Leaders in Welland's francophone community suggest residents who believe too much attention is paid to local French culture should take a second look at its many local contributions and proud heritage.

Last week, the City of Welland hosted a flag-raising at the civic square to celebrate Franco-Ontarian Day.

A photo from the event was posted on the municipality's Facebook page — and provoked comments that too much appreciation for the city's French community is an issue.

One Facebook user said money could be saved on bilingual signage in the city and another said to stop building French schools.

Franco-Niagara, a new all-French school for region students in kindergarten to Grade 12, opened its doors in September.

It has replaced Confederation and Champlain at a cost of $16 million, $11 million paid for by the Ontario government.

Marc-Yvain Giroux, 87, a former principal and superintendent of local French-speaking schools who also helped established several francophone services and groups in the city — they include Centre de Sante Communitaire, Auberge Richelieu and La Maison de la Culture Francophone du Niagara — said the relationship between Welland's French and English-speaking populations is a healthy one.

"From my point of view, it's very good," he said.

Twenty-two years ago, Giroux and a handful of other residents founded Cinefest Niagara, a film festival with ties to Toronto International Film Festival that celebrates French films, as well as English features, annually at Seaway Mall. Just last week while enjoying a breakfast at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, he said, a non-francophone went out of his way to thank Giroux for his role in the festival which has more than 600 members currently.

"I've had no discriminatory remarks toward me," said Giroux, who was disappointed when told about the negative comments directed toward Welland francophones.

It hasn't been easy for French people in the city, as many of the services that exist are a result of a local push to create them, he said.

"Everything we want, we have to fight for it," said Giroux, who was also instrumental in an effort 50 years ago that encouraged CBC to offer a French radio station for people in this part of the province.

Marcel Castonguay, executive director of Centre de Sante Communitaire, was irate when he learned about the hateful comments directed at Welland's French population.

"It's unfortunate we can't legislate ignorance because we'd be able to do away with people like that," he said.

He said the construction of the Welland Canal and the massive French presence when the city's textiles and steel industries were being established years ago should not go unrecognized.

"People need to go back, revisit and rethink what built this city," Castonguay said.

"Those pioneers and their families are still here contributing to the changing face of Welland."

Based on what language is spoken in homes, Welland's francophone population is 11 to 15 per cent of the more than 50,000 people who live in the city.

Welland has the third-largest French-speaking population per capita in Ontario next to Ottawa and Sudbury. There is also a neighbourhood in the city known as French Town.

Castonguay said the city government is very accepting of the French community and appreciates it acknowledging Franco-Ontarian Day.

"I think it speaks a lot to the acceptance in our population all these years."

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Mayor Frank Campion says Welland is fortunate to have a culturally diverse and inclusive community that recognizes and celebrates all kinds of people. He said francophones represent a significant portion of the city's population and the preservation and expansion of their language and culture is important to the vitality of the community.

"I'm proud and honoured to be associated with our French community and look forward to celebrating their heritage and other events in the future," he said.

"We should all take some time to learn more about them."