Oh behalf of the Société francophone de Maillardville board, the society's Johanne Dumas, executive and artistic director, accepted the Louis Riel Award at a recent meeting in Whitehorse, Yukon.

This excellence award is presented to the organization in the western provinces and territory that has, over the years, promoted and developed francophone art and culture through its many initiatives, according to a press release.

With almost 30 years of work in Coquitlam, the society has been a community leader for arts and culture in British Columbia and beyond, with initiatives such as Festival du Bois and other projects like the "Sous le grand chapiteau," an initiative that regrouped francophone festivals from across Canada to further their collective goals and share best practices.

Léo Bruneau, treasurer of Société francophone de Maillardville and chair of the committee for a new "Centre culturel de Maillardville," said "With the Festival du Bois celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2014, we will focus our energies and resources on the work needed to expand the artistic and cultural space for francophones in Coquitlam/Maillardville and beyond by moving forward with our Maillardville Cultural Centre initiative. At the board level, we are working hard to develop a plan that will showcase the 'francophonie' at its best here in the region.

"The fabric of the francophonie is changing with increased francophone immigration and we, as the representative of francophones in Coquitlam/Maillardville, have a duty to serve all franco-phones and francophiles in the area."

"There is much work ahead," the press release states, "but the staff and board of the société will move forward in pursuit of their mission as it has been accomplished for the last 30 years - with enthusiasm and passion."