presence in our region and we are thrilled that we can share some of our work and connect with the community through this program.”
