Fort Smith (Apr 18/05) - Corinne Steed says it is very important for people of French heritage to have an organization like the Fort Smith Francophone Association.

"It's a way of being able to use and enjoy my French heritage," she says, explaining it gives her more opportunity to exercise her culture and language.

Corinne Steed is president of the Fort Smith Francophone Association.

In a way, it has replaced her family in the south, says the association's president.

It is extremely important for a francophone to have the opportunity to speak French, she notes. "I think without exposure to it, you lose it."

Steed has lived in the North since 1990. There was no francophone association where she lived before coming to Fort Smith. When she arrived in Fort Smith in 2000, she says she was losing some of her French language skills.

Her French has since improved. "If you don't practise your language, you get rusty and you have to learn it over again."

Steed is halfway through her first year as president of the association.

She is originally from Ile des Chenes, Man.

She says there are many francophone farming communities in southern Manitoba.

"I was raised in French," she says, noting she attended French school all the way to Grade 12.

However, she also learned English as a child. "You pick up English very quickly."

Steed has been on the executive of the francophone association since 2001.

It has 48 active members, including adults and children.

"But there's a lot more families that participate, as well," Steed says. "There's a lot of French-speaking people we are just finding out about."

She estimates there are between 65-75 francophones in Fort Smith, and probably more.

The association provides a wide variety of activities - cultural, educational and some just for fun. It also offers an after-school program in a French environment, featuring computer games, music and books.

"The overall goal is to ensure francophone culture is here to stay," Steed says.

She notes the association will soon be unveiling a mascot, which has been named Frederick by the children. The mascot will be a pelican dressed as a voyageur.

"The idea is to create visibility. We're hoping to increase our active membership," Steed says, adding she hopes the association keeps growing.