RESEARCH
- INVOLVEMENT OF FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- BILINGUAL CAREER FAIR IN EDMONTON
- SHEILA MACDONALD IS RETIRING
- HILAIRE LEMOINE AT THE CASLT
INVOLVEMENT OF FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
In collaboration with Martin Durand, Canadian Heritage
In the previous issue of the Bulletin 41-42 (winter 2007), the Official Languages Support Programs Branch research team revealed the preliminary analysis results of the survey on the attitudes and perceptions of Canadians regarding the official languages. Analyses that began in summer 2006 continued on, and we are now able to share the results of these analyses with Bulletin readers, as regards the topic of the involvement of federal institutions in community development.
Three facets were broached with respondents: familiarity, support in principle and evolution of opinions over time.
Familiarity
The vast majority of respondents surveyed (87%) are familiar with the legal obligation of federal institutions to support the development of their province's minority community. This proportion is a 16% increase compared to 2002.
Support
Over 60% of Canadians surveyed (63.2%) consider that federal institutions should support the development of their province's minority community. This proportion is a 17% increase compared to 2002.
Evolution over time
The survey reveals that 86% of respondents consider that the federal government's departments are as much or more involved in the development of their province's minority community as they were five years ago. This proportion remained stable between 2002 and 2006.
In total, 84.1% of respondents living in a minority community consider that accessibility to the Government of Canada's programs and services in the minority language will remain stable or improve in the next five years.
For more information on this survey, contact Martin Durand, analyst in the Official Languages Support Programs Branch research team, at 819-994-1917.
BILINGUAL CAREER FAIR IN EDMONTON
In collaboration with Ginette Taylor, Canadian Heritage
Earlier this year, it was with great pleasure that Canadian Heritage accepted a very special invitation from the Edmonton Public School Board. The Department coordinated the participation of federal and provincial institutions, and of Francophone community representatives, in the first bilingual career fair targeting immersion students from grades 10 to 12. Held on February 9, 2007, the fair attracted about 250 very enthusiastic students. Activities included learning how to apply for a job and using the federal government's job bank, and raising awareness about the benefits of bilingualism in choosing potential careers. In addition, Canadian Heritage promoted the Canada Day Poster Challenge, the Mathieu Da Costa Challenge, Young Canada Works and Katimavik. Also there representing the federal government were the Canada Revenue Agency, the Public Service Commission of Canada, Service Canada, the Canadian Forces and Radio-Canada. In the light of the success obtained, the organizers wish this fair can now be held annually.
SHEILA MACDONALD IS RETIRING
Louise L. Trahan (left), Director of Interdepartmental Coordination, with Sheila MacDonald at the Network meeting on February 28, 2007.
Sheila MacDonald, Associate Director of the Interdepartmental Coordination Directorate, at Canadian Heritage, retired on May 17, 2007, after a long and successful career in the Public Service of Canada.
Sheila began working with Interdepartmental Coordination in 1994. Her responsibilities included liaising with various federal institutions, representing the Department on a number of interdepartmental committees and setting up the Interdepartmental Partnership with the Official-Language Communities (IPOLC). Most recently, Sheila was asked to help inform federal institutions about the recently adopted Act to Amend the Official Languages Act (Promotion of English and French). This took her across much of the country where she gave information sessions to federal institutions on the operational implications of the amendment.
Sheila has helped create and expand the Network of National Coordinators. At the February 28, 2007 Network meeting, her colleagues took the opportunity to offer their heartfelt thanks for her contribution. Her professionalism, her open mind, her deep respect for official languages and, of course, her cheerful attitude will continue to be a source of inspiration for others. Sheila holds a serene view of her life ahead. She is planning to exercise more, travel and, most of all, spend more time with her family. We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavours.
HILAIRE LEMOINE AT THE CASLT
During its Annual Meeting on December 1, 2006, the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers (CASLT) appointed Hilaire Lemoine to its Board of Directors.
Originally from a Franco-Manitoban community, Mr. Lemoine is a proud representative of Canada's Francophone minority communities. He served for several years as Director General of the Official Languages Support Programs Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage, before being appointed Executive Director of the Portfolio Affairs Office for the same department. After retiring from the federal government in September 2006, he joined the University of Ottawa as an executive-in-residence, working with the Faculty of Arts to create and set up the new Institute of Official Languages and Bilingualism.