| Location | Nanaimo, British Columbia
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| Organization | L'Association des francophones de Nanaimo (AFN) |
| Description | The AFN initiated a Bonjour campaign using criteria developed by the Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité (RDÉE Canada). It targets entrepreneurs and service providers in the business and tourism sector to encourage them to offer bilingual services. The campaign started with a promotional phase and the program officially begins in September 2008.
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| Objectives | | • | Encourage businesses, services and organizations in Nanaimo and area to offer services in French | | • | Attract Francophone tourists to the Nanaimo region before, during and after the 2010 Vancouver/Whistler Winter Olympic Games | |
| Activities | | • | Businesses are placed in one of four categories depending on the level of services available in French using the RDÉE Canada classification system | | • | Bonjour Nanaimo companies are identified by a logo in the Nanaimo tourism guide | | • | The program supports businesses: | | | | ► | By making a telephone line available enabling clients to communicate with one of the Bonjour representatives and to receive services in French during business hours | | | | | ► | By providing two types of personalized workshops for business people: | | | | | | ○ | An awareness raising workshop describing the Bonjour campaign's objectives and action plan | | | | | | ○ | French-language training workshops | | |
| Partners | • Downtown Nanaimo Partnership
• Éducacentre College
• Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce
• Francophone Economic Development Society of British Columbia
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| Funding | | • | BC Ministry of Economic Development (through a Collaboration Agreement on Francophone Affairs between the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia) | | • | Industry Canada | | • | Canadian Heritage
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| Results | • Businesses more aware of the added value in providing bilingual service • Businesses interested in the Bonjour program
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| Ingredients for success | | • | Inclusiveness and awareness raising for both linguistic communities especially the Anglophone community. For example, workshops are sometimes conducted in English to make them accessible | | • | Based on existing tourism development plans | |
| Challenges | • Obtaining official support from the city council
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| For additional information | http://www.tourismnanaimo.com/bonjour/front-page.php
Nicole Langlois
250-756-0106
nicole@tourismnanaimo.com |
