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During the Société des Jeux de l'Acadie (SJA) banquet, one part of its annual general meeting held in Saint John on October 24, the names of the municipalities that will host the games in 2011 and 2012 were announced. Edmundston will have the privilege of welcoming the 32nd Jeux de l'Acadie in 2011 and the community of Argyle, Nova Scotia will host the 33rd annual competition in 2012.

"We are very happy that the Jeux de l'Acadie family will be coming back to Edmundston in 2011 after a 14-year absence. Having recently been granted the 2014 World Acadian Congress and the 2011 Jeux de l'Acadie, Edmundston is positioning itself as a first-class Acadian hub," SJA president Raphaël Moore said. The last time the Madawaska County city held the games was in 1997, and then, as now, it hosted them the year immediately following Saint John.

Both of these municipalities therefore, were successful in convincing SJA officials, during their site visits, that they were able to host the games or would be ready to host them in the necessary time frame.

"We're also very happy to be returning to Nova Scotia and that for only the second time. Argyle's host bid is somewhat similar to that which Petit-Rocher put forward for 2009: first of all they are in need of a new track and field facility and secondly, food and lodging will present a challenge given the distances between them. The current track facility is well worn out and will need to be completely rebuilt but it's encouraging to see how other communities in that region have gotten behind Argyle for this project. Everything will need to be ready for 2012, Moore said.

Upcoming Events

* The official website for the 31st Finals of the 2010 Jeux de l'Acadie, which will be held in Saint John between June 30 and July 4, is now online. Would you like to become a volunteer? Sign-up online at www.jeuxdelacadie.org/2010/, then click on the Bénévolat tab (in French only).

* Nov. 22: the pan-Canadian series Coup de Coeur Francophone presents Andrea Lindsay and Nathalie Renault! Information and tickets: 658-4600

Eric Kennedy is the director of communications for the Regional Association of Francophone Communities for Saint John. His column appears in both English and French every Monday.