ECONOMIC ISSUES

In the Fall of 1992, the Fédération
struck a working committee to discuss
economic issues and to organize a re-
gional seminar on economic develop-
ment. This committee was made up of
organizations within the francophone
community including the Chambre de
Commerce Franco-Colombienne, La
Société d’Habitation la Vérendrye, the
cooperative housing movement, La
Société Maison de la Francophonie, Le
Conseil jeunesse francophone de la
Colombie-Britanniqueas well as Réseau-
Femmes Colombie-Britannique. On
February 13, 1993, more than a hun-

YOUNG PEOPLE

dred francophone delegates from
Alberta, the Yukon and British
Columbia participated in the Regional
Seminar on Economic Development
which took place in Vancouver. At its
meeting in March of 1993, the
Fédération’s Council of Presidents offi-
cially created the “Comité des
partenaires en économie” - [Partners in
the Economy Committee]. The princi-
pal mandate of this standing committee
is to study the recommendations made at
the regional seminar and to develop guide-
lines for the creation of an economic
development space in British Columbia.

B.C.’s FRANCOPHONE SENIORS

The youth movement also contributed to the vitality of our
community. At its Annual General Meeting the Conseil
jeunesse launched its first “Jeux francophones dela Colombie-
Britannique” -[B.C. Francophone Games] - which took place
from May 15 to 18, 1992. This first initiative of Le Conseil
jeunesse francophone de la Colombie-Britannique was a
success with more than 50 young people taking part in sports
activities, workshops and a forum on francophone culture in
B.C. Another initiative promoted by the C,J.F.C.B. over the
last year was aimed at reversing the drop-out rate of young
francophones. This initiative, which involved touring
schools that offer French cadre and immersion programs,
included educational sessions for young people, a dialogue
on the drop-out rate from Programme cadre, and the
distribution of educational materials in French.

A new francophone association officially came into being
during the last weekend in November 1992: L’Assemblée des
ainées et ainés francophones du Canada (A.A.F.C.). Mr. Guy
Martin of Kelowna, is a member of the board of directors,
of the A.A.F.C. which brings together francophone se-
niors' associations across Canada, notably in B.C.

se