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.