The Glendon College and the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner Conclude a First Partnership Agreement
GLENDON AND THE OFFICE OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE
SERVICES COMMISSIONER CONCLUDE
A FIRST PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
Toronto, May 11, 2009– The Office of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario and the Glendon School of Public and International Affairs signed a partnership agreement for the first time earlier today in Toronto. This agreement will allow a graduate student enrolled in the bilingual Master’s in Public and International Affairs to complete a four-month placement with the Office of the Commissioner during this summer.
This partnership is a concrete example of the possibilities to study at the master’s level in French in Toronto while also completing an internship within a public institution that works primarily in French. “We are able to offer our bilingual students this excellent opportunity to apply their knowledge gained throughout the year and acquire skills in a Francophone work environment that is directly linked to their field of studies,” declared Principal Kenneth McRoberts.
“This agreement introduces bilingual students to the possibilities of having a career in the provincial public service and to have access to the Government of Ontario, an employer of choice,” emphasized Commissioner François Boileau.
Thanks to this partnership, the graduate student in public and international affairs, Bethan Dinning, will complete her placement with the French Language Services Commissioner’s Office as a Policy Analyst from May 11 to August 28, 2009. “This Office plays a central role in the delivery of French language services and I hope to contribute to it by putting into effect my acquired knowledge in the field of official language policies in the Franco-Ontarian context,” mentioned Ms. Dinning.
The Principal of Glendon College and the French Language Services Commissioner see this agreement as the first in a series over the coming years.
QUICK FACTS
The Masters Program in Public and International Affairs, offered within the Glendon School of Public and International Affairs created in 2006, has 18 bilingual graduate students among its inaugural cohort. It seeks to welcome approximately 20 bilingual graduate students per year. Being bilingual is an admission criteria to the program. The Masters Program is the only one in Canada to offer a truly bilingual education, in French and English. Glendon College, the bilingual Faculty of York University, is located on its own bilingual campus in mid-town Toronto.
The Office of the French Language Services Commissioner is a government agency that monitors the implementation of the French Language Services Act. It was created further to amendments made to the Act in May 2007. The Commissioner’s mandate is, among other things, to conduct investigation either in response to complaints or on its own initiative, and to monitor the progress made by government agencies in delivering French language services in Ontario.
Marie-Eve Pépin, Communications and Public Relations Officer
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario, 416 314-8247
E-mail: marie-eve.pepin@ontario.ca
Brian Desrosiers-Tam, Executive Assistant – Special Projects
Glendon School of Public and International Affairs, 416-736-2100 ext 88565
bdesrosierstam@gl.yorku.ca