The funding to build a new home for the Mouvement d’implication francophone d’Orléans, better known as MIFO, is now in place after Ontario Minister for Francophone Affairs, Caroline Mulroney visited the organization’s temporary offices in Place d’Orléans last week to announce the province’s share of the $54 million project.
The Ontario government, through its $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund, will contribute $15.7 million to the project, which has received $36 million in funding commitments from the federal government last year. The remaining $2.5 million is being raised through individual and corporate donations.
The project will allow MIFO to increase its annual capacity from 60,000 to 80,000 visitors and increase programming for all age groups, including seniors, youth and people with disabilities. The expanded facil-ity which will include an indoor running track, a gymnasium, and an art gallery, will enable MIFO to introduce new services such as specialized camps, accessible fitness programs and community events.
MIFO was founded in 1979 to safeguard and promote francophone culture in Orléans. The organization was first based out of a small house on St. Joseph Blvd., where they remained until their current home was built on Carrière Street in 1985.
Over the years, MIFO’s programming has expanded considerably. Their first big move was to start booking French language productions in the Shenkman Arts Centre, a move which allowed them to not only offer a greater range of entertainment to francophone residents in Orléans, but also generated additional revenue to help fund their programming.
After the organization celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019, they started exploring the possibility of demolishing the existing building and building a new one. As their plans came together they realized that dream couldn’t become a reality without financial support from both the provincial and federal levels of government.
The federal government came to the table first, announcing it’s $36 million contri-bution in May 2024. That announcement put the funding ball clearer in the court of the Ontario government.
More than 12 months later, they’ve finally decided to write a cheque.
When MIFO first announced they wanted to build a new home in the fall of 2019, they had hoped that construction would begin in 2021, but delays in funding on the part of both levels of government set MIFO’s plans back four years. Now that the provincial government is on board, construction could begin by the end of this summer and completed within two years.
For more information about MIFO and the project visit mifo.ca.
SDBC TAPROOM CONCERTS PRESENTS Rory Taillon live and in concert at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 510 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. Doors open 7:30 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
TRIVIA NIGHT from 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday night at the Royal Oak Pub Orléans. Free to play. Prizes for the winning team! The Royal Oak Pub is located at 1981 St. Joseph Blvd. near Jeanne d'Arc. For more info visit 
TRIVIA NIGHT from 6:30 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company. Exercise your grey matter before it turns to mush over the holidays. Reservations are a must to secure your spot. Send your team name and number of people to info@straydogbrewing.ca. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way.
OPEN MIC NIGHT at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way. Registration begins at 7 p.m. Music at 8 p.m. with your host Matthew Palmer.
CUMBERLAND INDOOR WINTER MARKET from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the R.J. Kennedy Arena in Cumberland Village featuring local produce and products and items produced my local artisans PLUS a cash style breakfast.
