Honourable senators, it is now 2018, and I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy New Year.

This year, Manitoba will celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of the arrival of Father Norbert Provencher in the Red River colony. This was the beginning of French-language education in Manitoba.

Father Provencher was responsible for establishing a Catholic mission and educating the people. He began this education in his modest home in the fall of 1818, welcoming two young Métis children from the colony. It goes without saying that the beginnings of French education in Manitoba were humble and disorganized. However, the Collège de Saint-Boniface, which is now known as the Université de Saint-Boniface, owes its existence to that first year in the Red River settlement. Father Provencher, the first proponent, laid the groundwork for French education in Manitoba, and the settlement later became the cradle of francophone culture in Manitoba.

Today, the Université de Saint-Boniface is more prominent than ever in Manitoba’s francophone community and is making quite a name for itself among Canada’s post-secondary institutions. It continues to train leaders who actively participate in building the identity and enhancing the vitality of their community in Manitoba and throughout the world. In addition to its role as an educator, the university is also one of the leaders whose active involvement and influence over the past 200 years have allowed Manitoba to become the dynamic province it is today.

The two hundredth anniversary is an excellent opportunity to encourage an already bold and vibrant community to reach out to the world beyond the borders of its province. The anniversary will provide the opportunity to highlight the history of my home community and alma mater and the things that make them unique, while also looking toward the future. As Gabor Csepregi, President of Université de Saint-Boniface, so aptly said at the launch of the bicentennial activities, and I quote:

Father Provencher wanted to ignite the flame of education, language, and faith. The two hundredth anniversary is a reminder that we need to continue to keep that flame alive, relying on reason, common sense, open debate, critical thinking, persuasive argument, and evidence as we continuously strive for truth, civility, humanity, and devotion to a unique language and culture that brings people together.

I just want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to them and wish them the best of luck with their celebrations, because pride is worth celebrating. Thank you.