The Franco-Ontarian Flag was first raised at the University of Sudbury on September 25, 1975, at a time when Sudbury was experiencing unprecedented growth in Franco-Ontarian arts and culture. Conceived by Gaétan Gervais, historian at Laurentian University, and student Michel Dupuis, the first flag was made by Jacline England, a student and staff member at the university. Refusing to take sole credit for the flag, its creators hoped that the Franco-Ontarian community would claim it as their own and a committee was formed to promote it. The flag was adopted as a unifying symbol during times of struggle and resistance, such as the Penetanguishene school crisis of 1979 and the SOS Montfort campaign in Ottawa in 1997. In 2001, the Ontario Legislature officially recognized the flag as the emblem of the Ontario French-speaking community. Since 2010, Franco-Ontarian Day has been celebrated annually on September 25. Today, the green and white flag with the French lily and the Ontario trillium endures as the most prominent symbol of the province's diverse francophone community and represents more than 400 years of the French presence in Ontario.

Location

University of Sudbury (within the larger Laurentian University Campus) on Manitou Road. The plaque is located in front of the main University of Sudbury administrative offices and residence (enter through the Laurentian University main entrance road at 935 Ramsey Lake Road in Sudbury).

Themes

• Arts and culture
• Communities
• Franco-Ontarian heritage