Released: May 29, 2008

Vancouver - Canadian Parents for French - BC & Yukon celebrated its 30th anniversary at an event honouring volunteer parent “pioneers” and former board members who worked so tirelessly to bring quality French second language programs to BC.  The parent-led French second language advocacy group was created in 1978 to support parents with students enrolled in French Immersion.  From its humble beginnings to today, the issues have changed but the need for advocacy and support is just as great.

It is hard to believe now that back in the late 1970’s when French immersion was starting to catch on in BC’s public schools, trustees were wary of starting a program of choice that some felt was irrelevant in the west and that it was only the federal government’s way of trying to ease separatist tensions in Quebec. Undaunted, CPF - BC & Yukon and parents across the province persisted in asking for more programs in more areas – even small, rural communities. 

Today, French immersion is tremendously popular in BC and the Yukon.  Since 1999, enrolment has grown from 29,979 to 41,441 representing an increase of 38%.  At the same time, overall public school enrolment dropped from 632,049 to 582,691 – an 8% decrease. There are 300,000 students in BC learning French in a variety of programs: Core French, Intensive French, Immersion (Early and Late), and Francophone.  Interest has never been greater.

But with this rapid growth has emerged a new set of challenges which are very different from those witnessed three decades ago.  

• With many baby boomers reaching retirement age, a critical shortage of qualified French teachers is the number one issue facing our schools today. CPF is working with universities, the BCTF, teacher specialist associations, school districts and many others to unite our efforts in recruiting and retaining qualified French teachers.

• Many school districts in BC and the Yukon still do not offer French immersion.  CPF has worked with the Ministry of Education to establish a Provincial French Second language Committee to explore ways of bringing French immersion to secondary students anywhere in the province via electronic learning.   Outreach to communities wanting French immersion, such as Powell River, Pemberton and other locations, will continue.

• The current labour shortage in BC is compelling the federal and provincial governments to open up mobility or ease immigration into this province.  The result is that young families, many of whom speak neither English nor French, are arriving to live and work here.  Parents want an excellent education for their children but know that their children’s lack of English skills is seen as an impediment to entering French immersion.  CPF is raising awareness among teachers, administrators and parents through promotion of French immersion as a choice for any student, regardless of mother tongue.

• There is an inequity of resources to support students who are experiencing learning challenges in French immersion.  Students with lower academic ability do as well in immersion as in English programs but receive the additional cognitive and employment benefits that bilingualism confers. CPF is encouraging districts to amend policy to ensure students of any academic ability can not only enrol in French immersion, but can receive the same assistance they would receive if they were in the regular program.

According to a 2007 CROP poll prepared for CBC Radio-Canada, 88 per cent of Canadians believe that people who speak more than one language are better equipped to succeed in today’s global economy.  Equally important, for the purposes of this brief, a full 82 per cent believe that learning a second language is one of the more fulfilling activities one can pursue, and two thirds of the participants surveyed felt that Canada’s two official languages help define what it is to be Canadian.  By far the majority of parents believe in the intrinsic value of second language learning. 

In short, British Columbians and Yukoners are embracing French like never before because they are certain of its cognitive and academic benefits and are convinced of its economic and cultural advantages.  CPF - BC & Yukon will continue to build on our success to ensure children all over BC, regardless of academic ability, heritage, or community are able to pursue their bilingual dreams.

Canadian Parents for French is the national network of volunteers which values French as an integral part of Canada and which is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French second language learning opportunities for young Canadians.

For more information, please contact:
Nancy Taylor
Executive Director
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778-329-9115