A Look Back at November and December

As I did on November 22, I’d like to go back to several events that I had the opportunity to attend in the last two months so that I can do them justice.

First, on November 19, I delivered a speech on recommendations outlined in my 2011-2012 Annual Report and my report on The State of French-Language Postsecondary Education in Central-Southwestern Ontario at the Association des francophones de la région de York’s (AFRY) monthly dinner meeting in Richmond Hill.

On November 20, I delivered a speech on government transformations at the Club canadien de Toronto’s luncheon. Privatizations, abolitions, fusions and partnerships can pose risks to the delivery of French-language services and even impact the governance of Francophone institutions. I emphasized the measures that can be implemented to protect the quality and accessibility of French-language services in the current economic environment, and described how these risks can be turned into opportunities for growth that support the development of communities.

On November 21, I took part in a roundtable on the 2011 Census at 360 on TFO. Marie-France Kenny, President of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA), François Charbonneau, Professor in the School of Political Studies at University of Ottawa, and, of course, Gisèle Quenneville, 360’s Host, joined me for the occasion. This roundtable was a great opportunity to emphasize once again Ontario’s leadership with its new Inclusive Definition of Francophone.

On November 22, I delivered a speech at Destination réussite’s Regional Forum (for the first level of the program) at York University’s Glendon College in Toronto. This event was held as part of a Professional Development Day attended by close to 100 people who manage programs offered to students in support of their progression towards postsecondary education in Central-Southwestern Ontario. Naturally, the report No access, no future was a key topic of interest.

On December 6, I gave a presentation to Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud’s (CSDCCS) six school councils operating in the Barrie region as part of École secondaire catholique Nouvelle-Alliance’s open house evening. The presidents and parents members of CSDCCS elementary school councils in the Barrie region and the principals of these schools were in attendance. I wish to thank Patricia Bolger, Principal of École secondaire catholique Nouvelle-Alliance, and Sylvain Ménard, Vice-Principal, for their warm welcome.

During the same visit in Barrie, on December 7, I also delivered a presentation to five organizations affiliated to the My Sister’s Place assault centre as part of their annual regional training. In the afternoon, I went back to École secondaire catholique Nouvelle-Alliance to give a presentation to 30 12th grade students on the importance of French-language services. I must say I was very impressed with their quick-mindedness, dynamism and questions!

Finally, on December 12, I met with Mary Cruden, President of Canadian Parents for French (Ontario), and Betty Gormley, Executive Director, to discuss the many aspects of French-immersion programs in Ontario, and the contribution of Francophiles to the cultural activities of Francophone communities across Ontario. Our discussions were once again extremely rewarding.

I am very proud of the fact that the Commissioner’s Office remains so actively engaged in the community, and I am grateful to all the organizations that give the Office VIP status. As I also mentioned in my November 22 blog post, the members of the Commissioner’s Office team and I attended a number of other events in November and December, of course, but I can’t include them all, because the list would go on and on and on!