2. Honourable mentions

Honourable mentions recognize the leadership shown by government ministries and agencies that have made efforts to expand the delivery of high-quality French-language services.

Markham French-Language Services Implementation Committee

Following Markham’s designation as the 26th region under the French Language Services Act in 2015, the Office of Francophone Affairs created a Markham French-Language Services Implementation Committee. The Committee is planning the various quality French-language service delivery models for Markham Francophones for January 2018, when the designation comes into force. The Committee is composed of 32 members from the community and government.

The Francophone Lens

In November 2016, the Office of Francophone Affairs and the French-language services coalitions launched the Francophone Lens to ensure that ministries consider French-language services from the early stages of policy and program development. The Francophone Lens includes a user guide, a toolkit and an online course. These tools allow public servants responsible for policy to ensure that policies and programs meet the needs of Francophones and the government’s obligations under the French Language Services Act. It will now be possible to plan for an improved integration of the needs of Francophones and French-language services as soon as a policy or program at the beginning of development.

Bilingual Summer Employment Opportunities in Ontario

Thanks to Ontario’s Summer Employment Opportunities, a program of the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services in partnership with the Office of Francophone Affairs, the Ontario public service hired 181 bilingual students during the summer of 2016. The students gained work experience while employed in designated positions that required French. The purpose was to enhance the offer of French-language services while providing students with bilingual learning opportunities in the public service.

Agreement on French-Language Services Referral Program for the Developmentally Disabled

A Francophone working group made up of agencies working with the developmentally disabled established a working framework to improve access to French-language services in Toronto. This coalition of organizations, supported by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and the Ministry of Community and Social Services, also reached an agreement to refer developmentally disabled Francophones to adequate French-language services in Toronto. The ultimate goal of the committee’s work is to ensure service providers commit to increasing services in French for the developmentally disabled.

First Forum on Francophone Human Capital in Canada

In November 2016, in Toronto, Passerelle-I.D.É. held the first ever Forum on Francophone Human Capital in Canada. With funding from Ontario’s Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, the purpose of the Forum was to respond to the current and future needs of the province’s Francophone human capital. A second objective was to ensure the smooth economic integration of Francophone immigrants into Ontario’s economy. The Ministry will refer to the Forum’s report when implementing Ontario’s strategy on recruiting and retaining Francophone immigrants.

Promotion of Ontario Abroad to Potential Francophone Immigrants

The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration participated for the first time in Canada Week held in June 2016 in Paris and Lyon, where it promoted the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream. The Ministry also participated in Destination Canada, an annual international recruitment event targeting Francophones abroad likely to settle in Ontario.

Workshops on Sexual Violence toward Francophone Seniors

Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes (AOcVF), supported by the Ministry of Senior Affairs, introduced a project to improve the knowledge of front-line Francophone staff about the impact of sexual violence on elderly Francophone women. The project provides intervention strategies and an overview of resources available in French to help Francophone seniors who suffered this kind of violence.

French-Language Services Reporting Tool

The North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN, in partnership with the Réseau des services de santé en français de l’Est de l’Ontario and Entité 4, developed a new tool to report on the state of French-language services offered by service providers. The tool also assesses their capacity to offer and plan French-language services as well as the means they use to respond specifically to the needs of Francophones.

Sociodemographic Profile of Francophones

Based on the IDF and the 2011 census, the Central West LHIN developed a sociodemographic profile of Francophones in the region it serves. The profile is used as a reference document to more equitably plan for the healthcare needs of Francophones.

Designation Preparedness Evaluation Tool

The Central West LHIN developed an evaluation tool for service providers to help them prepare their designation under the French Language Services Act. It measures their capacity to offer services in French and assists in developing a strategic plan to obtain the designation. The tool is based on one developed by the Office of Francophone Affairs and has been used by four service providers seeking designation.

Feasibility Study on the Cognitive Health of Francophone Seniors in Greater Toronto

The Mississauga Halton LHIN, in partnership with the Toronto Central LHIN and Reflet Salvéo, supported the implementation of a feasibility study on the cognitive health of Francophone seniors in Greater Toronto. The purpose of the study was to identify how to help Francophone seniors remain at home as long as possible. At the same time, the Mississauga Halton LHIN created a Francophone working group to increase its capacity to offer French-language services in the region, in collaboration with health service providers.