Statement made on 07 October 2009 by Senator Maria Chaput
Hon. Maria Chaput:
Honourable senators, the Ordre des francophones d'Amérique is awarded every year to honour the achievements of individuals who are committed to maintaining and developing the language of French America.
On Wednesday, September 30, 2009, Ibrahima Diallo, the dean of the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface in Manitoba, was presented with the insignia of the Ordre des francophones d'Amérique for western Canada.
Mr. Diallo is a native of Dakar, Senegal. During his 15 years teaching biology in French in Manitoba — he has been the dean since 2000 — he was also honoured by the Manitoba's Association interculturelle Dinamba for his contribution to the francophone community in Manitoba and to ethnocultural communities.
Ibrahima Diallo is a thoughtful, caring, dynamic and collegial man, and a proud Canadian.
I congratulate him on this honour, which recognizes the importance of his actions and his contribution to the development of French culture and language.