Congressman Mike Michaud, with the Center’s founding executive director, Rita Dube (photo by Mitch Thomas)

The Franco Center in Lewiston will host a tribute to Congressman Michael H. Michaud on Friday, February 6 at 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the public.

Michaud recently retired from Congress after serving as the U.S. Representative for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District from 2003 to 2015. This primarily rural district, including the cities of Lewiston, Auburn, Bangor and Presque Isle, comprises nearly 80 percent of the state by area and is the largest Congressional district by area east of the Mississippi River.

This “Welcome Home and Thank You” event will begin with a tribute in the Center’s Performance Hall at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reception in the downstairs Heritage Hall. Speakers will include members of the current congressional delegation and some who worked and served with Michaud while he was in Congress and in the Maine Legislature. The Franco Center’s founding director, Rita Dube, will also speak. “Mike was instrumental in getting the Franco Center off the ground nearly 15 years ago,” Dube attests.

Michaud was the first Franco-American to be elected to a U.S. federal office from Maine. Prior to his time in Congress, Michaud served as President of the Maine Senate. He was employed for over two decades at the Great Northern Paper Company and remains a member of the United Steelworkers. He was elected as a co-chair of the congressional French Caucus in January 2011 and is a long-time Honorary Board Member at the Franco Center.

Those planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP by Monday, February 2 to Franco Center director Mitch Thomas at 783-1585 or mthomas@francocenter.org.