Annualreport 2 0

La Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique La Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique a n n u a l R e p o R t La Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique La Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique La Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique2011 – 2012 The Fédération des IN THIS REPORT francophones de la MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT ......................................... 1 Colombie-Britannique MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR...................... 2 is dedicated to the POLICY ....................................................................................... 3 development of an IMMIGRATION ........................................................................... 6 inclusive Francophonie. Its main activities aim to COMMUNICATION ................................................................. 13 enlarge the Francophone AGREEMENT SECRETARIAT .................................................. 25 presence and strengthen SUPPORT .................................................................................. 28 the Francophone and COOPERATION ....................................................................... 29 Francophile civil society HEALTH .................................................................................... 32 in British Columbia. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................ 33 ADMINISTRATION .................................................................. 34 This annual report covers the primary activities of the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique (FFCB), spanning the period of April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012. The FFCB is a provincial organization. Message FROM THE PREsidEnT Once again, the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie- several of our member organizations. Despite the presence of a Britannique [Federation of Francophones of British Columbia] linguistic clause in the federal-provincial agreement, in which the has continued to serve its community by supporting its develop- Province of British Columbia recognizes its obligation to offer ment through major annual meetings, and by representing it employment services in French, we still cannot get our point of before government decision-makers. I would like to give a brief view across. We feel our Francophone organizations are best report on the work that has been carried out over the last year, placed to offer these services. Over the last two years, we have while highlighting the challenges lying ahead of us. made representations to provincial and federal officials, but to no At the last Rendez-vous des présidents et des présidentes avail. However, we continue to follow this matter very closely. [Meeting of Presidents] in November 2011, the Fédération organized The employment services issue is a clear illustration of the an important forum about the 300,000 French speakers in challenges we face. We must ensure that all levels of govern- British Columbia. That meeting aimed at generating discussion ment understand the importance of ensuring an active offer of regarding the evolution and growth of our linguistic community. services in order to foster the growth of French-language minority Who would have thought, 30 years ago, that there would be so communities. The constitutional obligation to apply the Official many people with French as their mother tongue, language of Languages Act should not apply to federal government only. It is education, or language of choice! This number should continue of great importance that the provincial government understands to grow due to immigration and the ever increasing number of that, when it receives funding from the federal government, registrations in French immersion programs. To avoid marginaliza- it shares that responsibility. It must maintain the obligations tion, we must seize the opportunity to involve in our community associated with the Official Languages Act. Some provincial those youth who have spent so many years learning French. cabinet members may understand the importance of this In order to achieve that goal, the Fédération partnered with commitment, but too many remain indifferent. Canadian Parents for French – BC and Yukon Branch (CPF). This Thankfully some current political officials understand the year, both Boards of Directors got to know each other and better needs related to French as an official language. On March 13, understand the challenges that we will be facing. Specifically, we at the annual proclamation of “Francophonie day” in British established a partnership to create a video on the history of the Columbia, the Honourable Margaret MacDiarmid unveiled the Francophone presence in British Columbia. That video will be widely new site for French-language access to government services. distributed to schools so young people can learn about French At the time of the announcement, the Franco-Columbian flag being the first European language spoken in British Colombia. was already hoisted in front of the Legislative Assembly. The Fédération has continued its participation in the In September 2011, I had the pleasure of signing the community and cultural policy of the Conseil scolaire Cooperation Agreement with the Minister of Canadian Francophone de la C.-B. (CSF) [BC Francophone School Board]. Heritage, the Honourable James Moore, on behalf of the I have written to Senator Maria Chaput to remind her Francophone community of British Columbia. That document of our unequivocal support for Francophone schools, noting entrenched the federal government’s commitment to promote the importance of those institutions in the vitality of our and protect French as an official language. communities. I mentioned how essential it is to support French I had the great pleasure of being elected to the Fédération immersion programs. We will continue our action in this regard, des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA) as the Francophone community is not only represented at the [Canadian Federation of Francophone and Acadian communities] CSF, but also in school boards throughout the province. Board of Directors, where I will continue, with the Fédération‘s We made many political representations this year. In Executive Director, to represent British Columbia. November, we were invited to present a submission to the In closing, I would like to thank the entire Fédération team Standing Committee on Official Languages at the House of for another year of magnificent work. I would also like to thank Commons in Ottawa. It aimed at reiterating the key importance the members of the Board of Directors for their wisdom during of the federal government’s financial support for our community our deliberations. through the Roadmap for Canada’s Linguistic Duality 2008-2013. We seized the opportunity to reinforce the Francophone community’s desire to be in the negotiations related to the transfer of jurisdiction from the Federal Government to its provincial counterpart. Here, I would like to mention an issue of great concern to us: Dr Réal Roy the loss of employment services and its devastating effects on President 1 Message FROM THE EXECUTiVE DIRECTOR This past year was a strange combination of euphoria, or Where can we do it? When and how can we do it? perhaps serenity, and discouragement. Representing an We answer these questions together, when RésoSanté evolving community and building a new identity, is somewhat expands its list of health professionals who speak French, when like being stuck on a merry-go-round that keeps on playing Canadian Parents for French – BC and Yukon Branch organizes its music and does not stop when you want off! its public speaking competition, when our schools put down The discouragement that I refer to is when our employment roots in their community, when our youth from the Franco- service centres are being shut down and when the negotiated phone School Board raise funds for the homeless, and when arrangements to replace them are so stifling that our institu- our new immigrants start their own businesses. tions can only downsize and stop providing the services required The euphoria is also for when our children become fully by our community. It is clear this year that the long months of involved, and when the Board of Directors of the Conseil jeunesse negotiations with the provincial government have led nowhere. brings together francophone youth, confident and proud of their Francophones have become the recipients of specialized services, bilingualism, at ease with their complex interwoven identities, and the government of British Columbia refuses to guarantee who have also taken on the responsibility of helping their or even offer its Francophones the services they should have in Francophone community grow and develop. a country that claims to be proud of its two official languages. I would invite you to read our Annual Report. It covers The serenity that I refer to is for the day when the Franco- our main activities and the difficult situation we have to face Columbian flag flies proudly in front of the Legislative together. I do not believe we can claim this past year met all our Assembly in Victoria, a powerful symbol of the recognition expectations. However, together, we learned to better analyze of our community. This flag tells us that we are part of British the challenges of our environment and identify the winning Columbia and that our contribution is noticed and respected. battles. Our past is rich and we can be proud of

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