Our History – Association Communautaire Francophone de St. Jean

INTRODUCTION
In the 1970s, a number of professors from the French department at Memorial University got together to promote the use of French. Today, the ACFSJ has about 200 active members. It offers many services including: a community access centre and book and audio-visual library, and organizes many events and activities, such as the Festival du Vent, youth activities, Francophone film screenings, shows, and more. The ACFSJ works hard to develop and carry out socio-cultural community programming.

Date

November 14, 1973..

L’Association On November 14, 1973, the Association Francophone de Saint-Jean is officially created. At this time, it has 35 active members, and its mission is to encourage the use of French, promote bilingualism, and provide an environment for cultural contact between Francophones in the St. John’s region.
The Club de Samedi is established and is met with immediate popularity.

1975..

The offices of the AFSJ are located at 2 Henry Street and share their location with a Francophone day-care and the United Nations reception offices.

1978-1981..

A French-speaking choir is established and quickly gains in popularity.

1982..

On September 20th, the AFSJ is officially incorporated as a non-profit organization

1983.

The Association created and presented its first play entitled “Cinderella the Newfoundlander.

1988.

The AFSJ buys a house at 96 LeMarchant Road and moves to larger premises.

1989.

A French-language community radio station operates on the 3rd floor of the building.

1994.

By the Association of the ACELF congress is hosted in Saint John.

1995.

The AFSJ organises guided tours of Saint John and participates in official city events.

1996.

The choir is formed again and the number of choir members increases steadily.

1997.

A committee, made up of representatives from various francophone organizations in Saint John, is working on the development of a francophone school and community centre in Saint John.

1999.

The AFSJ is organising its 1st Franco-Fest. This festival brings together the francophone community of the Saint John area to celebrate and promote francophone culture in the Avalon Peninsula and to increase the visibility of the community. Today, Franco-Fest is an ideal opportunity to share and promote the music, theatre, visual arts and traditional gastronomy of the Francophonie and to contribute to the cultural and tourist wealth of our province. It features Francophone and Francophile artists from here and abroa

2001.

In February, the Société du centre scolaire et communautaire de Saint-Jean was formed.

2003.

On November 4th, the Association francophone de Saint-Jean merged with the Société du centre scolaire et communautaire de Saint-Jean (an organization formed to set up and manage the Centre scolaire et communautaire de Saint-Jean) and became the Association communautaire francophone de Saint-Jean Inc.

2004

The Association moved to the Centre des Grands-Vents, which now houses all of the province’s Francophone organizations as well as the École des Grands-Vents.