Released: June 14, 2010

Vancouver – As the current school year draws to a close, Canadian Parents for French - BC & Yukon Branch is celebrating a record twelfth year of growth for French Immersion enrolment in British Columbia.

According to data for 2009/2010 provided by the BC Ministry of Education, 43, 964 students in public schools were enrolled in French Immersion programs across BC, an increase of 1,490 students over the previous year. This 3.39% increase is in line with the rate of growth for the last three years. French Immersion students now account for 7.6% of the total public school enrolment, a .3% increase over last year.

Table 1 - French Immersion- Enrolment Statistics 2009/2010 -BC Public Schools only

"French Immersion remains a magnet for parents who entrust their children’s education to the public school system,” declares CPF - BC & Yukon President Debra Pool of Vernon. "The continued growth and success of the French Immersion program in a period of financial retrenchment by school districts across the province is a remarkable achievement,” says Pool. “CPF members will continue to work with their local school district to keep this program, and other French Second Language programs, part of the core business of public education in our province,” she concludes. Many school districts have moved to balance their budgets this year by adopting measures such as consolidating schools (Prince George), changing the program delivery model from dual track to single track schools (Kamloops), or eliminating FI programs altogether (Late French Immersion in 100 Mile House), to name three.

Canadian Parents for French-BC & Yukon is a non-governmental, parent-led organization promoting French-second-language educational and cultural learning opportunities for youth. With almost 9,000 members, the BC & Yukon branch is by far the largest in Canada.

Student statistics for 2009/2010 are available from the British Columbia Ministry of Education website at http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/reports/pdfs/student_stats/prov.pdf

Released: May 13, 2010

Vancouver – Speaking on topics as radically different as female circumcision in Africa or the Olympic Games, 285 students in Grade 6 to 12 presented five-minute speeches in the daylong provincial and territorial finals of the 27th annual Concours d’art oratoire (Concours) last Saturday.  The event, organized by Canadian Parents for French – BC & Yukon Branch, is the culmination of classroom, school and district competitions involving thousands of students across British Columbia. An estimated 800 attendees, including student competitors, filled the mezzanine of Simon Fraser University Surrey.

Thirty seven volunteer judges chose 72 first, second and third place winners in five categories: Early French immersion, Late French immersion, Core French, Francophone  and, for the first time in Concours' history, Intensive French. Prizes include university entrance scholarships, books and medals. Grade 12 winners in four of the five categories  will be invited to the National finals in Ottawa, where they will compete for a $20,000 scholarship to the University of Ottawa. New this year, three grade 6 winners will take part in the Vancouver International Children’s Festival’s Youth 4 Youth program later this month.

Sponsors and supporters of the event include: Canadian Heritage; the BC Ministry of Education; School District #93; the University of Alberta; Simon Fraser University Surrey; the University of Ottawa; Radio-Canada; the Consulate General of France; Québec Intergovernmental Affairs; the Canadian Club of Vancouver; the BC Federation of Francophones; the Express du Pacifique newspaper.

Canadian Parents for French-BC & Yukon is a non-governmental, parent-led organization promoting French-second-language educational and cultural learning opportunities for youth.  With almost 9,000 members, the BC & Yukon branch is by far the largest in Canada. 

Source: Robert Rothon, Executive Director, CPF - BC & Yukon. 778.329.9115, ext. 316.

Attachments:

2010.05.13 Concours Media release winners FRE FINAL.pdf	[ ]	35 Kb
2010.05.13.Concours Media release winners ENG FINAL.pdf	[ ]	35 Kb
2010.05.13.Concours winners list for media use FRE & ENG.PDF	[ ]	21 Kb

Released: May 3, 2010

Vancouver – Over 285 students will take part in the regional finals of the national public speaking contest, Concours, on Saturday May 8th at Simon Fraser University Surrey. Organized by the BC & Yukon Branch of Canadian Parents for French, Concours offers university entrance scholarships, books, medals and other awards. In addition, Grade 12 sectional winners are invited to the National finals in Ottawa later this month to compete for a $20,000 scholarship to the University of Ottawa. Last year, finalists from BC won three of the five categories at the National finals.

Concours is open to youth from grades six through 12 who are studying in French second language programs (French Immersion, Core French and Intensive French) or the French first language program (Francophone), and who have won their school district finals. An estimated 10,000 children take part in Concours in BC, and many thousands more across Canada, making Concours one of the largest public-speaking events of its type in the country.

In the first year of Concours, there were 27 contestants and 500 students in French Immersion in BC. Now, 27 years later, the K-12 French immersion population in BC numbers almost 44,000, the Yukon has seen an explosion in French immersion enrolment at the elementary level, and 4,369 children follow the Francophone program in 39 schools run by School District #93.

2010 Concours sponsors, supporters and exhibitors include: Canadian Heritage; the BC Ministry of Education; the University of Ottawa; School District # 93; the University of Alberta (Campus St-Jean); Simon Fraser University Surrey; the Canadian Club of Vancouver; the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique; Radio-Canada; Québec Intergovernmental Affairs; the Consulate General of France; the Vancouver International Children’s Festival; ArtStarts in Schools; and the Word Nerd.
Canadian Parents for French - BC & Yukon is a non-governmental, parent-led organization promoting French-second-language educational and cultural learning opportunities for youth.

Source: Robert Rothon, Executive Director. Call toll free: 778.329.9115, ext. 316.

Attachments:

Concours Media release ENG 2010 MAY 3 FINAL.pdf	[ ]	35 Kb
Concours Media release FRE 2010 MAY 3 FINAL.pdf	[ ]	35 Kb

Released: March 25, 2010

VANCOUVER – Betty-Joan Traverse has been announced as the Head Judge for this year's Concours d’art oratoire competition. The competition, hosted by Canadian Parents for French – BC & Yukon Branch, is the BC component of a nation-wide public speaking competition for students in French First and Second Language programs: Early & Late French immersion, Core French, Intensive (or Extended Core) French and Francophone.

Concours allows students to showcase their bilingualism and demonstrate not only their public speaking skills, but their French oratory and writing skills as well. Concours also allows students at varying grade levels to compete for prizes and spots at the National competition, where they get a chance to win additional awards, including a generous scholarship to the University of Ottawa. In the past, BC students have competed exceptionally well at the National level, last year winning the Early and Late French immersion, and Core French sectional finals.

Betty-Joan Traverse has volunteered as a judge at the annual competition several times since 2002, and looks forward to leading the judging proceedings at this year's competition.

Traverse obtained a Licence ès Lettres from the University of Paris III and an M.A. from the Université de Montréal. She has been a full-time French instructor at the University of the Fraser Valley since 2000, and taught French at Simon Fraser University between 1982 and 1997.  She has been an Accredited member of Translation Societies in both B.C. (STIBC) and Quebec, (STQ) and was the Chair from 2004 – 2008 of the Standard Committee on Language Articulation for B.C. post-secondary institutions.

Traverse is a great fan of Concours and its important role in enhancing not only oral competency in French, but also valuable life skills. She looks forward to meeting the 2010 batch of bright, energetic Concours participants.

Canadian Parents for French – BC & Yukon Branch is a parent-led organization with over 8000 members, the largest single provincial/territorial membership in Canada. CPF BC & Yukon promotes and works to ensure quality French Second Language programs exist across BC and the Yukon.

Released: March 2nd, 2010

Vancouver – Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon, the province’s largest parent-lead French second language advocacy group, is happy to announce the $110 million Annual Facilities Grant (AFG), which was cut by the Ministry of Education in August of 2009, is being re-instated through March 31st, 2011.

Earlier today the BC Provincial Government submitted its 2010-2011 budget. In the budget announcement the province has committed to reinstating the $110 million AFG. This funding cut had forced a number of school districts across BC to find millions in savings and cuts for the coming school year. Because of this, French second language programs, such as French immersion, were specifically targeted for consolidation and even elimination.

Over the past few months Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon members have been active in over 46 communities in calling on their local MLA’s to re-instate this crucial grant. We were joined by a number of School Districts, the BCSTA, the BCTF, and a handful of other educational partners.

“We are optimistic that the financial measures announced today, especially the re-instatement of the Annual Facilities Grant, will alleviate some of the budget short-fall pressures school districts across British Columbia are experiencing” said Robert Rothon, Executive Director of Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon.

“We will continue to monitor the budget short-fall situation in School Districts across BC” he concluded.

Contact: Robert Rothon, Executive Director or Glyn Lewis, Chapter Support & Community Outreach

Released: February 9th, 2010

VANCOUVER – Canadian Parents for French - BC & Yukon Branch launched a campaign among its 9000+ membership this week calling for the immediate reinstatement of the Annual Facilities Grant, which was cut by the Ministry of Education in August of last year. The $110 million dollar grant is a substantial portion of budgets for school districts across BC. CPF - BC & Yukon is encouraging its members and partners to write to their MLA, urging them to work towards the immediate reinstatement of the grant. Until then, French Second Language programs across BC are at risk, as are other programs of choice. With the potential loss of choice in the public school system we can expect to see an accelerated movement to independent schools and homeschooling, as parents seek educational alternatives.

“Children all over British Columbia are feeling the impact of this funding cut,” explains Debra Pool, President of Canadian Parents for French - BC & Yukon. “We are concerned that this will result in school districts making short-term budget decisions with negative long-term consequences for the quality of public education. In spite of dramatic budget shortfalls, school districts still must balance their budgets, as required by provincial law.”

In terms of French Second Language education, impacts of budget constraints are being felt in School District #27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin), where district staff recommended the elimination of French immersion despite its popularity. School Districts #44 (North Vancouver), #73 (Kamloops) and #57 (Prince George) are moving toward school closures and consolidations which would lead to the elimination of dual-track schools in favour of single-track French immersion schools. Parents are concerned these reconfigurations will lead to diminished access from outlying or rural areas.

Debra Pool went on to say, “Although our focus is on French Second Language education, we know that these are difficult times for everyone. We are committed to ensuring a healthy public education system – and this objective can be met in part by a responsible, targeted measure like the reinstatement of the Annual Facilities Grant.”

This call to reinstate the Annual Facilities Grant has been endorsed by the following organizations: BC Teachers Federation, Association canadienne des professeurs d'immersion, Association des Professeurs d’Immersion de la Colombie-Britannique, BC Language Coordinators Association and the British Columbia Association of Teachers of Modern Languages.

CPF - BC & Yukon Contacts:

Robert Rothon, Executive Director (778.329.9115 ext. 316) or Glyn Lewis, Chapter Support & Community Outreach (778.329.9115 ext. 318).

Released: August 26, 2009

At the August 25th board of education meeting of the Parksville-Qualicum school district over 50 families were in attendance to hear the board’s response to a number of options presented earlier this month regarding bus transportation. The meeting comes on the heels of the district’s decision to remove eight busses from the district’s transportation system, a decision which will affect over 800 students. Many questions were raised however few answers were provided. 

The busing crisis comes as a result of funding levels remaining unchanged since 2002 and the school board facing an annual deficit of $80,000. The budget shortfall is compounded by the necessity to retire eight buses from an aging fleet of 42 buses. Both of which the school district has been aware of for a number of years. Parents were only informed of the situation in March 2009.

“We feel that the Parksville-Qualicum school district has not sufficiently addressed the safety concerns parents have expressed. Children’s supervision while on school premises before and after school hours remains an issue of serious concern”, said Ryan Ogilvie, a parent volunteer of the Get On The Bus campaign. “Parents have raised several possible solutions. The district seems unwilling to find ways to minimize the impact of reduced bus service,” said Oglivie. 

“We have no indication that all stakeholders have been properly consulted. We will therefore continue to raise safety concerns with our school trustees, city councilors, and other elected officials. The school district needs to appreciate the risks associated with cutting bus service, therefore forcing young students to walk along unpaved and unlit roads or crossing high traffic roadways,” said Célyne Gagnon, a parent volunteer with the Get On The Bus campaign.

The Get on the Bus campaign has been created by a group of local parents to voice strong concerns over the impact of cuts to their public school bus system. With the help of the Canadian Parents for French national and provincial offices, this campaign called for a review of the decisions and urged the School District to consider alternative solutions.  

With less than 13 days before school begins parents of children who are considered “cross boundary” are left scrambling to arrange alternate transportation. A number of parents have already indicated the only option is to pull their children from their district program of choice.

For additional information, please contact: Ryan Ogilvie (250-752-9891); Trish  Lubnikoff (250-248-6737);
Célyne Gagnon (250-752-8798) or Susan Blyt (after 5pm: 250-951-0566).

For more information about Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon, please visit our website: www.cpf.bc.ca

Released: September 16, 2009                                                                             

Vancouver - On September 16th, 2009 The Province ran an article by reporter Damian Inwood titled: $7.7m in bilingual funds slammed. The piece came on the heels on an announcement by heritage and official languages minister, James Moore, which will see the Federal Government committing $7.7million over the coming months to ensure the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games offer adequate bilingual services. Graham Fraser, commissioner of Official Languages, has recently released a string of reports harshly criticizing VANOC’s preparations to offer bilingual language services during the 2010 Winter Games.

The two official languages of Canada and the International Olympic Movement are French and English.

Following Minister Moore’s funding announcement the Canadian Taxpayers Federation responded with a strong rebuke born of petty regional politics. “I think they’re concerned about the vote in Quebec and they don’t want to do anything that might undermine that,” said Maureen Bader, B.C. Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. She continued, “It’s simply a vote-buying exercise because of the possibility of an election this fall.” Instead of embracing Canada’s unique linguistic duality and the efforts to present to the world during the Olympics our rich French-Canadian heritage the Canadian Taxpayer’s Federation has chosen to fan the flames of national disunity.

“The Canadian Taxpayer’s Federation is completely out of touch with the realities of Vancouver’s Winter Olympic Games” said Robert Rothon, Executive Director of Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon Branch.

“The two official languages of Canada and the International Olympic Movement are French and English. It would be a disgrace to our heritage and the Olympic movement if the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games did not adequately provide bilingual language services” said Mr. Rothon.
Canadian Parents for French-BC & Yukon is a non-governmental, parent-led organization promoting French-second-language educational and cultural learning opportunities for youth.  With almost 10,000 members, the BC & Yukon branch is by far the largest in Canada. 

For comment please contact: Robert Rothon, Canadian Parents for French Executive Director at (778) 329.9115 ext. 316

Released: September 4, 2009

As the school year begins, all across the country French Immersion students will be returning to classes on a somber note. Wallace “Wally” Lambert passed away on August 23, 2009. A former professor at McGill University, Lambert was a world-renowned researcher in the field of social psychology and bilingualism. Lambert is best known for his pioneering work on early French Immersion programs and studying the cognitive and social aspects of bilingualism. It was Lambert’s work that laid the foundation for today’s French Immersion model, and as we work through this recessionary period, it is important that we protect French Second Language programming for the sake of our children.

Since its beginnings in the 1960’s, French Immersion has grown to become Canada’s most popular program of choice. Due to its successes, the Canadian model for French Immersion has been exported and used the world over.

In British Columbia, French Immersion continues to thrive. French Immersion students represent 7.3% of the student population, with over 42,000 students enrolled in the 2008-09 school year. French Immersion, when offered, is one of the most accessible programs of choice available. There is no entrance exam, no requirements and no extra fees.

With budget cuts looming for many school boards, French Immersion students are already starting to feel the effects. Families in Parksville and on Denman Island are faced with a drastic cut to school bus services. Parents of children in French Immersion and other programs of choice are scrambling to find ways to get their children to school safely.

French Immersion and other programs of choice seem to consistently find themselves in jeopardy, especially in periods when school districts are being told to economize. The truth is, French Immersion programs are an asset to school districts in tough times, not a burden. Once critical mass is reached, French Immersion actually brings extra revenue to a school district though targeted federal funding. Beyond the per-student funding each child is allocated through the Ministry of Education, French Immersion students are granted extra funding through the Federal Government in the form of Library Grants, Learning Assistance Grants, Supply Grants and more. In addition to this, French Immersion programs can act as a magnet for out of district students who bring with them the entirety of their provincial per-student funding.

"Parents, including myself, with children enrolled in French Immersion are concerned about the possible implications that the recent budget cuts may have on programs of choice in British Columbia. In times of economic uncertainty, School Districts should resist the temptation to shift funding reserved for French Second Language programs to other areas of need. French Immersion should be viewed as an asset to our communities, not a burden" urges Debra Pool, President of Canadian Parents for French - BC & Yukon Branch. Pool went on to say that "With French being one of Canada's two Official languages, immersion instruction in that language should not be a mere question of choice like other elective courses offered in our schools, but provided as a right."

Parents in Canadian Parents for French (CPF) Chapters across British Columbia and the Yukon will continue to fight for legislated guaranteed access to French Immersion, where numbers warrant.

Canadian Parents for French-BC & Yukon Branch is a parent-led, non-profit organization that has worked for more than 30 years to promote, support, and advocate for accessible and quality French Second Language programming.

For additional information, please contact: Robert Rothon,
Executive Director - Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon, 778.329.9115 ext. 316

Released: May 10, 2009

Vancouver – With the swooping curves of the Bing Thom’s SFU Surrey campus serving as a dramatic backdrop, the day-long finals of the 26th annual Concours d’art oratoire attracted an audience of almost 700 people, including 266 competing students, this past May 2.

The contest, organized by Canadian Parents for French-BC & Yukon (CPF), is the result of classroom, school and district competitions, involving over 10,000 students across BC. Students in grade 6 to 12 presented five-minute speeches, with topics ranging from racial profiling, to young love, to why parents can be so embarrassing. Besides the cultural and language benefits, the Concours helps students develop their creative and public speaking abilities, as well as self-discipline.

University entrance scholarships, travel to Ottawa, books, medals and cash were among the prizes awarded. Grade 12 winners in each of the four categories of the competition – Core French , Early Immersion, Late Immersion, and Francophone – will go on to the National finals on May 30, 2009 in Ottawa to compete for a $20,000 scholarship to the University of Ottawa. The lucky winners in Grade 12 are Naomi Francis, Delta (Early French Immersion); Khue-Tu Nguyen, Burnaby (late French Immersion); Suhari Thakore, Independent (Core French); and Anthony Chen, Richmond (Francophone).

The large audience listened to speeches by a number of distinguished guests, among whom: Debra Pool, President of the Board of CPF BC & Yukon Branch; James Shea, Executive Director of CPF National; Pierre Guérin, Director of French language services for French CBC BC & Yukon; Alain Laberge, Director of Instruction and Educational Services at the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique ; Christine Sotteau, Government Relations officer for the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique; and Dr. Renée Hamilton-Clark, French professor at University College of the Fraser Valley and the competition’s chief judge.

Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon Branch is a non-profit organization that has worked for more than 30 years to provide French-Second-Language learning opportunities for youth, support for parents, and advocacy for quality French programs in our schools. The BC & Yukon branch is by far the largest with over 9,000 members.

FACT SHEET ATTACHED (to PDF Version): List of 2009 BC Provincial Concours Winners

Contact:
Robert Rothon, Executive Director, CPF BC & Yukon Branch
Toll free 1-866-257-7970
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Attachments:

2009 Concours winners ENG 09 May 10.pdf

[ ]

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