TORONTO — Public broadcasters Radio-Canada Ontario and Groupe Média TFO are co-launching a writing challenge for the province’s grade 12 Francophone students as part of a virtual, year-end graduation celebration scheduled for June.
Francophone high school graduates have until May 31 to write their best speech, addressed to their school, their fellow students or their teachers, for the L’expérience 20/20 writing challenge. A selection of speeches from across Ontario will be featured during the virtual celebration, Le bal (dé)masqué, on Friday, June 19.
Hosted by Alison Vicrobeck (Radio-Canada) and Pascal Boyer (TFO), Le bal (dé)masqué will put graduates in the spotlight and will feature video testimonials, surprise messages and performances from homegrown artists, says the news release. Students are invited to gather in front of their screens during the evening of June 19 to celebrate their graduation along with their peers across the province. The virtual event will be recorded and rebroadcast on Ici Radio-Canada Télé and TFO.
The L’expérience 20/20 challenge is open to Francophone and Francophile 12th grade students registered with one of Ontario’s school boards. The terms of participation and the rules are available here.
“It was important for us to offer high school students a place to celebrate their rite of passage. Through this original concept, young adults will have the opportunity to showcase their creativity, their gratitude for their teachers and their appreciation for their peers. Their speeches will have a deeper meaning still given the current circumstances. We are so proud to contribute to this celebration alongside many media actors of the province,” said Pierre Ouellette, director of Radio-Canada Ontario, in the news release.
“Completing one’s studies is a huge achievement for anyone, but completing them in a minority French setting is a sizeable accomplishment that we ought to underscore,” added Éric Minoli, chief operating officer of Groupe Média TFO. “This year, we will do things differently, by suggesting an initiative that we hope will be memorable for thousands of young Franco-Ontarian graduates. With Le bal (dé)masqué, we will celebrate together while maintaining current social distancing requirements. This will be an inspiring and unique event for all of us in the province.”
Both initiatives are supported by regional Francophone community media, including L’Express de Toronto, Le goût de vivre, CINN-FM, Le Nord, CFRH 88,1-106,7, Le Voyageur et Tapage, Le Loup FM and 94,5 Unique FM.
