The Nova Scotia Branch and National Office would like to thank you for attending the 2018 Network Conference in Halifax. Thanks to your attendance and support, we were able to honour our valuable members and volunteers who make CPF possible. We hope you had fun and look forward to seeing you in Edmonton 2020!

Saturday, October 20, 2018, Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax Centre, joined us at the Conference during the Parent FSL Expo. He is pictured here with members of our National Board of Directors.

Patricia Holland was our guest at the President’s Banquet. She is the founding Director of CPF NS Branch. She is pictured here along with her son and Nancy McKeraghan.

Friday, October 20, 2018, His Honour, The Honourable Arthur J. Leblanc, ONS, QC, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia and his wife, Her Honour, Mrs. Patsy LeBlanc graced us with their presence during the official opening ceremony of the 2018 Network Conference in Halifax. They are pictured with members of the National Board of Directors. 

On Friday, October 20, 2018, The State of French Second Language Education in Canada 2018: Focus on French Second Language Teachers was launched, and is now available.

This year the report takes an in-depth look at research in the current millennium relating to FSL teaching and teachers, both preservice and in-service, including updates on FSL teacher supply and demand, issues relating to core French in western Canada (and elsewhere), a professional language portfolio as a tool for reflective practice, and the potential of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) to support FSL teachers.

Research Committee Chair Dr. Wendy Carr and Principal Investigator Mimi Mason (University of Ottawa), shared the main findings and fielded questions from the FSL report.

Did you love the workshop session you attended? Do you want to learn more about the other workshops? We have made presentations and handouts readily available to all on our website.

We ask all workshop presenters to share your materials with Janik Bastide at jbastide@cpf.ca so that she may continue to update the website page.

We were inspired by 3 Plenary speakers. Francoise Albert, OCOL Atlantic Representative, spoke to Modernizing the Official Languages Act – when, why, how? Hughie Batherson, Vice-President Recruitment and Partnerships at Université Sainte-Anne shared how they encourage students’ authentic language learning and living. And finally, Sunday morning, Henry Annan inspired us with his story, as past CPF Concours winner and now as a medical student striving to ensure access to medical services to French speakers across Canada. He is pictured with Nicole Thibault, Executive Director, CPF National and MC for the conference.

Thirty different Breakout Workshop Sessions were delivered addressing the four different pillars of the CPF Network Strategic Plan. The PowerPoint presentations and / or handout materials have now been posted for our members’ reference. Titles include:

- Developing a Relationship with the Media
- Energizing your Chapter
- How to Organize a Career Fair! En français!
- Succession planning for Dummies
- Inclusion in a French Immersion Classroom – A Parent’s Perspective

Thanks to volunteer delegates for sharing their testimonials on why they contribute to the success of our Canadian Parents for French national Network.

“I volunteer with CPF because I want my children to learn about their French heritage and language.”

“My favourite memory with CPF is meeting like-minded advocates for French and bilingualism and sharing stories. Connecting with parents, teachers and FSL supporters from across the country at National conference and AGMs is a fantastic opportunity.”

“I am the product of a success story for the French Immersion program, I want only the best and more for my children. Without CPF no French immersion is possible in my town.”

On Friday evening during the Presidents Banquet, three devoted individuals were recognized for having provided leadership and contributed much to the growth of the CPF Network. The three CPF Awards of Recognition were given to:

CPF Distinguished Life Membership – Wendy Karstad, CPF NWT Branch President

CPF National Volunteer Award – Tony Orlando, CPF NS Branch President (outgoing)

CPF J. Elmer Hynes Excellence in Leadership Award – Barbara Mison, CPF ON Branch, Administrative Assistant

The Mary Joyce Booth Endowment facilitates youth projects and additional learning opportunities through the CPF Network. 

The Silent Auction - Thanks to everyone having contributed a donation to be auctioned. And thanks to our enthusiastic buyers, we raised $3,245 this year.

The 50/50 Raffle – Tickets were sold with the winner splitting the pot with the MJB Endowment. The total amount raised was $270 raised with 50% for MJB and $135 to Brooklyn Barre from the CPF SK Branch. Congratulations!   

Reminder that CPF is a registered charity and we believe charity begins at home! Your donations in support of Canadian Parents for French are welcomed, appreciated and invested into the MJB Endowment to support youth opportunities.

Charitable organization Number is: 11883 5131 RR0001.

CPF Chapter Feedback Survey, Two Android Tablet Winners
 
We invited our Chapter delegates to fill in the Chapter Feedback Survey. It will help us better understand the issues and concerns faced in volunteer work and what could be helpful to the Chapters going forward. Those who filled in the survey by Sunday morning entered the draw to win two Android Tablets. And the winners are:  

-      Kristin Stringer, Calgary, AB
-      Sara Convery, Morden, MB
 
CPF Network Conference Exhibitors Passport, Five Prize Winners
 
We welcomed 12 organizations to display their materials and to reach out and share their programs with our CPF Network delegates. Those having visited each table, and having their ‘passport’ signed, were entered into a draw to win one of 5 door prizes. And the winners are:
 
-      Jessica Young, North Vancouver, BC
-      Honey Bellman, Nelson, BC
-      Marguerite Kuiack, Marsh Lake, YK
-      Laura Ayre, Airdrie, AB
-      Claire Arnold, North Vancouver, BC

Your feedback is important in helping us improve future events. If you did not already complete the conference evaluation form (the yellow sheet of paper distributed on Sunday morning) or if you have additional feedback that you would like to share with us, we invite you to complete the online version of the form until Friday, November 23, here.

Originally a meeting held by a Grand Master and with the help of the Mi’kmaq First Nation people, food and entertainment were provided to settlers to fortify their bodies and minds to make it through the long winter. Now l'Ordre de Bon Temps is celebrated as a bond between the people of Nova Scotia and visitors of the province. All visitors are entitled to the membership provided they agree to have a good time, remember us fondly, speak of us kindly and come back again.

All Conference delegates having registered early, should have received a certificate. If you didn’t receive a certificate during the conference, there is still time to make the request. Please provide your name directly to Rebecca Lancaster, CPF NS Executive Director, at cpfexec@ns.cpf.ca. Vive le bon temps en Nouvelle-Écosse!

On Sunday, at the close of the event, CPF announced Edmonton, Alberta as the next location for the CPF Network conference in 2020. We look forward to working closely with CPF AB in offering another great learning and networking opportunity!

The CoP attended a governance education session that reviewed the CPF Board of Directors Orientation Manual currently being finalized and posted to the CPF National website, included a brief discussion on financial oversight obligations and identified priorities going forward. A CoP meeting was held and outgoing members, Diane Tijman and Tony Orlando, were thanked for their contributions.

Council of President meetings may be more fun than they let on!?!

A very productive CoED meeting followed the CPF Network Conference. CPF National Committee representation was reviewed and members identified for the coming year. Branch Executive Directors’ participation on National and Network Committees provide invaluable expertise and support for the advancement of CPF Network initiatives.

Sophie Wertheimer joined the group to share progress, set timelines and gain insight on priorities for the performance measurement strategy initiatives underway and those planned for the new year.

Completed CPF Branch Annual Performance Reports were circulated and a timeline of December 15th was set to complete all Branch Reports for the past fiscal year 2017-2018. Upon which time, the first CPF Network Summary Report will be completed for early January 2019. An obligation identified within the PCH Impact Study recommendations.

Chelsea Craig began working 3 days a week as Coordinator for CPF QC-NU Project in Montreal on October 29th, 2018. We sincerely thank Gabrielle Guillon for her efforts over the last year and wish her well in her new endeavors. Chelsea has worked with QCGN our partner group in Quebec, is a product of the French immersion program and looks forward to her first visit to Iqaluit in May!

For CPF, volunteer recruitment is critical and finding the right volunteers can make all the difference. As we work with the vulnerable sector, including youth, it is important to comply with all legal and insurance obligations to ensure the safety of our volunteers, staff and our clients participating in CPF activities, events and contests.

We are requesting that ALL CPF volunteers complete a profile application form to create a CPF Network Volunteer Registry.

BRANCH ACTION: Inform all volunteers to complete the CPF Volunteer Profile Application Form throughout the 2018-2019 school year to normalize the practice before mandatory implementation. The goal of enforcing mandatory registration is set for Fall 2019, as per our insurance obligations.

The survey will help identify the current situation related to our technology needs as we move forward consolidating tasks and establishing a common baseline across the Network. This is an identified deliverable within our PCH funding contribution agreements for 2017 to 2020.

BRANCH ACTION: Complete the Branch and Individual Surveys by the deadline, November 12, 2018.

Chapters and volunteers are at the heart of the CPF Network. We want to understand the issues and concerns they face in volunteer work and the types of support that would be helpful to Chapters. We invite CPF Chapters to complete the 2018 Chapter Feedback Survey.

Completing the survey should take 10 to 15 minutes. The Survey will stay open until Monday, December 10, 2018. You will be entered to win one of 3 $50 gift certificates (the draw will take place on Wednesday December 12, 2018).

BRANCH ACTION: Communicate directly with Chapters to request completion of the Survey by the deadline December 11th, 2018. Thank you for your support and participation!

A reminder that the CPF National office will be closed on Monday, November 12, 2018 to recognize Remembrance Day.

Elections Canada has series of new resources to complement our tried-and-true teacher tools. These resources are linked to curriculum outcomes and learning competencies in all provinces and territories. Through this renewed program, Civic Education resources can be brought into classrooms to help educators prepare and engage future voters to participate in electoral democracy.