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Quebec language watchdog now says it's OK to use ‘go' to support sports teams

Quebec language watchdog now says it's OK to use ‘go' to support sports teams

Toronto Star03-07-2025
MONTREAL - Quebec's language watchdog has changed its tune on whether it's acceptable to use the word 'go' to cheer on sports teams.
In a new guideline posted in its online dictionary, the Office québécois de la langue française says that while 'allez' is the preferred term, it's now 'partially legitimized' to use the English word to show encouragement.
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They live under the same roof, but there will be no ride-share program on this day to the Alouettes' practice at Stade Hébert. Article content Indeed, Als general manager Danny Maciocia and his daughter Bianca, a football operations assistant intern with the team, only travel together when the team has a home game at Molson Stadium. Article content 'When she's at work she's an employee, she's not my daughter,' he explained. Article content Article content An unpaid employee at that, given her intern status. But at least Maciocia and his wife, Sandra Vaz, allow the eldest of their three daughters to continue living rent-free at home. Article content Article content Bianca has been working under the shadow of her father since February, when she first approached him with the idea. She spent three weeks at the Alouettes' 2023 training camp and spent six summers at the Université de Montréal when her father was the Carabins' head coach. Article content Fluent in four languages (English, French, Italian and Portuguese), Bianca hardly required this abrupt change in career paths. She graduated from Concordia University in 2023 with a degree in human relations and organizational development. She had been accepted into the University of Ottawa to pursue a bachelor's degree in sports management, and was in the early stages of working for Air Canada in its flight operation department out of the airline's St-Laurent headquarters. Article content Article content 'I think I've always looked up to my dad,' she said. 'I've always been in awe of what he does, the industry and the type of job. I want to try to work in the industry and do something in the same field. I see it as an industry where there's a lot of opportunity, and there isn't enough representation among women.' Article content It's difficult to determine when the seeds were first planted, although there's a famous 2005 photo of Maciocia holding his daughter on his shoulder, their arms raised and fists clenched, after Edmonton's head coach at the time led the team to a Grey Cup victory against Montreal. Article content Article content Maciocia has spent three decades in football and got his start in the CFL with the Alouettes in 1996 as a volunteer offensive quality-control coach, where he would break down game film and write reports. So, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. And while it's possible Bianca wouldn't be with Montreal except for the direct connection, such hirings aren't unusual in professional football.

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