Canadian Parents for French collaborates as a Network to optimize our impact on FSL education for young Canadians. At CPF, the role of our Volunteer Leaders /Directors of the Board, is responsibility for effective governance via their DIRECTION / OVERSIGHT. The role of the Senior Staff Leaders/Executive Directors is responsibility for sound operations as CARETAKERS via their STEWARDSHIP.
The main governing documents that guide our work are the CPF Network Bylaws and Policies, from which Branches develop Branch Bylaws and Policies that must align with those created for the Network. Further, the five year CPF Network Strategic Plan is regularly updated. Additional support documents are posted to further inform volunteer leaders who have made the commitment to serve the organization.
Certificate of Insurance Application Form
Looking to request insurance for an upcoming CPF Event? Click the button below to access the Canadian Parents for French Certificate of Insurance Application Form.
Governing Documents
Bylaws and Policies
Bylaw’s amended August 2022
Policies updated November 2022.
CPF Network Strategic Plan
The CPF Network Strategic Planning Committee worked with CPF Network Leaders in Spring 2020 to develop the 2020 – 2025 CPF Network Strategic Plan. We invite all interested to view the helpful documents and resources below.
CPF Resources:
CPF – Getting Started Guide Reflection Exercise Workbook
CPF Strategic Thinking Webinar with Audio
CPF Strengthening our Network – A Framework for Collaboration 2017-2020
Other Resources:
- Living Into Your Strategic Plan: A Guide to Implementation That Gets Resultes, The Bridgespan Group, New York – Hadley, J., Lanzerotti, L., Nathan A.
– about 10 pages – 6 steps described
– Covers: how to start, implementation steps, templates, evaluation.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DOCUMENT - Strategic Implementation: Managing Performance, Execution and Implementation Process – S. Sage (2015)
– About 2 pages. Covers: pitfalls, preparation and implementation
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DOCUMENT - Making Strategy Happen – Shand, J. (2010), Charity Village
– Change the board’s agenda and meeting focus
– Recruit Champions
– Ownership of ‘to-do’ list
– Temper ambition
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DOCUMENT - What is Strategic Planning Really? VIDEO (by OnStrategy.com)
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO
Directors and Officers Orientation
Welcome to CPF!
The following documents are your introduction to your role as a Director with Canadian Parents for French. Thank you for your service to CPF.
Understanding Financials and the Role of the Treasurer
CPF Treasurer Check-In Presentation
Understanding the role of the Nominating Committee Chair
In July 2021, a brief presentation was provided with an overview of principles of Branch Nominating Committees to consider as they complete their CPF succession planning work.
This session outlines:
- Understanding the bylaws.
- Understanding the roles on Governance Board: Communications, Advocacy, Risk Management (financial and legal) and Succession Planning.
- Role of the Chair of the Nominating Committee. Review Composition of Nominating Committee and Selection Process – transparency; equity, record keeping.
- Clear Expectations and High Visibility for the “Call for Interest”. Tools available, samples of documents: Assessment Grid, Interview Questions, etc.
- Branch Support available. Liaison from National Nominating Committee.
- Timeline in relation to the Branch AGM.
- Questions, Challenges to Address. Wrap-up
Committees, Advisory Councils, Working Groups
CPF National Board and Operational Committees 2022 – 2023
- Bylaw Committee
- Nominating Committee
Building Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at CPF / Working Group
The Canadian Parents for French National Board has a vision that does not change because of the pandemic: a strong and resilient Network, focused on building shared leadership, supporting engaged membership and volunteers, and delivering relevant, quality programming to parents and youth learning and using French. The CPF National Board has a vision of building a strong and resilient Network focused on building shared leadership, supporting engaged membership and volunteers, and delivering relevant, quality programming to parents and youth learning and using French.
How we are approaching our policy work, the organization’s opportunities and challenges and the landscape have changed. We have been reviewing governance and nominating processes with a lens on diversity, equity and inclusion.
CPF National sponsored a first EDI Audit, conducted in spring / fall 2021 to establish a baseline of considerations for both the CPF National office and CPF Branches on this topic. The report has been circulated in spring 2022, providing us with some helpful insights and suggestions for action.
Click Here to Read Report Prepared by Lunaria Solutions
MORE INFORMATION:
The results of a Statistics Canada survey released earlier this year exploring the diversity of charity and nonprofit boards in Canada confirmed what many in the sector already know – that those who identify as immigrants, persons of colour, LGBTQ2+ individuals, persons with a disability, and First Nations, Metis, and Inuit are vastly underrepresented on nonprofit and charity boards of directors.
In September 2021, Senator Ratna Omidvar, Tania Cheng and Trish Mandewo participated in a panel discussion about what organizations can do to build a more diverse and equitable sector, starting with their boards. The panelists discussed the implications of these findings and what organizations can do to build a more diverse and equitable sector, starting with their boards. This discussion relates to recommendation #8 from Catalyst for Change: A Roadmap to a Stronger Charitable Sector, which calls on the government to mandate board diversity reporting through T3010s (for charities) and 1044 (for federally incorporated not-for-profit corporations).
You can watch it on Senator Omidvar’s website: Watch – Building Diverse and Equitable Nonprofit Boards: A Panel Discussion with Sector Experts
Optimizing Opportunities for Collaboration – Roundtable Discussion with Yves Savoie
The introductory meeting with the project lead Yves Savoie took place on April 21st, 2022 with over 25 CPF leaders in attendance. View this recorded session below:
The discussion paper, about collaboration in multi-entity not-for-profit organizations to help us situate ourselves in the broader context of the rapidly changing landscape, was circulated prior to the meeting, and is available to review below.
