ACTUELLEMENT AFFNO OCTOBRE 2015

MARJIE BROWN (de la page 6)

En 2010, elle a repris ses
études dans des classes franco-
phones a I’université d’ Ottawa,
et elle a commencé a écrire
pour le journal francophone de
Duniversité aussi.

‘J’étais déterminé de tra-
vailler pour le frangais,’ elle
a dit.

Au début, elle avait un
peu peur. ‘J’ai pensé comme
francophile, ce ne serait jamais
possible,’ elle a dit.

Elle a travaillé dans
quelques positions diverses
a Ottawa, mais finalement
en 2013, le réve est devenu
réalité: elle a commencé a tra-
vailler pour le FCFA; d’abords

FIFTEEN YEARS (from page 3)

But in addition, we have
also formed some extremely
important partnerships
throughout our region.

Probably the most important
is with Hecate Strait; without
them, our existence would be
in trouble, I guarantee that.
And with the Northwest (in
particular, Rupert, Terrace
and Kitimat) in the midst of
a potential economic boom,
the chance to work with

comme coordinatrice, mais

maintenant, elle est gestion-
naire de |’immigration et la
diversité francophone.

Brown sait aussi que 2015
commence a étre une an-
née fascinante, ot le nombre
d’immigrants francophones qui
viennent au Canada, et particu-
liérement en C.B., augmente.
Et ce n’est pas facile pour les
nouveaux arrivants, spécifique-
ment dans des provinces anglo-
phones, comme la C.B.

‘Il y a des défis énormes,’
elle a dit, comme un manque
de services disponibles en
frangais.

Une chose importante:

newly arrived Francophone
immigrants will simply help
our association continue

to grow in the future. The
partnership with the Kitimat
Library is also important, as
we work together in an effort
to rekindle our festival in
Kitimat.

We have also managed to
form partnerships throughout
the northwest with CPF
(Canadian Parents for French).

SUCCESS STORY (from page 6)

“I was determined to
work (and with) the French
language,” she said.

That said, at first, she was
nervous. “I thought that was
a Francophile, doing this
wouldn’t be possible,” she
said.

She continued to work
with various positions in Ot-
tawa, but finally, in 2013, the
dream became a reality: she
began to work with the FCFA,
initially as Coordinator; but
now, she is the Administrator
of Immigration and Franco-
phone Diversity.

Brown is well aware that
2015 is starting off as a fasci-
nating year, where the number
of new Francophone im-
migrants arriving in Canada
— and particularly in B.C. —

continues to increase.

“There are some enor-
mous challenges,” she said,
adding that there is a lack of
available services in French,
especially in B.C. And one
important note:

“At the very least, we need
to make sure the new Franco-
phones are well-informed,”
she said.

But for the kids who live
in Northwestern B.C., her
message is a lot more simple:
stay in French Immersion.

“It’s an opening to the rest
of the world,” said Brown.

“There are so many op-
portunities for work, and a
lot of professional opportuni-
ties. When I was young, I
didn’t get involved that much,
but with French, I received

‘Au moins, nous devons faire
en sorte que les nouveaux
francophones sont informés,’
elle a dit.

Mais pour les enfants du
nord-ouest de la C.B., le mes-
sage est beaucoup plus simple:
rester en immersion francaise.

“C’est une ouverture au
monde,’ Brown a dit. ‘Ilya
surtout des opportunités de
travailler, et des avantages
professionnelles.

“Quand j’étais jeune, je
n’étais pas vraiment engagée;
mais avec le frangais, j’ai eu la
chance de faire quelque chose
de spécial.’

Le message est le méme

There is still a ton of work
to do, such as getting French
Immersion in to the high
school in Smithers, and
protecting French Immersion
both in Hazelton and
Skidegate.

That said, we were able
to help CPF Prince Rupert
with their teacher situation
in 2014, we helped CPF
Terrace, Kitimat, and
Hazelton convince the Coast

the chance to do something
amazing.”

The message remains
similar for northwestern B.C.
School Districts.

“We need to continue to
offer French Immersion right
through secondary school,”
said Brown.

“This gives our children
so much opportunity, and a
world to discover!”

And yes, all of this can
happen, even if you were born
and raised in a small town in
northern B.C.

“Tam always proud to tell
everyone that yes, I am from
Terrace,” said Brown. “The
character of a small town can-
not be duplicated anywhere
else.”

Page 7

pour les conseils scolaires dans
le nord-ouest de la C.B. aussi.

‘On doit continuer d’offrir
le programme d’immersion
jusqu’a la fin de l’école secon-
daire’ Brown a dit.

‘Ca donne 4a nos enfants les
opportunités, la capacité de dé-
couvrir beaucoup de choses!’

Et oui, tout cela peut ar-
river, méme si vous venez
d’une petite ville dans le nord
de la C.B.

‘Je suis toujours fiére de
dire que je viens de Terrace,’
Brown a dit. ‘C’est un carac-
tére d’une petite ville qu’on ne
trouve pas ailleurs.‘

Mountain School District to
change their mind regarding
a potential bus fee, and in
return, we have helped each
other with yolunteerism, such
as Halloweenfest in Terrace,
the Smithers Centennial in
2013, and of course, at all our
fundraisers (for us and CPF)
here in Rupert.

We have also begun
working on improving our
relations with First Nations in
our region.

In 2014, we were able to
present John Field Elementary
(now known as Majagaleehl
Gali Aks Elementary) with
trilingual flashcards, and we
did the same for Prince Rupert.
And discussions between
us and the Haida have also
occurred, even though there is
still work to be done.

Finally, for the first time
since moving to Rupert from
Kitimat, we have more than 60
members between Haida Gwaii
and Houston.

So indeed, it is time to
celebrate, but there’s no time
to take a break. The war versus
DELF has only just begun, and
we need to do whatever we
can to ensure that DELF never
replaces French Immersion in
our schools.

See “The Future” on page 10.