Civic Community Affairs
History
Prior to the French Revolution, the Bourgeoisie de Fribourg (Civic Community of Fribourg) was affiliated with the former state of Fribourg. They were separated in 1803 and their property was divided between the new Canton and the city. The Deed of Donation of Fribourg dated 8 October 1803 left the administration of the following institutions to the Civic Community members:
La Fondation de l’Hôpital des Bourgeois (Foundation of the Civic Community Hospital): in the 13th century, the Hôpital des Bourgeois was located on the site of the Hôtel de la Rose. Its activities were directed towards the poor and itinerant persons. Having moved to the present location in 1680, it provided services to the sick or injured until it merged with the Cantonal Hospital in 1972.
Les Fonds Pies (the Pious Funds): the revenue generated by this foundation is directed in particular towards maintenance of the Chapelle de Bourguillon, the cemetery, the rectory and the house of the sacristan. Once a leper colony, the chapel is now a well-known place of pilgrimage.
La Régie des Copropriétés (the Administration of the Allottees): its revenue is directed primarily towards subsidising social services (Service social) and maintenance and support of the family gardens (jardins familiaux) and the Civic Community House in the rue des Alpes.
La Fondation de l’Orphelinat bourgeoisial (the Foundation of the Civic Community Orphanage): this foundation was created at the end of the last century to assist the Civic Community Hospital in caring for the children from the nursery.
La Caisse des Scholarques (the Scholarly Fund) : being the oldest scholarship institution in our country, the Caisse des Scholarques was founded in 1575. It provides support to Civic Community members of at least five years’ standing for higher studies (university and federal institutes of technology). Artistic, industrial and technical studies which lead to a diploma from a higher institute or equivalent at the university level can also receive assistance.
La Fondation C.-J. Moosbrugger : the revenue from this foundation created by a Fribourg Civic Community member allows young people aged from 18 to 25 years to travel to England (only) to study English there in cases where their own income or their family’s income does not suffice to cover the entire cost of their stay.
Mission
The Civic Community has gravitated from a notion of privilege towards one of service. The Law of 25 September 1980 (loi du 25 septembre 1980) on Local Communes (Articles 104-106) specifies that Civic Community property is to be allocated towards objectives which serve a general purpose and over which the Communal Council has control. The social role of the Civic Community of the City of Fribourg is measured particularly in terms of the provision of various services to the population, including: :
- The Medical Home of the Bonnesfontaines (home médicalisé)
- The Children’s Home of the Bonnesfontaines (foyer pour enfants)
- The Family Gardens de Bertigny, de la Faye, du Stadtberg and de Torry (jardins familiaux)
An annual Civic Community subsidy goes towards the social services (service social) of the City of Fribourg.