Annual Report. Message from the President. La Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique

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1 Message from the President Annual Report In August 2004, then President of the FFCB, Claude Provencher, announced to members of the board of directors his imminent departure. Having only been Vice-President since June, I was taken aback by this news and worried about what would happen. It had already been suggested to me that I might eventually take over the President s position; however, I felt in no way ready to take over the reins of an organization that is so important to the future of our province s Francophone community. Eventually, encouraged by many people and after thinking long and hard on the impact of this decision, I respectfully decided to rise to the challenge. My experience as an FFCB director and my commitment as a volunteer and employee within a number of Francophone associations over more than ten years have allowed me to experience and understand the daily challenges faced by these organizations. Although I certainly understand how these associations function, it is primarily my sense of belonging to and caring about the community that convinced me to accept the position of President. I care deeply about the future of our community and I wish to make a difference by helping it develop and grow in a positive way for our young people our future generation. Since November, as I made presentations across the province, I met a number of executives at the head of Francophone organizations. I noted their enthusiasm, commitment and the impressive things they have accomplished with very few means at their disposal. I sat on a number of committees such as the National Committee on Immigration and the Provincial Olympic Committee. I also took part in activities around the signing of the third Canada- Community Agreement. I took over the President s role at a crucial time for our community. For example, the third Canada-Community Agreement has not yet been signed and immigration issues may grow our Francophone numbers and fuel our institutions over the medium- and long-term. On the other hand, the impending Olympic Games may provide us with a unique opportunity to increase our visibility. Today, we have the opportunity to be seen and valued. Now, more than ever, we need to take our place at the local level through community activities such as festivals, and at the provincial and national levels through the 2010 Games and immigration. Our community has its own unique assets and resources; it is dynamic and capable of meeting challenges. By working together and as partners, we will succeed in carving out our place within this province s other cultural communities. I am aware of my responsibilities and duties toward our community, and particularly to young people who make up the Francophone community of tomorrow. I am proud to be the President of the FFCB and tout the organization s work at presentations both within and outside the province. The FFCB has a solid reputation for leadership and professionalism. My goal is to maintain that reputation and I am confident that our extended family will rise to every challenge that comes its way.

2 Message from the Executive Director Every year, when I think about our accomplishments over the course of the previous twelve months, a number of ideas come to mind. There are always so many things that happen, so many issues to deal with and so many partners, that it s somewhat difficult to mention every aspect of our activities and is no different. This is borne out by the fast pace at which the entire team was working. However, a number of primary areas stand out when I think of this year s most important events: first, our 60th anniversary celebrations, the education conference and progress in immigration issues. The Fédération had been preparing for its 60th anniversary celebrations since the summer of The entire team was involved in highlighting this special year, and their efforts were not focused solely on our own organization, but on the Francophone community as a whole. As the umbrella organization for this community, we wanted to take advantage of our 60th to ensure visibility and promote the Francophone community and all of its organizations activities. Using the anniversary s theme of a history to celebrate and a future to share, we developed a promotional poster and calendar of events being held by all Francophone organizations in the province from September 2004 to August Then, in September we launched the festivities and formed an 2 honourary committee, made up of well-known public figures, to represent our community throughout the period. We will shortly be distributing a new bilingual brochure that highlights our community and we will be bringing the 60th anniversary celebrations to a close with a conference and very special banquet during the Annual General Meeting in June After 60 years, we have good reason to celebrate. We can be proud of the progress we have made on many fronts. This year alone, we made a significant step forward in the advancement of French-language education in B.C. with the official inauguration of a Bureau of Francophone and Francophile Affairs at Simon Fraser University (SFU). We can now be assured that there is an institution offering our young people post-secondary programs in French. On the immigration front, we also made progress with the help of many partners. It will allow us to continue to improve French-language services for new immigrants. There is still much to do in this sector; however, I am confident that we will make significant progress, allowing Francophone newcomers to be appropriately integrated into our community. Given that one of our primary concerns is diffusion of the French language and culture, it was entirely natural for us to hold a conference on the evolution of education for Francophones in B.C. in November The conference was intended to be a forum for discussion on the importance of community involvement in education. Do we still have a role to play in education now that we have two French-language institutions the Francophone Education Authority (Conseil scolaire francophone) and SFU and Éducacentre, which is working toward establishing a community college? At the close of the conference, it was decided that the FFCB would continue to be involved in matters related to education, and more specifically, that it would pursue partnerships between schools and the community, which are essential to the future development of our community. After existing and evolving for 60 years, in June 2005, the FFCB will be taking a look at our community s identity. Historically, the Francophone community in British Columbia was made up of pioneers who came to this province primarily from Quebec, the Western provinces and Francophone European countries. For a number of years now, French speakers have been coming here from all over the world. What is the make-up of our Francophone community today? How do the different backgrounds fit into Francophone culture? How can we ensure inclusion in our institutions? These are all questions we must ask ourselves now in order to secure the continuity and growth of our Francophone population and institutions. Although we have seen progress on a number of fronts in , unfortunately, we have still not been able to convince the Department of Canadian Heritage of the validity of our funding requests. Now, more than ever, we need to join forces and work together to convince the federal government that B.C. s Francophone community needs its cooperation and funding support.

3 T his annual report covers the primary activities of the Fédération des francophones de la C.-B. (FFCB) spanning the period from April 1, 2004 to March 31, The Fédération is a provincial non-profit organization that represents and upholds the rights and interests of some 63,000 Francophones in the province and brings together 37 Francophone and francophile associations. It is active in the areas of securing Frenchlanguage services, community development, and services to member associations. At the Federal Level Federal Elections At the end of the federal election campaign on June 28, 2004, the Liberal Party of Canada formed the new Government of Canada. During this campaign, the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique (FFCB) undertook a series of activities to make candidates within the province s 36 ridings aware of the desires and needs of the Francophone community in British Columbia. The organization sent a questionnaire out to candidates running on behalf of the three major political parties. It addressed four broad areas of interest to our community. At the same time, FFCB spokespeople requested meetings with candidates in the Vancouver area and sat on the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA) s national strategy council in order to develop key messages for our communities during the election campaign. Member associations were also invited to participate in the activities coordinated by the FFCB. During the Annual General Meeting in June 2004, the FFCB organized workshops so that associations could provide updates on their activities and political meetings. They were also asked to provide input on how to develop province-wide strategies to maximize the impact of canvassing politicians. On June 24, 2004, the FFCB held a press conference at the Centre culturel francophone de Vancouver to reveal the results of its activities during the federal election campaign. From r. to l.: Yseult Friolet, Executive Director, and Serge Corbeil, Coordinator, Government Relations and Research. The issue of official languages was raised a number of times during the election campaign by the various political parties. And by the time the FFCB had completed its own initiatives, all of the province s political parties had clarified their position on our community s concerns. At an FFCB press conference, the organization s Executive Director highlighted the attendance of supporters from all three political parties. 3

4 At the Federal Level Official Languages The FFCB responds to the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Official Languages On October 19, 2004, the FFCB responded to the Annual Report tabled by the Commissioner of Official Languages, confirming that the findings in the report reflect the reality of British Columbia s Francophones. Speech from the Throne The FFCB was encouraged by the Speech from the Throne delivered by Paul Martin s new federal government on October 5, It was especially pleased to see the issue of official languages addressed in the Speech. Furthermore, the messages to government contained in the Commissioner s report were provided by FFCB spokespeople to the minister responsible for official languages, Mr. Mauril Bélanger, several days prior to the Report s submission. Like the Commissioner, the FFCB anxiously awaits comprehensive implementation of the Action Plan for Official Languages and of the accountability On April 7, 2004 in Vancouver, FFCB representatives met with Commissioner Dyane Adams, to provide her with an update on all issues related to official languages. From l. to r., Dyane Adams, Claude Provencher, Denis Lorieau, Yseult Friolet, Serge Corbeil, Chantale Breton, and Karsten Kaemling. framework that will assess the situation in each province. In her most recent annual report, the Commissioner of Official Languages made reference to the significant erosion of official languages in the 1990s, to some strong initiatives since the implementation of the Action Plan for Official Languages, but also to the fact that the implementation has been slow. Other initiatives regarding official languages The FFCB has held a number of working sessions to raise awareness around, explain and improve the current situation in federal offices that are designated bilingual. In particular, the Fédération organized working sessions with representatives from the Human Resources Agency to discuss a potential audit of points of service. The FFCB also followed up on the Action Plan for Official Languages by organizing working sessions with representatives from the Privy Council, the agency responsible for implementing the Action Plan. 4 Encouraged by the FFCB, the Minister Responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs, Lucienne Robillard, visited l École Gabrielle-Roy in Surrey. In one of the photos, she can be seen in the centre, accompanied by Michelle Rakotonaivo, FFCB President and Jamal Nawri, Coordinator of the Association des francophones de Surrey. In the photo on the right, she stands beside Renée Popov, President of the Conseil scolaire francophone. Specifically, it initiated a meeting of the community s representatives, the minister responsible for official languages and Privy Council authorities.

5 At the Federal Level Politicians visit FFCB offices Throughout the year, the Fédération des francophones de la C.-B. (FFCB) held a number of meetings with politicians from the various political parties in order to raise their awareness of the needs of the Francophone community. Specifically, the organization had the opportunity to meet with: Senator Jean-Robert Gauthier Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, Mauril Bélanger NDP candidate for Burnaby New-Westminster, Peter Julian MNA for Verchères-Les Patriotes, Stéphane Bergeron of the Bloc québécois Bloc québécois Leader, Gilles Duceppe Action démocratique du Québec Leader, Mario Dumont Bloc québécois Leader, Gilles Duceppe, flanked by Yseult Friolet and Serge Corbeil of the FFCB. Also pictured is Stéphane Bergeron, MNA for Verchères-Les Patriotes. Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, Mauril Bélanger (centre) came to meet with representatives of Francophone organizations. Senator Jean-Robert Gauthier (l.) with Michelle Rakotonaivo and Serge Corbeil of the FFCB. 5

6 At the Federal Level Immigration Significant progress The arrival of new Francophone immigrants is important for our official-language minority communities. The issue of immigration has therefore been a priority for the FFCB and all other representative organizations across the country for a number of years. Over the course of the last fiscal year, the FFCB has made significant headway in the area of immigration. The organization made public the results of a report into the kinds of reception, settlement and integration services new Francophone immigrants receive when they arrive in Vancouver s Lower Mainland. The findings were presented to FFCB members at the Annual General Meeting in June 2004 and then to the media and other interested parties in the Fall of They demonstrated a need to improve services offered to French-speaking immigrants and to increase cooperation with various governments, which are the primary service delivery agents. This cooperation was confirmed a few months later through the establishment of a regional steering committee made up of the province s key players in the area of immigration and the approval of a regional action plan for It should be noted that B.C. s action plan is part of a national initiative and is aligned with the objectives in 6 the National Strategic Framework. B.C. s action plan includes a number of activities to be implemented over the course of the next five years and five of these have been set as priorities for the first year. Three had been acted upon as of March 31, These were the hiring of a coordinator for the development and implementation of the action plan, the production of information tools for Francophone immigrants and the delivery of a program that matches immigrants with volunteers. At a press conference on May 17, the FFCB presented the findings of its report on reception, settlement and integration services for Frenchspeaking immigrants in the Lower Mainland. Members of the Francophone media and those involved in immigration issues were in attendance. The regional action plan for immigration was made public in January 2005 at a press conference organized jointly by the FFCB and Citizenship and Immigration Canada. From l. to r. the Honourable Hedy Fry, Parliamentary Secretary for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration and Yseult Friolet, Executive Director of the FFCB. National Strategic Framework objectives: Increase capacity for minority Frenchlanguage communities to receive new immigrants and reinforce reception and settlement structures. Economic, social and cultural integration of French-speaking immigrants into the Canadian community and Francophone minority communities. Increase the number of French-speaking immigrants within our communities. Increase Francophone immigration to regions outside of Toronto and Vancouver.

7 At the Federal Level Immigration Members of B.C. s steering committee Paulette Bouffard Éducacentre Rita Couture Société de développement économique de la C.-B. Manon Landry Conseil scolaire francophone de la C.-B. Yseult Friolet Committee Vice-Chair, Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique Michelle Rakotonaivo Citizenship and Immigration Canada Francophone Minority Communities Steering Committee (CIC-FMC), B.C. representative Mambo Masinda MOSAIC Josée Musare Surrey-Delta Immigrant Services Society Jocelyne Hamel or Moussa Magassa (Ms. Hamel s replacement) Immigrant Services Society (ISS) of BC Davone Chow Community Airport Newcomers Network - a service of the United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society (S.U.C.C.E.S.S.) Alison Dudley Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women s Services Settlement and Multiculturalism Branch Regional Action Plan objectives Vincent Portal B.C. s Francophone Affairs Program Government of British Columbia Carolyn Glover Citizenship and Immigration Canada Robert Godfrey Citizenship and Immigration Canada Karsten Kaemling Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages Andrew Lane Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Beverly Olds Western Economic Diversification Canada Jean Laberge Industry Canada and Western Economic Diversification Canada Pablo Sobrino Canadian Heritage Thérèse Vermette Citizenship and Immigration Canada Marilyn Viger Citizenship and Immigration Canada While there are many initiatives to be implemented, five have been identified as priorities by the B.C. steering committee: Coordinate the development and implementation of the five-year provincial action plan to encourage Francophone immigration to B.C. Produce, establish and make readily available information tools on B.C. for French-speaking immigrants. Offer the advanced ELSA to Francophone immigrant clients. Develop a pilot employment program for African immigrants that is specifically adapted to the cultural competence challenges faced by this group. Propose a pilot project, managed by a Francophone organization, to deliver the bridging program, Community relations service. Other FFCB activities in the area of immigration In the spring of 2005, the FFCB drafted a memorandum and attended a meeting of the Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to ensure that new immigrants are made aware of the linguistic reality of two official languages and that they know there is a Francophone community in British Columbia as well as in all other Canadian provinces. The President of the FFCB took part for the second year in a bilingual citizenship ceremony organized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in conjunction with the FFCB. During the presentation, the President welcomed the new citizens and encouraged them to become actively involved within our community. The FFCB and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) worked together to provide a bilingual citizenship ceremony to newcomers to the province. Pictured here are Michelle Rakotonaivo of the FFCB, Thérèse Vermette of CIC and Judge Simard, who conducted the ceremony. The immigration coordinator represented the FFCB at a number of events related to immigration. He attended a conference organized by Simon Fraser University, a multicultural healthfair held by the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Services Agencies of BC, and a press conference held by the Immigrants Services Society to announce its bridging programs in French. He also took part in the Citizenship and Immigration Canada round table on integrating new Canadians who have been trained abroad, the Société de développement économique s forum, and celebrations around Black History Month at the Centre d intégration pour immigrants africains. The FFCB supported a number of English-speaking organizations in the production and distribution of information tools and in the hiring of bilingual resources; this cooperation should serve to improve French-language services to new immigrants. The FFCB sits on national steering committee of the CIC-FMC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada Francophone Minority Communities). 7

8 At the Federal Level Olympic Games The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are becoming increasingly significant in the ongoing activities of the FFCB. Given the scope of the work, commitment and decisions that need to be made around the Games, last year the FFCB established a community committee to provide the organization with support and counsel regarding how it should proceed. On behalf of this committee, the FFCB met on numerous occasions with major players in the organization of the Olympics. Specifically, the Fédération met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralymic Winter Games (VANOC) and representatives from the Games Federal Secretariat and Legacies Now to discuss the issue of official languages, how Francophone culture fits into the scenario and how the Francophone community can take part in the 8 Members of the community committee Olympic Games Alliance française de Vancouver Association francophone de la Vallée de Comox Association des francophones de Nanaimo Le Centre culturel francophone de Vancouver Le Conseil culturel et artistique francophone de la C.-B. Le Conseil scolaire francophone de la C.-B. Conseil jeunesse francophone de la C.-B. Fédération des francophones de la C.-B. Société Maillardville-Uni La Société de développement économique de la C.-B. Société francophone de Victoria Théâtre la Seizième Éducacentre Games. The meetings were successful, with the VANOC CEO agreeing to respect all language obligations during the organization of the Games, and to implement a number of suggestions put forth by the community. Similarly, federal departments have committed their support to the community and the Federal Secretariat has formed a task force on official languages in response to the FFCB s request. In March 2005, the FFCB took part in a national meeting organized by the Canadian Heritage Department and the Games Federal Secretariat to brainstorm on how to maximize the impact of the Games on French-speaking Canada. To date, efforts with regard to the Olympic Games are going well. We can expect positive outcomes for our community, but there is a significant amount of work that lies ahead. National strategic planning retreat Nearly 30 people representing national organizations and sectors were invited by the Government of Canada to a strategic planning retreat on March 22 in Ottawa. Based on the theme of seizing the opportunity together, this first brainstorming was intended to be the launch of a national process. The goal of this process is to ensure that, across Canada, the Francophone community is included in, participates and grows through both the organization and hosting of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Two FFCB representatives the Executive Director and the Coordinator, Research and Government Relations were invited to this event. Although a number of ideas and themes were proposed, this process of reflection needs to continue throughout 2005 before arriving at a detailed national action plan.

9 At the Federal Level Canada-Community Agreement The Agreement remains unsigned The deadline for signature was March 31, 2004 now more than a year ago. The third Canada-Community Agreement has still not been signed, despite all of the work completed in anticipation of this signing and despite the promise of the Minister of Canadian Heritage to sign it before the end of the year. At the beginning of the year, 2004 was declared a status quo year, a period of transition that would be used to analyze the program; however, there was still to be a signature before the end of March The reasoning behind this delay is unknown; however, we do know that the amounts demanded by the B.C. community and by the other provinces as part of this third Agreement are higher than the Department is willing to fund. In British Columbia, according to the needs estimated in the Global Development Plan, the Francophone community has requested more than 19 million dollars from the Agreement for the next five years. Taken together, the global development plans for all of the Francophone communities in all of the provinces place the needs of Francophone communities outside of Quebec at an estimated $52 million in relation to the Agreement. However, the communities are requesting funding of $42 million nearly $18 million more than the previous agreement. On March 31, 2005, the negotiations for a new agreement were still not underway. The FFCB and other provinces are continuing to work on increasing the budget and signing the third Agreement as quickly as possible. Financial Support Équipe francophonie Support for Official Language Communities Program funding, Year $ current $ constant In order to raise awareness amongst federal politicians of the funding necessary to develop official language minority communities, FFCB spokespeople took part in a national strategy committee, Équipe Francophonie, created by the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes (FCFA) du Canada. The delegation met with more than 50 MPs and senators, encouraging them to support the demands of this country s minority language communities Distribution of program and project funding through the Canada-Community Agreement Program Funding Project Funding Amount requested by the community $2,752,441 Funds granted $1,667,641 Amount requested by the community $1,132,695 Funds granted $536,234 Number of organizations that received project funding 25 Number of projects that received funding 34 9

10 At the Federal Level Canada-Community Agreement Members of the Provincial Consultative Committee for President of the FFCB: Michelle Rakotonaivo Chair, and representing the economic development sector: Pierre Senay Member at large: Raymond Ouimet Representing Northern British Columbia: Louis Gagné Representing Southern British Columbia: Éric Villeneuve Representing Vancouver Island: Lise Lagüe Representing Greater Vancouver: Anne-Marie Guminski Representing the cultural sector: Denise Gagnon-Branter Representing youth: vacant Representing seniors: Madeleine Riordan Representing the educational sector: Chantal Vadnais Representing women s interests: Odette Lepage Secretary: Yseult Friolet The Provincial Consultative Committee is made up of members of the community representing eleven sectors and various target markets. It also includes the FFCB Executive Director and President. The committee has a two-year term and its goal is to establish development priorities for the community, evaluate the Agreement and process, and to assign a representative from the Francophone community to the Agreement s management committee Interdepartmental cooperation 10 The Canada-Community Agreement is not the only source of funding for Francophone organizations; a number of other departments offer development programs. The interdepartmental cooperation coordinator spends much of her work time meeting regularly with these departments to find out about their programs and making them more aware of the needs of Francophone organizations. For , the community received $3,753,906 from these departments. Twenty-five organizations presented 66 projects to 11 departments. Only three of the projects were refused. Agreement Secretariat After deciding in April 2004 to cease funding the work of the Agreement Secretariat, the Department of Canadian Heritage announced in November of the same year that the activities of the Secretariat would continue as they had done before funding was cut. The FFCB hired a new coordinator and the work of the Secretariat is proceeding well since it started up again. In February 2005, members of the Provincial Consultative Committee began looking at ways to prioritize outcomes of the Global Development Plan. In March, the management committee got together to agree on amounts granted for programming and projects. The new Agreement Secretariat coordinator, Marie-Noël Holland

11 At the Provincial Level RésoSanté Colombie-Britannique Initiatives for improving access to services Early this year, Health Canada implemented an official languages funding envelope to an important program aimed at improving health services: the Primary Health Care Transition Fund. Of the first seven Frenchlanguage projects to be launched in this country three come from British Columbia and are currently underway. 1The B.C. Health Guide project is aimed at distributing nearly 24,000 copies of the official French-language version of the guide the Guide-santé Colombie- Britannique to Francophones across the province. A partnership with the Yukon has enabled us to distribute a version adapted for French-speakers in that territory. Approximately 10,000 copies of the Guidesanté were distributed in At the June 2004 Annual General Meeting, RésoSanté C.-B. and the Francophone Affairs Office launched the new health guide, the Guide santé en français pour la Colombie-Britannique. Pictured here are (l. to r.) Claude Provencher of the FFCB, Louise Goulet and Richard Stewart from the Francophone Affairs Office, Yseult Friolet of the FFCB and Hélène Cameron of RésoSanté C.-B. Goals of the B.C. Health Guide project: Respond in French to fundamental needs for healthcare information and services as noted by the Francophone community and the Yukon s Ministry of Health. Promote exchanges between Francophone communities and the ministries responsible for healthcare services. Support provincial ministries in their efforts to deliver services and maintain a dialogue with Francophone communities in B.C. and the Yukon. Improve the delivery of primary health care services to Francophone communities. Promote the development and visibility of Francophone communities in B.C. and the Yukon. 2The second service transition initiative, En Français? Improving Access to Health Care for Francophones in BC is being piloted by the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). RésoSanté is overseeing the project by sitting on the steering committee and has provided assistance by ensuring the link with those involved in Francophone communities. Work is already underway for each of the target areas. Goals of the Provincial Health Services Authority Francophone initiative: Coordinate the compilation of a provincial directory of people and organizations involved in health and identify bilingual staff currently working in the field of provincial healthcare. Develop a single point of access for medical interpretation services within the province. Extend the inventory and availability of health education materials in French through an interprovincial network of Francophone agencies Develop a provincial access point linking the Conseil scolaire francophone (CSF) and other organizations. 3The third project implemented in 2004, Improving Access to Primary Health Care Services for Francophones in Vancouver Coastal Health is being piloted by the authority that serves Vancouver and some of the coast to the north: Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH). RésoSanté is overseeing the project and assists in liaison. The task of adapting the computer systems and training data entry staff has already begun. Goals of the Francophone initiative of the Vancouver Health Authority: Improve access to primary health services in French for Francophones living in Vancouver and Richmond community health districts by using a clinical data system to: create a directory of Frenchspeaking healthcare professionals; enter into the clinical data system information on a client s spoken language(s). Improve individuals access to Frenchlanguage health education materials via the VCH s Web site. Provide information in French to individuals on the services provided by VCH, including primary health care, via the VCH Web site. Two new projects are getting off the ground just as the year is coming to an end. The first is Préparer le terrain en Colombie- Britannique preparing the groundwork in B.C. and represents one of the provincial aspects of a nationwide initiative being piloted by the Société Santé en français. It will be coordinated by RésoSanté in conjunction with the University of British Columbia (UBC) School of Medicine. The initiative is intended to determine how well family medical practices are able to serve Francophones and to suggest ways that this capacity can be improved. The second project is focused on how to better inform Vancouver Island Francophones about health care and is supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The initiative will be implemented solely on Vancouver Island with the cooperation of local health care providers and the Island s Francophone associations. It will enable public health practitioners to better consider the needs of Francophones wherever they deliver public health care. An action plan for proposed changes to existing practices will be developed and a guide to practitioners and public health care information sources will be published. 11

12 At the Provincial Level RésoSanté Colombie-Britannique An evolving network On July 3, 2004, the Sectoral Table on French- Language Health Services in B.C. was launched: RésoSanté C.-B. When it was established, the network consisted of 19 members representing the community, institutions, healthcare professionals, provincial and federal governments, as well as representatives from medical training institutions. RésoSanté coordinator, Yves Trudel The configuration of RésoSanté has changed somewhat this year. Éducacentre, which was already a member, was officially recognized as a representative of the medical training institution segment. A representative of the Conseil scolaire francophone now sits at the table. A third medical professional, a family physician, has also joined the network. In addition, RésoSanté has opened a permanent office at the Maison de la francophonie in Vancouver, and a coordinator has been hired to manage the organization s activities. RésoSanté, the product of FFCB s efforts in the healthcare sector, works to RésoSanté C.-B. is one of 17 French-language health networks in Canada. The President of RésoSanté, Dr. Brian Conway, sits on the board of directors of the national Société Santé en français. Its mandate was renewed at the Annual General Meeting held in Ottawa in October develop health services in French across British Columbia. It also strives to integrate them into the province s existing healthcare services and ensure their sustainability. Better understanding of needs Two studies sponsored by RésoSanté were published over the course of the year. In November 2004, La Boussole community centre, which works with French-speaking people in need, published a report entitled Disadvantaged Francophones in Vancouver and Health Services Available to Them. All of the Francophones questioned expressed their desire to access health services in French, but stated that this is hardly ever possible. The report makes recommendations on how the community can help and puts the onus on governments, drawing attention to the need for changes to existing health services, particularly in the area of mental health. The second report, published in early 2005 by the Foyer Maillard, was entitled Needs Assessment: French-Language Health Services Available to Tri-Cities Francophone Population. This new study confirmed a number of findings from a survey conducted by the FFCB in 2002 into the health needs of Francophones. Access to a French-speaking family doctor, and access to palliative care, long-term care and home care in French were also identified as priorities. It is interesting to note that more than 30% of respondents believed that they could not count on anyone in their social circle if they were to fall ill. This confirms the importance of a service such as the Foyer Maillard, which is the only health care facility in British Columbia with a mandate to provide services in French. Accessing health professionals in French RésoSanté continued to collect data on health care professionals who can provide services in French. A new edition of the directory was published in the FFCB s Annuaire des services en français and will appear again in the edition. The directory is also available on the RésoSanté Web site; the online version is updated regularly. 12 We also have to rely on providing health professionals with training in French in order to improve access to Frenchlanguage services. For this reason, RésoSanté helped promote the full-time program for individual support services personnel offered by Éducacentre. In December, RésoSanté brought together representatives from the Conseil scolaire francophone, Éducacentre and Simon Fraser University to discuss French-language health care training in British Columbia. In addition, our network takes part in the efforts of the national health training organization, the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS). Representatives from RésoSanté and Éducacentre worked with partners from Alberta, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon to develop a regional action plan for French-language health care training that should be ready by early summer And, finally, a RésoSanté delegation took part in the first national forum on health research organized by the CNFS in December 2004.

13 At the Provincial Level The Federal-Provincial Agreement on French-language services The Canada-British Columbia General Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages, which was signed on April 2, 2001, is very important for the Francophone community. Under the agreement, the community has its own responsibility centre within the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat as well as a means by which Frenchlanguage services can be developed within the provincial government. With the first agreement coming to an end on March 31, 2004, the FFCB has been urging the province to negotiate a second agreement. Despite the Fédération s efforts to facilitate the renewal, the agreement still had not been signed as of March 31, In addition to this support, the FFCB maintained regular contact with the Francophone Affairs Office on a number of issues such as immigration, provincial government advertising in Francophone media and negotiation of a cooperation agreement with the government of Quebec. Working with the Government of Quebec The government of Quebec is seeking to more closely connect with Francophone communities outside of Quebec. The FFCB therefore represented B.C. s Francophones in the context of initiatives led by this government. FFCB representatives took part in the Forum de Québec on renewal of the Programme de soutien à la francophonie canadienne in May They took part in the Centre de la francophonie des Amériques project. In January 2005, they met with the head of the Bureau du Québec en Colombie-Britannique, Jocelyn Beaudoin. Who is RésoSanté? One person representing: the FFCB, la Boussole, Réseau-Femmes C.-B., the Conseil scolaire francophone de la C.-B, Foyer Maillard, the provincial government, the federal government, each of the six health authorities, a university-level educational institution, a college-level educational institution, nurses, family physicians, specialists and professionals working in health care facilities. On January 19, 2005, the head of the Bureau du Québec en C.-B., Jocelyn Beaudoin, visited the offices of the FFCB and met with its spokespeople. Here he is flanked by the FFCB s Yseult Friolet and Michelle Rakotonaivo. 13

14 At the Provincial Level Education Education Conference As part of its presidents meeting on November 13, 2004, the FFCB held an education conference based on the theme of schools and the Francophone network being two pillars of community development. More than 65 individuals, public servants, education workers and members of the Francophone community took part in this working session. Conference participants enjoyed a number of different presentations. Serge Corbeil of the FFCB provided statistics on the Francophone community and the language profiles of young people. Then Marc Gignac of the Fédération des parents francophones de C.-B. (FPFCB) provided an overview of how far we have come in education to date and the challenges yet to be overcome. Danielle Arcand of Simon Fraser University spoke about cultural identity in Francophone schools and Mario Cyr, principal of l École Gabrielle-Roy, and Anne-Marie Guminski, President of the Association des francophones de Surrey, described the reality of community schools in their institutions. Josette Desquins of B.C. s Francophone Education Authority, the Conseil scolaire francophone de la C.-B. (CSF), presented the Passeport francophone. Conference attendees were also encouraged to provide their thoughts on two subjects: what do young people think about More than 65 people attended the education conference. how the Francophone identity is represented in schools and in the community; and the role of Francophone associations in future education developments. The conference was enormously successful. It provided a venue for sharing important information on Francophone education within the context of community development. It also allowed people representing community organizations to learn more about young people s reality, and about the activities of the CSF and the challenges it faces. By the end of the conference, it was clear to most participants that schools and the community must strengthen their partnerships if the future vitality of the community is to be assured. In keeping with this understanding, at the meeting following the conference, FFCB members proposed that education be maintained as a priority sector for programming. The weaker a community s vitality, the more important its school. However, a school s linguistic and cultural vitality is inversely proportional to the significance of its role. Source: FPFCB presentation. 14

15 At the Provincial Level Education The SFU Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs opens its doors On April 5, 2004, the provincial and federal governments announced they would fund SFU s initiatives to support post-secondary education in French in British Columbia. Backed by this funding, the Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs (OFFA) officially opened its doors in March 2004 and launched the B.A. program in French on its campus in September The FFCB was very pleased to take part in all three of these events, marking a successful conclusion to its efforts over the course of that year and preceding years to develop French-language postsecondary programs in B.C. Despite these successes, the FFCB will continue to work in the area of post-secondary education. It will maintain close relations with the BFFA through a seat on the advisory committee established by the university. Francophone celebrations in Vancouver The Government of Canada wanted to highlight the weeklong celebration of Francophone culture, the Semaine de la francophonie, by hosting a public event at Vancouver s Library Square on March 16, The Department of Canadian Heritage invited all government representatives and Vancouver s Francophone community to come celebrate Francophone culture and introduce themselves to the general public. Célébrations de la francophonie de Vancouver brought together more than 20 exhibitors and drew several hundred people who visited the various booths. The FFCB took advantage of the fact that government officials and the general public were in attendance to award the Le Cornouiller d or prize and to distribute its new bilingual brochure on the Francophone community and its corporate flyer. Photo courtesy of Canadian Heritage Le Cornouiller d or Prize The FFCB awarded Le Cornouiller d or Prize to Thérèse Vermette of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Since 2001, Ms. Vermette has worked actively for the Francophone community through her role as liaison with the FFCB and her responsibilities in the area of immigration at the provincial and national level. For the third year running, this award recognizes the work of federal and provincial government officials who have made exceptional contributions to the development of the Francophone community in British Columbia. The award ceremony took place on March 16, at Vancouver s Library Square. More than 200 individuals, Francophone community members and provincial and federal government representatives took part in the celebration. Yseult Friolet (l.) and Michelle Rakotonaivo (r.) award the plaque to the winner of Le Cornouiller d or Prize, Thérèse Vermette. 15

16 Supporting the Association Network Fondation des francophones de la C.-B. Over the course of this fiscal year, the FFCB supported the administration of the Fondation des francophones de la C.-B., which was crucial for the foundation s activities. Specifically, the FFCB completed a promotional brochure for the Fondation, developed a Web site, organized its board meetings, and planned the first fund-raising banquet for the organization. This first fundraiser, held on November 13, 2004 as part of the FFCB s 60th anniversary celebrations and the Presidents meeting, drew more than 120 people. Fifteen sponsors contributed to the event s success, which amounted to the raising of nearly $10,000 for the foundation. Management training The Fédération offered its member associations a workshop on personality profiles and their influence on communication styles and individual and organizational behaviour. Some twenty people attended the session led by Nathalie Claveau, a consultant with EUCAN group. Support and sponsorships... The FFCB supported a number of member associations throughout the year, either by providing them with administrative assistance or by taking part in media events. Administrative support: Administrative and financial management support to La Boussole, as well as support in approaching Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (RSDC) for its job search project. Meeting with the board of directors of the Club Bon Acceuil in Power River and community representatives to discuss succession. Letters of support for a number of projects and advisory role to various associations: the Association des francophones de Nanaimo, Éducacentre, Réseau-Femmes C.-B., La Boussole, Théâtre la Seizième, the Association des francophones de Kootenays Ouest, the Société de développement économique de la C.-B., the Association des francophones et francophiles du Nord-Ouest, the Association francophone de Campbell River and the Conseil culturel et artistique francophone de la C.-B. Advertising and sponsorships: Canadian Club dinner to honour recipients of the Order of Canada, including a member of our community, Marie Bourgeois Canadian Parents for French public speaking competition Francophone program graduate scholarship 16

17 Supporting the Association Network...Support and sponsorships 30th anniversary souvenir program for Théâtre la Seizième Éducacentre s student handbook 100th anniversary of the Alliance Française de Vancouver Summer festival program for the Vancouver Francophone Cultural Centre Special segments for St. Jean- Baptiste Day and Christmas in the Express du Pacifique Award and programming of the Gala de la chanson hosted by the Conseil culturel et artistique francophone de la C.-B. Association des francophones de Kamloops calendar of events Participation: Law Day hosted by the Association des juristes d expression française de la C.-B. Opening of the new École Gabrielle-Roy Arts day organized by the Cercle des Canadiens français de Prince-George Éducacentre graduation ceremony Opening of the Théâtre la Seizième season Celebrations around Black History Month organized by the Centre d intégration pour immigrants africains Francophone festival put on by the Société francophone de Victoria Annual general meetings of the Chambre de commerce francocolombienne, Conseil jeunesse, the Société Maillardville-Uni, the Société Biculturelle de Maillardville et du Foyer Maillard, the Cercle des Canadiens français de Prince- George, the Association des francophones de Surrey, the Association francophone de Campbell River, the Club Bon Accueil de Powell River, the Association des francophones de Nanaimo, the Société de développement économique de la C.-B., and the Maison de la francophonie. This year, the FFCB spent more than $5000 on advertising and sponsorships to support its members and Francophone organizations. Fédération des parents francophones de la C.-B. student kit Press conference for the Festival d été at the Vancouver Francophone Cultural Centre Franco-fun games organized by the Conseil Jeunesse Souvenir program and Maple Sugar Festival organized by the Association des francophones de Nanaimo Launch of the Conseil culturel et artistique francophone de la C.-B. directory Corn festival held by the Association des francophones de Surrey Special segment on the Festival du Bois organized by the Société Maillardville-Uni Maple Sugar Festival held by the Association des francophones de Nanaimo The FFCB took part in a number of festivals and other celebrations held by its member associations. Here FFCB board member Paul Deroy hands out information to a Vancouver Island Francophile attending Nanaimo s Maple Sugar Festival. Program of activities for Black History Month organized by the Centre d intégration pour immigrants africains Scouts francophones de la C.-B. information kit The Fête de Maillardville and the Festival du Bois held by the Société Maillardville-Uni Launch of the 25th anniversary of the Francophone Program operated by the Conseil scolaire francophone de C.-B. 17

18 Communications The directory of services in French The 21st edition of L Annuaire, La Colombie-Britannique à votre service en français was launched on September 16, 2004 at a reception held at the Vancouver Francophone Cultural Centre. At this same event, the FFCB unveiled the front cover of the Annuaire, which is part of an annual design competition, and announced the winner. The prize was awarded to Agnès Untz, owner of Oranda Graphic Design and a graphic designer for the newspaper, L Express du Pacifique. Six attendees at the Annuaire launch: Richard Stewart, MLA responsible for B.C. Francophone Affairs, Hedy Fry, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Michelle Rakotonaivo, Paul Deroy and Claude Provencher of the FFCB s Board of Directors, and Jean-Louis Hérivault, head of the Bureau du Québec together to award the illustration prize. More than 240 advertisers were included in the directory, which this year went to a run of 12,000 copies for the first time ever an increase of 2,000 over last year. L Annuaire is available on the Francophone community Web site ( Once again, statistics show that the directory pages are the most visited section on the site. With a number of Francophone organization, federal department, business and professional leaders in attendance, the Fédération took the opportunity to announce that Claude Provencher was stepping down as President of the FFCB. Close to one hundred people attended the launch of the 21st edition of the Annuaire. The Annuaire

19 Communications 60th Anniversary of the FFCB A significant amount of energy this fiscal year went into activities around the 60th Anniversary celebrations. Working with the theme a history to celebrate and a future to share, the FFCB opened the 60th Anniversary celebrations on August 20, 2004 at a reception attended by several representatives of Francophone associations. It should be noted that the FFCB s celebrations, which continue until August 2005, celebrate the presence of Francophones in British Columbia since 1793, highlight the organization s sixty years as the community s representative organization and underline the strength of the Francophone community network in all sectors of this province. At the launch event, the FFCB introduced the 60th Anniversary Honourary Committee and the logo, poster, banner and promotional calendar of events taking place in the regions and in Francophone organizations during the celebration period. More than 75 events and 50 organizations were listed in the calendar of events of which 10,000 copies were distributed to Francophones and Francophiles through schools, organizations and publications. The FFCB also produced a bilingual brochure that is a form of introduction to the province s Francophone community. Ten thousand copies were printed and distributed for the first time at celebrations organized by Canadian Heritage in March Throughout the year, Francophone associations took part in the Anniversary by hosting various events. The FFCB launched its annual directory, held a conference on education and will bring this banner year to a close by hosting a symposium on cultural identity and a banquet that will take place during the Annual General Meeting in June Throughout the evening, attendees were able to view the 60th Anniversary logo and promotional banner. FFCB 60th Anniversary Honourary Committee The Honourable Iona Campagnolo, PC, CM, OBC, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Richard Stewart, MLA responsible for Francophone Affairs, Government of British Columbia Jocelyn Beaudoin, Head of the Bureau du Québec en Colombie-Britannique Vancouver branch office Jean-Yves Defay, French Consul, General Consulate of France Michelle Rakotonaivo, President, Fédération des francophones de la C.-B. Renée Popov, President, Conseil scolaire francophone de la C.-B. Jacques Becker, President of the Alliance française in Vancouver Stéphane Boisjoly, Director - Radio, Société Radio-Canada Michelle Smolkin, Head of French-language television programming, Société Radio-Canada These Honourary Committee members agreed to support the FFCB s 60th Anniversary and we thank them for their commitment. 19

20 Communications Sponsors of the FFCB s 60th Anniversary Gold Sponsors Conseil scolaire francophone Éducacentre L Express du Pacifique Société de développement économique de la C.-B. Société Radio-Canada Silver Sponsors Alliance française de Vancouver SFU Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs Fondation des francophones de la C.-B. La Source Pacific Federal Council RésoSanté Colombie-Britannique British Columbia Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat Francophone Affairs Awarding of the Prix Napoléon Gareau At its Annual General Meeting on June 11, 2004, the FFCB awarded the Prix Napoléon Gareau to Marie Bourgeois, Executive Director of the Maison de la francophonie de Vancouver. The FFCB highlighted her exceptional contributions to the development, advancement and growth of the Francophone community over the last 25 years. Ms. Bourgeois is known for her tireless commitment to promoting the French language and Francophone culture. Through her dedicated efforts on various boards of directors, she was a strong advocate in representing, promoting and defending the rights and interests of Francophone women and parents within the province. 20 Bronze Sponsors Association des écrivains francophones de la Colombie-Britannique Association des francophones de Nanaimo Association historique francophone de Victoria Vancouver Francophone Cultural Centre Cercle des Canadiens-Français de Prince George Conseil culturel et artistique francophone de la Colombie-Britannique Secrétariat aux affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes du gouvernement du Québec Vancouver branch office Société francophone de Victoria Société Maillardville-Uni Société Radio Communautaire Victoria Sophie Investments Inc. Syndicat des enseignantes et enseignants du programme francophone de la Colombie-Britannique Théâtre la Seizième Ouessan Consultants Corp. Fondation canadienne française d aide culturelle de la C.-B. Marie Woolridge, Yseult Friolet and Claude Provencher present a commemorative plaque to Marie Bourgois, winner of this year s Prix Napoléon Gareau (second from left). Public speaking competition Every year, the FFCB awards a $100 prize to the winner of the public speaking competition organized by Canadian Parents for French. In addition to providing the prize, FFCB Communications Coordinator, Mylène Letellier, was a competition judge.

21 Communications FFCB s new image The FFCB took advantage of its 60th Anniversary to get a make-over. The new image is more dynamic and reflects the organization s openness to Francophones of all origins. The new corporate brochure and banner effectively convey the community s new direction and that of its representative organization. Overview of the 59th Annual General Meeting The 59th Annual General Meeting of the FFCB took place in Richmond on June 11, 12 and 13, Representatives from 37 Francophone associations throughout the province met to discuss a number of important issues for the Fédération and the community. Specifically, they spoke about health, renewal of the Canada-Community Agreement, immigration, federal elections, interdepartmental cooperation, the FFCB s 60th Anniversary celebrations and the study committee on cultural diversity in B.C. The FFCB also used the opportunity to hold workshops with some 60 delegates on the network s strategy and activities in the federal elections. During the course of this meeting, members also accepted the Alliance française de Vancouver, the Centre d intégration pour immigrants africains, and the Société Radio communautaire Victoria as new associate members of the Fédération. Members of the FFCB s board of directors were also elected at that time. Scholarships Every year, the FFCB awards a $1,000 scholarship to recognize the efforts of graduates of the Francophone Program. This year, the prize was awarded to Tara Commandeur, a graduate from the Francophone Program at Summerland High School, in recognition of her hard work at the secondary level and to encourage her to pursue post-secondary studies in French. Ms. Commandeur is acknowledged not only for her academic results but also for her involvement in school and community life. Board of Directors of the FFCB Michelle Rakotonaivo, President Pierre Blouin, Treasurer Gilles Toupin, Director, Vancouver Island North Paul Deroy, Director, Vancouver Island South Pierre Senay, Director, Greater Vancouver Éveline Bergeron, Director, Northern British Columbia Yseult Friolet, Executive Director Claude Provencher, President until September 2004 The FFCB thanks all its board members for their hard work and commitment. Members of the Board of Directors of the FFCB, june

22 Financial Statements Statements of revenue and expenses of the Fédération des francophones de la C.-B. from April 1, 2004 to March 31, Revenue Department of Canadian Heritage - Operating funds $ 400,000 $ 401,646 Société Santé en français - Public Health Agency of Canada 279, ,879 Department of Canadian Heritage - Agreement Secretariat 75, ,000 Department of Canadian Heritage - Interdepartmental cooperation 75,000 75,000 Citizenship and Immigration Canada 37,941 52,828 Advertising sales - Annuaire 36,326 39,090 Sponsorship 29,330 Sales of services and miscellaneous 16,894 35,480 Registration fees 15,670 16,909 Department of Canadian Heritage - Management Certificate Project 10,000 10,000 FCFA of Canada 7,500 Young Canada Works 6,416 Membership fees 4,750 5,475 Human Resources and Skills Development of Canada 3,775 3,781 Western Economic Diversification 2,790 British Columbia Government 2,500 20,000 Miscellaneous 968 Interest 677 2,557 Éducacentre 4,408 1,005, ,053 Expenses Health and Social Services 291, ,276 Management 233, ,485 Lobbying and legal 157, ,788 Communication 122, ,460 Support 95, ,780 Community 65,476 18,715 Education and training 26,788 29, ,097 SURPLUS OF REVENUE (DEFICIT) OVER EXPENSES $ 13,146 $ (5,044) 22

23 FFCB Member Associations Active Members Association des francophones de Nanaimo Association des francophones des Kootenays Ouest Association des francophones et francophiles du Nord-Ouest Association des juristes d expression française de la C.-B info@ajefcb.ca Association francophone de Campbell River afcr.info@afcr.bc.ca Association francophone de Kamloops kam_franco@direct.ca Association francophone de la Vallée de Comox administration@francophonecomox.org Association francophone de Surrey afsurrey@telus.net Association historique francophone de Victoria ahfvic@islandnet.com Centre culturel francophone de Vancouver info@lecentreculturel.com Cercle des Canadiens-Français de Prince George cercle@netbistro.com Chambre de commerce franco-colombienne ccs@dccnet.com Club Bon Accueil de Powell River francais@prcn.org Conseil culturel et artistique francophone de la C.-B directeur@ccafcb.com Conseil jeunesse francophone de la C.-B conseil_jeunesse@telus.net Fédération des parents francophones de la C.-B info@fpfcb.bc.ca La Boussole laboussole@shaw.ca La Société de développement économique de la C.-B info@sdecb.com La Société d Habitation la Vérendrye (Atira Property) joan@atira.ca La Société francophone de Victoria sfv@francocentre.com La Troupe de danse traditionnelle Les Cornouillers lescornouillers@hotmail.com Réseau-Femmes Colombie-Britannique rfcb@telus.net Scouts francophones de la Colombie-Britannique info@scoutsfranco.com Société Maillardville-Uni smu@maillardville.com Théâtre la Seizième directionartistique@seizieme.ca Supporting Members A.P.P.I.P.C sbergeron@sd43.bc.ca Alliance française de Vancouver info@alliancefrancaise.ca Canadian Parents for French (BC Branch) info@cpf.bc.ca Centre culturel français de l Okanagan ccfo@shawcable.com Centre d intégration pour les immigrants africains ciai@canada.com Éducacentre paulettebouffard@educacentre.com Fondation André Piolat La Fête colombienne des enfants george@l2ed.com La Fondation c.f. d aide culturelle de la C.-B Société Biculturelle de Maillardville Société Radio Communautaire Victoria radio@francocentre.com Syndicat des enseignantes et enseignants du programme lp93@bctf.ca 23