Gregory Urier Named Champion of Francophone Immigration

SUMMERSIDE (PEI) – October 30, 2013 – La Coopérative d’intégration francophone de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard is pleased to announce that Gregory Urier has been named Champion of Francophone Immigration as part of the National Francophone Immigration Week, from November 3 to 9, 2013.

Thanks to an initiative of the Société Nationale de l’Acadie (SNA), each Atlantic province named a Champion of Francophone Immigration for the duration of National Francophone Immigration Week. In Prince Edward Island, the Champion was selected via a province-wide contest. The public was invited to nominate a newcomer who made a positive impact through his or her community involvement or integration or a Canadian who was personally invested in helping Francophone immigrants and deserved to be the spokesperson for the 2013 edition.

Originally from France, Gregory Urier settled in Prince Edward Island in May 2012 with his wife Melissa, who is originally from Newfoundland and Labrador. The couple have a young son named Benjamin. Back in France, Gregory worked as a police officer for 13 years.

Gregory has been the Assistant Director and Community and Cultural Development Officer at the Carrefour de l’Isle-Saint-Jean in Charlottetown since last March. He is very involved in his community, serving on the organizing committee for the 36th finals of the Jeux d’Acadie 2015 (2015 Acadian games), the organizing committee for the Jeux Régionaux de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard (Prince Edward Island regional games) and the Club Richelieu Port-La-Joye. This sports enthusiast and father is also enrolled in the online non-profit organization management program offered by Université Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia. There is no doubt that Gregory’s integration was facilitated by his community involvement.

Passionate about and open to new cultures and making the most of his new life in Prince Edward Island, Gregory says he is honoured to be named the Champion. “I hope to be a good spokesperson during National Francophone Immigration Week and to encourage French-speaking newcomers to become involved in the community to make their integration easier. I also hope to make the Acadian and Francophone population aware of the importance of welcoming newcomers and helping them settle in and feel at home in Prince Edward Island.”

An initiative of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA), National Francophone Immigration Week aims to promote Francophone immigration and

diversity in Canada’s Francophone and Acadian communities. The initiative was launched last year in Atlantic Canada with the Francophone Immigration Week in the Atlantic Region. The
event was such a resounding success that it will be celebrated from coast to coast for the first time this year.

The CIF is an organization that welcomes and helps French-speaking newcomers settle on Prince Edward Island, by facilitating their social, economic, educational and cultural integration. It also raises the awareness of the welcoming population regarding cultural diversity, the benefits of immigration and the importance of Francophone immigration. The CIF is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Prince Edward Island Office of Immigration, Settlement and Population.

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For more information:
Jacinthe Lemire, Provincial Coordinator
Email: cp@cifipe.ca; Tel.: 902-888-1687