Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/899551
Heritage Matters 30 For Groupe Média TFO, it is also a time to celebrate its 30th anniversary and to take stock of its track record as a public media company with an educational mission that has reflected Ontario's French-speaking community since its very first broadcast over the airwaves. Since it debuted in the 1970s, TFO's French-language programming was created within the political and social context of identity redefinition by the country's minority French-speaking communities with the support of the government of the day. This most notably involved looking back at the very origins of the community and identifying both personalities and historical milestones in order to establish a set of recognized and shared cultural references. With productions like Villages et visages, Le lys et le trillium, Francoeur, Panorama or even Les Ontariens, which showcase francophone Ontario through the daily lives of its people, TFO has helped to nourish the collective memory and thereby solidified the Franco-Ontarian identity over the long term. For the first time, Franco-Ontarians discovered themselves on television from one end of the province to the other. Not only did TFO present the various francophone regions to Franco-Ontarians, but the channel also talked about them, their history and their challenges, and also offered them a platform where they could express themselves. Thirty years later, through its rich programming and French language educational apps, TFO continues to tell and share stories intended to inspire members of the public by showcasing the cultural diversity of the country and francophones who are actively engaged in the community. After a digital shift that started six years ago, new technologies have served to support and amplify our mission to provide information and broadcast Franco-Ontarian stories. On our social media and digital platforms – which have now accumulated over 350 million views on YouTube – the community sees a reflection of itself and is able to share and exchange information. Our Virtual Universe Laboratory (LUV) – the first virtual set to infuse the production of educational content with the most advanced technologies from the gaming industry – offers new, interactive, stimulating and engaging audiovisual experiences. This original alliance allows us to captivate the new generation by creating surprising and immersive environments The Sustainability of the Franco-Ontarian Culture By Glen O'Farrell Canada's 150th anniversary is an opportunity for the entire country to revisit its history in order to rethink its future.