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Evolution of La Francophonie
In 1880, French geographer Onésime Reclus coined the term "Francophonie" to denote all peoples and countries using French in a variety of circumstances.
1950
The Union internationale des journalistes et de la presse de langue française-UIJPLF [International union of French-language journalists and press] is created by Canadian journalists.
1960
Foundation of the Conférence des ministres des pays d'expression française-CONFEMEN [Conference of ministers of education in French-speaking countries], the oldest official institution of La Francophonie.
1961
The Association des universités partiellement ou entièrement de langue française-AUPELF [Association of partially or wholly French-language universities] is founded in Montreal, on the initiative of Canadian Jean-Marc Léger. The Agency, now called Agence universitaire de La Francophonie-AUF [University agency of La Francophonie], is headquartered in Montreal.
1969
Canada joins CONFEMEN. The Conférence des ministres de la jeunesse et des sports-CONFEJES [conference of youth and sports ministers] is founded, born of the common desire on the part of the countries of La Francophonie to implement a policy of youth protection and promotion.
1970
During the Niamey Conference, Canada helps found the first intergovernmental body of the Francophonie: the Agence de coopération culturelle et technique-ACCT [Agency for cultural and technical cooperation]. Jean-Marc Léger becomes its first Secretary-General, a title subsequently held by another Canadian, Jean-Louis Roy, from 1990 to 1997. Representatives from Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec take part in the conference establishing the ACCT.
1971
The Governments of Canada and Quebec agree on the terms and conditions for Quebec's participation in the institutions, programs and activities of the ACCT. An identical agreement is concluded with New Brunswick in 1977. Their status as participating governments enables both governments to be recognized as such within the Organisation internationale de La Francophonie.
1975
Canada puts in place the Programme de bourses canadiennes de la CONFEJES [Canadian Fellowship Program for CONFEJES] to help train managers in associations operating in the youth and physical education field.
1979
The Association internationale des maires et responsables des capitales et métropoles partiellement ou entièrement francophones-AIMF [International association of mayors and officials of partly or wholly French-speaking capitals and urban centres] is created to serve as La Francophonie's urban development wing. The Association celebrated its 20th anniversary of foundation in Quebec City in September 1999, on the eve of the Moncton Summit.
1984
The Europeans launch TV5. In 1986, the Consortium de télévision Québec-Canada-CTQC is created in Canada to provide the European channel with Canadian programming. In November 1987, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission issues the CTQC its first operating licence.
1986
[February] The First Francophonie Summit [Sommet de La Francophonie] is held in Paris, the first step in a permanent process of consultation on the major issues of the day.
1987
[September] The Second Summit of La Francophonie is held in Quebec City [Canada]. The proposal for Francophonie Games is launched on this occasion. The Games adopt an original formula, combining sports and cultural events.
1988
The Institut de l'énergie et de l'environnement de La Francophonie-IEPF [The Francophonie Energy and Environment Institute] is founded. Based in Quebec City, this subsidiary body of the Organisation internationale de La Francophonie helps develop national capacities and partnerships in the energy and environmental sectors.
1989
[May] The Third Francophonie Summit is held in Dakar, Senegal. The Dakar Summit strengthens the organization by reaching into new areas of activity, including education and training, the environment, and legal and judicial cooperation.
1989
[July] The First Francophonie Games are held in Morocco [with the participation of 1800 athletes and artists from 30 countries].
1990
Université Senghor is founded in Alexandria, Egypt. The purpose of this private graduate school is to groom high-level managers and trainers in priority areas for the development of French-speaking Africa.
1991
[November] The Fourth Francophonie Summit is held in France [Chaillot Summit].The Ministerial Conference and the Permanent Council are created.
1993
[October] Fifth Francophonie Summit in Mauritius. At Mauritius, the participants decide that the Summits will be known as Conferences of Heads of State and Government of Countries Using French as a Common Language. The Summit participants also recognize the importance of economic issues, calling for increased cooperation among Francophone business communities.
1994
[July] The Second Francophonie Games are held in France [featuring the participation of 3000 athletes and artists from 43 countries].
1995
[December] The Sixth Francophonie Summit is held in Cotonou, Benin. It is decided to establish the General Secretariat and appoint a Secretary General. The ACCT becomes the Intergovernmental Agency of La Francophonie [Agence intergouvernementale de La Francophonie]. It is also at Cotonou that the Heads of State and Government decide to concentrate the operating agencies' activities on the major cooperation programs of La Francophonie, and that the theme of Francophone information highways and new technologies is introduced.
1997
[May] Canada hosts the first Conference of Francophonie Ministers responsible for the Information Highway [Conférence des ministres francophones chargés des inforoutes]. The ministers gather in Montreal to discuss the future of French on the Internet.
1997
[August] The Third Francophonie Games are held in Madagascar [1700 athletes and artists from 36 countries].
1997
[November] The Seventh Francophonie Summit is held in Hanoi, Vietnam. Election of the first Secretary General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, spokesperson and official representative of the Francophonie on the international scene. A decision is made to focus efforts on peace and the prevention of conflicts in member countries, and to cooperate with the international community in protecting human rights.
1998
Creation of the Francophone Information Highway Fund [Fonds francophone des inforoutes], to which Canada participates.
1999
[April] The Inaugural Conference of Ministers of the Economy and Finance of La Francophonie, devoted to the theme of trade and investment, is held in Monaco. Canada announces the creation of a special fund to support the integration and full participation of the least developed countries in the global economic system.
1999
[September] The Eighth Francophonie Summit is held in Moncton, New Brunswick. Its final declaration marks a milestone in the evolution of La Francophonie, as greater emphasis is placed on peace and security, the protection of civilian populations and human rights. The information highway theme, addressed at the Cotonou Summit, becomes a real priority area in Moncton.
2000
[February] The first Conference of Women of La Francophonie is held in Luxembourg, marked by the unanimous adoption of a declaration of support by the Francophone community for an integrated gender equality approach and recognizing the role played by civil society. Canada shares its experiences concerning the implementation of an overall gender equality approach.
2000
[November] Canada participates in the Symposium international sur le bilan des pratiques de la démocratie, des droits et des libertés in Bamako, Mali. The Bamako Declaration enables La Francophonie to respond vigorously to crisis situations, breakdowns in democracy and human rights violations. This Declaration, a legacy of the Moncton Summit, places La Francophonie at the forefront of international and regional organizations working in support of democracy, rights and freedoms.
2001
[June] The Third Francophonie Ministerial Conference on Culture [Conférence ministérielle de La Francophonie sur la Culture] is held in Cotonou, Benin. It reiterated La Francophonie's attachment to cultural diversity and its willingness to adopt policies and instruments to safeguard and promote it, while recognizing the role of cultural diversity in fostering a culture of peace and in democratizing international relations.
2001
[July] The Fourth Francophonie Games are held in Canada's Ottawa-Hull region, with the participation of 3000 athletes and artists from 50 countries.
2002
[October 18 - 20] The Ninth Francophonie Summit is held in Beirut, Lebanon. Abdou Diouf, former President of Senegal, succeeds to Boutros Boutros-Ghali as Secretary General. The role of culture as an instrument of peace, democracy and human rights is reaffirmed.
2004
[November] Tenth Francophonie Summit is held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The theme: un espace solidaire pour un développement durable [Francophonie, showing solidarity toward sustainable development]
[November] Adoption at the Ouagadougou Summit of a ten-year strategic framework defining the Organisation internationale de La Francophonie's objectives and means to influence international affairs and successfully meet some of the OIF decided globalization. For the next decade, member states and governments of the OIF decided to structure the organization's actions around four missions in fields where its experience and know-how have proven their value in the past :
- promotion of the French language and of cultural and linguistic diversity;
- promotion of peace, democracy and human rights;
- development of cooperation in to support sustainable development and solidarity.
2005
[November] The Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie, held in Antananarivo, Madagascar, completes the institutional reform of the Francophonie with the adoption of a new charter and the integration of the Agence intergouvernementale de La Francophonie (AIF) into the Organisation internationale de La Francophonie (OIF).
[December] The Fifth Francophonie Games are held in Niamey, Niger.
2006
[September] Eleventh Summit of La Francophonie, Bucharest, Romania, on the theme: new information technologies in the field of education.2008October 15-16] 24th Session of the Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie (Session preceding the 12th Francophonie Summit), in Quebec City, Canada.[October 17-19] 12th Francophonie Summit in Quebec City, Canada, focused on four issues : democracy and the rule of law, economic governance, the environment, and the French language.
