The Commissioner of Official Languages, Graham Fraser, is proud to announce today that Linda Leith, President and Artistic Director of Blue Metropolis Foundation of Montréal is the first recipient of the Award of Excellence - Promotion of Linguistic Duality.
The Award of Excellence is given to an individual or an organization in Canada that is not subject to the federal Official Languages Act but that makes a difference by promoting linguistic duality in Canada or abroad or by contributing to the development of official language minority communities.
“Since the beginning of my mandate in 2006, I have examined the existing links between linguistic duality and leadership. By taking innovative measures to promote linguistic duality, Linda Leith is contributing to the national conversation through the ownership of English and French as Canadian languages,” says Commissioner Fraser.
Blue Metropolis Foundation, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to bringing people from different cultures together to share the pleasures of reading and writing. Its events, offered in both official languages, provide unique opportunities for new interactions between communities of different languages and diverse cultures.
“I believe that, through your actions and achievements to promote linguistic duality, Blue Metropolis Foundation reflects fundamental Canadian values, including respect, generosity, linguistic duality and cultural diversity, through literary expression,” Mr. Fraser told Ms. Leith.
The Award of Excellence will be presented to Linda Leith by the Commissioner on April 22, 2009, during the opening ceremonies of the 11th Blue Metropolis Montreal International Literary Festival.
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Robin Cantin
Manager, Media Relations
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