In 1977, Keith Spicer was serving as Canada’s first-ever Commissioner of Official Languages. Interested in the bilingualism of Canada’s youth, he met with groups of parents across Canada who wanted their children to learn French as a second language (FSL) but who ran into roadblocks at the local school board.
To get the ball rolling, Mr. Spicer offered to find some seed money—enough to organize a national conference of like-minded parents. The result was an event called “Parents’ Conference on French Language and Exchange Opportunities,” which took place in Ottawa in March of 1977. It was during this weekend-long conference that Canadian Parents for French was officially founded as a volunteer-based advocacy group, a collective of parents who wanted to ensure that children would have the opportunity to become bilingual in the Canadian school system.
The first conference determined a few things that are fundamental to the history of CPF. The group outlined its goals and elected its first National Board of Directors, led by inaugural president Pat Webster of Ontario. Her fellow directors were Judith Madley (British Columbia), David Sanders (Prairie Region), Elizabeth Annesley (Quebec), and Mary Lou Morrison (Atlantic Region).
This original small group of concerned parents who met in Ottawa over 30 years ago has evolved into a proactive national network with 10 Branch offices and some 150 Chapters in communities coast to coast to coast.
CPF has a long history in Nova Scotia, and it all started with its founding member, Patricia Holland!
CPF NS Founding Member Patricia Holland
Patricia was born and educated in Halifax. She graduated with a degree in Arts and Journalism from the Convent of the Sacred Heart and Mount Saint Vincent University. Her life took an exciting turn after her marriage and she and her husband moved to Montreal in 1965, then to Toronto, London, England and France.
After over a decade away, her family finally returned to Halifax in 1976. There, they enrolled their youngest son, Daniel, in an early French immersion pilot program in September 1977. At that time, the names of 50 children were drawn from a pool of 100 applicants to form two French immersion primary classes at Ecole Beaufort.
Patricia was noticed for her leadership skills and an active group of parents asked her to become the founding Director for CPF Nova Scotia. She held the position for four years.
The local CPF committee worked tirelessly with other parent groups, teachers and senior educators to lobby the School Board and local and provincial governments to expand the early immersion pilot program. They sought funding for special projects from the federal government and the Department of Secretary of State. They also raised funds through the usual bake sales and an annual French “Expo” at the school.
During those early years, Patricia kept busy writing and presenting proposals to expand French as a second language (FSL) opportunities for Nova Scotian youth. She pushed for the first FSL Summer Camps in Halifax and an exchange with a French first-language school in Digby County.
But she finally, truly found her place as a member of the CPF National Board. Here, she could let her leadership qualities shine through and use her exposure to national FSL figures to inspire others in her province to successfully form CPF Nova Scotia.
We need YOU!
As a non-profit organization, we can’t do what we do without your support.
Become a Member
Join our network and get FSL resources, support, and insider-info only available to members.
Volunteer
We’re always looking for new volunteers who are ready to help young people learn and use French.