CPF NOVA SCOTIA CONFERENCE AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2022
Delegates and special guests gathered for a day of discussion, the AGM and the President’s Banquet
Halifax, Nova Scotia (October 6th, 2022) – Canadian Parents for French, Nova Scotia held its 45th Conference and Annual General meeting on October 1st, 2022. Board members, staff, delegates, special guests, and award recipients were able to gather in person after two years of virtual AGMs. The conference took place at the Oak Island Conference and Resort Centre on the South Shore of the province. Delegates from CPF PEI were happy to be at the conference as they were still without power after Hurricane Fiona.
To kick-start the conference, a meet and greet was held on Friday evening for all conference attendees. Delegates came together the next day for a morning conference. President Kate Ashley and Executive Director Rebecca Lancaster presented an overview of the strategic goals of the organization and an overview of the Nova Scotia branch activities. The conference ended with a workshop on advocacy. The room was filled with great ideas and suggestions for establishing advocacy priorities for 2023-2026.
After a lunch break, conference delegates gathered back for the Annual General Meeting. Isabelle Landry Sonier from the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (Atlantic Region) was the keynote speaker. The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (Atlantic region) is based in Moncton, New Brunswick. Mme Landry Sonier gave a brief presentation on the new census data recently published comparing English and French speakers throughout Canada.
During the Annual General Meeting, the financial statements and the budget for the upcoming year were presented and both approved. President Kate Ashley presented the 2022 slate for the Board of Directors. Joining Kate are returning directors Bailey Ross (Vice President), Maryse Truax (Treasurer), Guillaume Fleury (Secretary), Luc Tardif and Salma Khattab (Youth Representative).
At the CPF Nova Scotia President’s Banquet, Marina Turbide, Program Coordinator, presented Take Your Career Further as a French Teacher, a campaign to inspire young people to become French second language teachers. Take your Career Further as a French Teacher was a two year project funded by the Teacher Recruitment and Retention envelope of Canadian Heritage.
Colin Landry, CPF Nova Past President was awarded French Second Language Champion of the Year. Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Fiona, he was unable to attend the banquet in person. M. Landry was born and raised in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University, Dalhousie University and Université Sainte Anne. His training has provided employment opportunities in both French first language and French second language milieu.
Throughout his teaching career he has always been a constant supporter of the French language and culture. M. Landry has coached and trained many students in the art of public speaking and many have participated in Canadian Parents for French’s Concours d’art oratoire. M. Landry continued his quest for education by completing a Masters Degree in Administration through St. Francis Xavier University as well as a second Masters Degree in French Second Language Acquisition through Université Sainte Anne.
Landry served on the board of Canadian Parents for French, Nova Scotia for a number of years and has served as president and past president of the organization. In addition to his years of volunteer service with Canadian Parents for French, he has also been President of Nova Scotia Language Teachers Association. He resides with his wife Barbara in Sydney and has recently retired from Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board as a French and Math instructor. Félicitations Colin!
Two remarkable individuals were awarded French Second Language Educator of the Year 2022. Alannah MacLean of Ash Lee Jefferson Elementary and Kimberley Messenger of Clark’s Harbour Elementary were this year’s recipients.
At the end of the conference, delegates left feeling rejuvenated, excited, and motivated to continue the work they are doing with Canadian Parents for French. Next up is the 2022 CPF National conference, “FRENCH – MORE THAN WORDS!” an exciting, virtual opportunity offered exclusively to CPF members! Connect, engage, and be inspired!
For more information on the activities and programs of Canadian Parents for French, Nova Scotia, the Annual Performance Report for 2021-2022 is available at https://ns.cpf.ca/files/2022/10/CPF-Nova-Scotia-Annual-Performance-Report-2021-2022.pdf