8 IMMIGRATION

Two Events in Victoria

Citizenship Ceremony

The FFCB was invited to a bilingual citizenship ceremony held in Victoria on
February 22, 2011. The day was organized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(CIC), the Société francophone de Victoria, and the Victor Brodeur school.

Workshop on Francophone Immigration

Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in cooperation with the Provincial
Government, held a workshop on the promotion and retention of Francophone
immigration in Victoria and on Vancouver Island.

They invited Mr. Jean Bruno Nkondi (CCFI), Ms. Cécile Barbier (CCFI), and

Ms. Ariane Kitengie (FFCB) to give a joint presentation on welcoming new
Francophone immigrants, the challenges of providing services to Working Holiday
Program (WHP) participants, immigrant issues, promotional tools (website,
Facebook page, and Twitter account), and the work of the Regional Implementation
Committee’s working groups. The workshop was aimed at service organizations for
immigrants in Victoria and on Vancouver Island.

National Metropolis 2011 Convention:
Immigration — Bringing the World to Canada

The Connection Centre for Francophone Immigrants (CCFI) was pleased to lead
a round table, for the first time, at the Metropolis convention held in Vancouver
last March. The discussion focussed on managing cultural diversity in a school
environment.

The discussion brought together four Francophone experts in this area:

e Ms. Marianne Jacquet, Assistant Professor, Simon Fraser University

° Mr. Bassirou Diéne, Basic Training Coordinator, Educacentre College

e Mr. Mohammed Soulami, Director General and founder, Actions Interculturelles
de développement et d’éducation

e Mr. Victor Moké Ngala, Associate Director and screen writer,
Karibuni documentary

After defining the concepts of transculturalism and assimilation, Ms. Jacquet
discussed the strategies adopted as part of a master’s training. Mr. Soulami
discussed the need to also train administrative staff and develop tools for identify-
ing various cultural codes. Ms. Bassirou addressed the specific context of minority
Francophones, and Mr. Victor Moké Ngala gave concrete examples of challenges

for young African immigrants and their families in schools. The discussions were
enriched by participants, particularly Ms. Patricia Garvey, [TEFIE] with the Conseil
scolaire francophone de la C.-B. She shared her experience accompanying families
and children.

To highlight the event, students from the
Victor Brodeur School decorated the room,
sang the national anthem, and played
the piano.

Participants at the regional Francophone
immigration workshop.

Participants at the round table led by
Ms. Cécile Barbier, CCFI coordinator.