Fleurir la francophonie ensemble (Together, We Help Francophonie Flourish)

Project lead: École secondaire publique Mille-Îles

Artist(s) involved: Jamie Janx Johnston

Mural, Visual arts

Kingston, Eastern Ontario

Large mural depicting a white trillium with broad dark-green leaves on a pale green background scattered with small floral motifs. — Fleurir la francophonie ensemble, a collective mural created by students, staff members and members of Kingston’s Francophone community in spring 2026.

At École secondaire publique Mille-Îles in Kingston, a mural transforms the Francophonie into a living garden. Each flower created using stencils, patterns, and prints, bears the imprint of an individual and their journey.

Guided by multidisciplinary artist Jamie Janx Johnston, students, staff members, and community members took part in four workshops exploring the history of the Franco-Ontarian flag and life in French as a linguistic minority.

Brought together in Fleurir la francophonie ensemble, their creations form a collective garden that connects the 50th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag with the diversity of voices that keep French alive in Kingston today.

Gatherings That Help Ideas Bloom

Over the course of four workshops, the school became a gathering place for students, staff members, and members of Kingston’s Francophone community. Some activities took place during school hours, while others were held in the evening to welcome seniors, newcomers, and Francophiles, among others.

Discussions began with the history of the Franco-Ontarian flag and life in French as a linguistic minority. Each participant was invited to share their sense of belonging, their personal journey, and the role the French language plays in their daily life.

Guided by Jamie Janx Johnston, the group then transformed these reflections into artistic expression. Stencils, drawings, patterns, textures, and prints enabled each participant to imagine an original flower and give unique form to their experience.

ACFOMI, Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario, Conseil régional des Mille-Îles, helped engage older adults and foster intergenerational connections through the workshops.

A person holds a large green-and-yellow stencil with flower and stem cut-outs in front of their face, which is visible through the openings. — Participants experiment with stencils and patterns that will give each flower its own unique character.

An artist in a plaid shirt helps a young student draw at a desk. — The artist supports each student through the creative process as the collective artwork takes shape.

A group of students works attentively on art projects in a classroom. — Teamwork and concentration are front and centre during the design stages.

From Each Flower to a Collective Garden

Working with Matthew Poirier and the school team, the flowers were arranged to create a single mural. The composition preserves the individuality of each creation while giving them rhythm and a place within the whole.

A young student uses pink spray paint over a stencil to paint a floral motif on the wall.

A participant uses a stencil to add a floral motif directly to the mural, contributing to the creation of the collective garden.

Gradually, individual contributions revealed a garden where multiple generations and different relationships with the Francophonie can coexist. A language and a culture flourish when they find a welcoming environment and people willing to nurture them together.

Presented to the community on May 25, 2026, Fleurir la francophonie ensemble shines a light on the journeys, voices, and generations that make up Kingston’s Francophonie.

Close-up of leaves and flowers painted in light green and bright yellow using stencils. — Details of the motifs created by the students to symbolize the vitality of their culture.

Close-up of large green leaves with dynamic lines painted at the centre of the mural. — Painted details of the immense leaves supporting the Franco-Ontarian trillium.

Close-up of a stylized fleur-de-lis and organic motifs painted with stencils on a green wall. — The fleur-de-lis intertwines with elements of nature in this fully co-created work.

An Artwork at the Heart of the Community

Permanently installed at École secondaire publique Mille-Îles, the mural accompanies students and staff members, as well as those who visit the Centre culturel Frontenac and participate in activities hosted within the building.

The garden continues to inhabit a place where the school and community Francophonie come together. It leaves a visible reminder of what the group created collectively and of the voices that help French thrive in Kingston.

Bright photograph of the completed mural with its giant trillium in the school hallway.

Fleurir la francophonie ensemble, permanently installed at École secondaire publique Mille-Îles, brings together the flowers and patterns created during the four workshops.

Featured

The video traces the creation of the mural, from the earliest discussions about the Francophonie to the creation of the flowers and their integration into a collective composition. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the techniques used, the participants involved, and the evolution of the artwork throughout the four workshops.

All Credits

Project led by: École secondaire publique Mille-Îles
School leadership and institutional responsibility: Ali Belhis
Lead artist and artistic guidance: Jamie Janx Johnston
Artistic and educational coordination: Matthew Poirier
Cultural programming: Éric Galarneau
Mural creation: Students of École secondaire publique Mille-Îles, school staff, members of Kingston’s Francophone community
Photography and making-of video: Jamie Janx Johnston
Community partners: Centre culturel Frontenac, ACFOMI, Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario, Conseil régional des Mille-Îles
Communications support: Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario

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