Canadian Parents for French Announces Recipients of the CPF Awards of Recognition 2024
Ottawa, July 22, 2024 — Canadian Parents for French conferred the CPF Awards of Recognition 2024 to three individuals that have rendered significant service to the organization. Every two years CPF formally recognizes individuals that have demonstrated dedication to the organization’s mission, vision and values through leadership, advocacy and collaboration within their respective communities and across Canada. These individuals, often noted by their positive influence on others, have also made significant contributions to advancing bilingualism and French as a second language education across the country.
The CPF Awards of Recognition 2024 were presented during the 48th Annual General Meeting in St-John’s, NL. The 2024 deserving recipients are:
- Sharon Lapkin, of Toronto, ON, is recipient of the CPF Distinguished Life Membership for her longstanding service to the organization. Dr. Lapkin is Emeriti Faculty of OISE, University of Toronto. Her research centred on French second language education in studies including large-scale evaluations of French immersion and other intensive formats of FSL programs, qualitative studies of language learning in progress, and meta-analyses of published empirical research on FSL. She served a six-year term as Director for Canadian Parents for French, National co-leading the Network strategic planning strategy. Sharon is one of our longest active CPF members. She has seen CPF through many organizational developmental stages.
- Wendy Carr of Vancouver, BC, is recipient of the CPF National Volunteer Award, for her leadership in governance strategy and service to research within the organization. Dr. Carr is Professor of Teaching Emerita of University of British Columbia. Her research has encompassed mental health, and inclusive educational practices in French Language, Literacy and Teacher Education. She served a eight-year term as Director for Canadian Parents for French, National and led the publication of the practical CPF advocacy briefs on linguistic security, digital learning and French in the early years. Her personal investment and willingness to share her research expertise and her time have shaped the organization.
- Tanzila Mian, of Mississauga, ON, is recipient of the CPF J. Elmer Hynes Staff Excellence in Leadership Award. As Director of Operations of Canadian Parents for French Ontario, she has fully supported innovations at the Branch and across the Network. Nominators noted how she is solution focused and open to organizational change, always professional in helping colleagues see the bigger picture, how we can each of us make CPF better. Mian served as a CPF chapter volunteer before being hired; she has now been employed by CPF for 18 years, always eager to take on new responsibilities, she has mastered every role she has taken on, helping the CPF Ontario Branch thrive in turn and helping shape direction for the organization’s future.
“Congratulations to all three recipients, it is with committed individuals like you that we can fulfill our mission of advancing FSL education in Canada. We remain grateful for our volunteers and professional staff as we rely on them to deliver quality programs, advocate for French as a second language and be our first point of contact with parents and students,” said Kate Ashley, newly elected CPF National President.
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Canadian Parents for French is a nationwide, research-informed, volunteer organization that represents 25,000+ members across Canada and champions the opportunity to learn and use French for all those who call Canada home.
For more information, please contact:
Megan Chartrand
Coordonnatrice de programmes – Québec et Nunavut
Program coordinator – Quebec and Nunavut
she / elle
Email: mchartrand@cpf.ca
PDF of the press release can be found here.
Le communiqué de presse est disponible en français en format PDF ici.