Two Windsor leaders have been honored for their exceptional contributions to the francophone community in Ontario. Emmanuelle Richez, an associate professor of political science at the University of Windsor, and Vincent Georgie, executive director of the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF), are among six recipients of the Order of the Pleiades in 2026. This prestigious international award recognizes individuals who support the vitality of French language and culture.
Georgie described the recognition as 'the honour of a lifetime,' emphasizing that it reflects his ongoing work to elevate francophone filmmakers at WIFF, which screens the largest number of francophone films of any festival in North America. 'There are francophones all across Canada. It's one of the two official languages, so you want to see your own community up on screen. I think that's really important,' he said.
Richez, who also serves as vice-chair of the Viamonde French public school board, noted that the honor acknowledges her efforts to expand access to French-language education. 'The game changer was when my son was born six years ago. I wanted to ensure that he would have access to a quality French education here in Windsor. We're lucky because we have a French public school in our neighborhood, but that's not the case for all Ontarians,' she explained. At the University of Windsor, Richez is also a member of the Comité Franco, which works to strengthen the francophone presence on campus.
Both were nominated by MPP Andrew Dowie (PC – Windsor-Tecumseh). The formal induction ceremony will take place on May 28 at Queen's Park, where all six recipients will be knighted into the Order of the Pleiades.
