It was on a rainy morning that Ottawa’s Saint Paul University planted the seeds, both literally and figuratively, for a lasting legacy with the Place de la Francophonie, the newest vibrant space celebrating the school’s bilingual soul and the enduring spirit of Ontario’s French and Catholic community. 

The ceremony for Ottawa’s largest Catholic university was attended by rector Louis Patrick Leroux. Together with the school and broader community, cultural activities such as the performance of the Franco-Ontarian anthem Notre Place and a short address by Benoît Cazabon highlighted a half-century of Franco-Ontarian history. 

Leroux spoke to The Catholic Register about the events that followed the addresses, the moment that officially marked the Place de la Francophonie as a new symbolic space on campus. 

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“ We invited the entire community and neighbourhood to come and listen as I spoke about the trees we planted. Each represents and symbolizes different strengths and attributes of the French community, the minority community in this context, and I explained how offering these beautiful trees to cities that more than ever need trees breathing in spaces like this,” he said. 

“Rather than put up a monument, our goal was to put up something living, a testament to this community that, despite various prognostics over the past century, is still surviving.”

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The event also put a spotlight on Saint Paul University’s nearly 50/50 split of French and English students. The school continues to strive to serve and attract both linguistic communities by offering courses in both languages.  

Partners like Collège Boréal, which has a campus presence at SPU, and the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne contributed to the installation, with the community responding positively. Leroux said the event was a meaningful gesture to honour the living, thriving Francophone community, just as intended. 

According to Saint Paul University, the initiative is part of a longer-term vision. In 2026, marking the 40th anniversary of the French Language Services Act, new trees will be added to the space, with the Place de la Francophonie gradually set to transform into the Forest of the Francophonie.  

“ We are privileged to have this bit of green space, and I think it's our duty to make sure that we keep it green, contribute to cooling down the city and help us feel more comfortable in all of Ottawa East,” Leroux said. 

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Founded in 1848 as part of the College of Bytown, Saint Paul University continues to work behind a 177-year history rooted in serving both its French and English Catholic communities. Unlike the University of Ottawa, which would eventually separate and drop its Catholic affiliation, Saint Paul University has maintained its Catholic mission while aiming to foster and promote its balanced campus bilingualism from its inception. 

Now, with its newest dedicated space fully installed, the university plans to continue to uphold its commitment to both linguistic communities and its Catholic identity for many more years to come.