March is Francophonie Month and the number of native French-speakers living in Nunavut is growing.

The Franco-Centre in Iqaluit, under the umbrella of the Association des francophones de Nunavut (AFN), exists to service this community, and held its biggest event of the year: the drag-themed Cabaret Night on Feb. 24.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 always a very successful night, always sold out,SA国际影视传媒� said Felicie Wingerter, the AFNSA国际影视传媒檚 programming manager. SA国际影视传媒淚 think this was the greatest success [so far].SA国际影视传媒�

Aside from cabaret, the AFN and its location at the Franco-Centre are busy year-round with various programming.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Franco-Centre,SA国际影视传媒� explains Wingerter, SA国际影视传媒渋s a community cultural centre to [host] events, mostly in French, but because itSA国际影视传媒檚 in Iqaluit, I try to be inclusiveSA国际影视传媒� everyone is welcome here. We are the only place in Iqaluit [with] a permanent stage and lights set.SA国际影视传媒�

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 typically here that the AFN SA国际影视传媒� and other organizations wanting to rent the space for its stage and liquor licence SA国际影视传媒� will host its many cultural events. However, SA国际影视传媒渦nder the association, we have many services, like [a] radio [station], TV [station] and a newspaper,SA国际影视传媒� Wingerter noted.

The AFN was created in 1981, when it was still the LSA国际影视传媒橝ssociation Francophone de Frobisher Bay before the renaming of Iqaluit.

SA国际影视传媒淔or over 40 years of its history,SA国际影视传媒� reads the website in French, SA国际影视传媒渋t was essentially made up of nomads who came, went, and those who followed these arrivals and departures. Some things stayed the same, some things evolved, but for the whole period? [The AFN] was above all for those migrants who, in their own way, breathed life into the AFN with their energy, perseverance, and to keep pushing the limits of what is possible.SA国际影视传媒�

According to Wingerter, who runs the operation with a staff of 10 full-time employees, the AFN and the Franco-Centre were originally established as a place for francophones to congregate with others in the francophone community and watch hockey in their native language.

Today, the facility runs cultural events similar to the Legion, and the AFN itself offers a full range of programs for and beyond the francophone community. You donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to be a member to buy a ticket to an event, but members receive a discounted price. Tickets for the range of events run $25-35, and as the AFN has non-profit status, all the revenue goes back into the organization. The AFN also receives funding from the Government of Nunavut and Heritage Canada.

Along with the sheer number of unique cultural events and programs available, the stated mission of the AFN is to SA国际影视传媒渨ork towards the affirmation and flourishing of French culture in Nunavut.SA国际影视传媒� This includes a vision of a francophone part to the territory as SA国际影视传媒渟trong, proud, open, and dynamic.SA国际影视传媒�

The AFN has put together a host of special events, including for the first time a showing of the Banff Film Festival in French and English to kick off Francophonie Month on March 9.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 hard for people to get out this time of year, but we hope people will make the effort to come join us. We are including everyone to come out, especially non-French speakers. You are very welcome,SA国际影视传媒� Wingerter said.

Event list for March

March 9, 1 p.m.: The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour in Iqaluit (English)

March 9 7 p.m.: Tourn茅e mondiale du Festival du film de montagne du Banff Centre (Francais)

March 10: LSA国际影视传媒檃mour te reviendra SA国际影视传媒� puppet show

March 23: Francophone banquet

March 27: School show with FloFranco (one of two spokespersons of the Rendez-vous de la francophonie)

March 30: Comedy show SA国际影视传媒� Tourn茅e Juste pour rire with Micheline Marchildon (the other spokeperson of the Rendez-vous de la francophonie)