On Tuesday April 5th, 2022, Canadian Parents for French, Nova Scotia held its first provincial French Second Language Advocacy Breakfast- “French Toast, un déjeuner avec nos MLAs.”
CPF Nova Scotia’s Board of Directors and staff were joined by Members of the Legislative Assembly, as well as representatives from local universities and Alliance Française Halifax.
The event was held at Marriott Halifax Harbourfront. The event kicked off early morning with guests mingling and getting to know each other over breakfast.
CPF Nova Scotia received project funding from Patrimoine Canadian Heritage’s teacher recruitment and retention fund for “Take your Career Further as a French Teacher”. Marina Turbide, the project coordinator spoke about the French teacher recruitment project, promotion targets and the new updated interactive website, www.takeyourcareerfurther.ca/be-you-in-french/.
One MLA shared their experience as a parent of four adult children, three of whom were in the French immersion program. Her son is currently studying to become a physics teacher. As a French immersion graduate with a STEM degree, he would be a perfect candidate to become a French physics teacher.
Salma Khattab, the newly elected youth member of the Board of Directors for Canadian Parents for French Nova Scotia spoke about the programs and events that Canadian Parents for French organizes for youth, such as Sciences en Folie, Concours d’art oratoire and summer camps. As a Concours d’art oratoire 2021 National winner, Ms Khattab was able to speak firsthand about the impact our programming has on young people.
CPF Nova Scotia President Kate Ashley closed the morning’s events with a brief overview of the upcoming modernization of the Official Languages Act. Bill C-13: An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act, and to make related amendments to other Acts was tabled in the House of Commons in March by Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Ginette Petipas Taylor.
Ms Ashley introduced the changes to the Official Languages Act, as well as the recommendations from the act that would impact French second language education. Canadian Parents for French is a nationwide, research-informed, volunteer organization whose goal is for all students in Canada to be ensured the opportunity to learn French. Increased opportunities to learn French in Nova Scotia could include expanding Core French to grades 1-3 and providing pre-primary programs in French at schools with French immersion programs.
At the end of the event, attendees had a better understanding of the goals and achievements of Canadian Parents for French and French second language education in our province. Attendees circulated and shared their thoughts and experiences on the importance of the French language in Nova Scotia.