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.