Videos and webinars

Webinar : Press 2 for French – Prendre des risques en français

In this month of March, Francophonie Month, the Ministers’ Council on Canadian Francophonie (MCCF) invites you to a webinar entitled: “Pour le service en français, appuyer sur le 2-Press 2 for French”.

You may have heard this option before, when you made a call for information in a government department, at the bank or elsewhere. You may have hesitated, thinking that it would be easier and quicker in English. Kaj Hasselriis, journalist and illustrator, creator of the radio program Press 2 For French, says: “Press 2! Take the risk! Dare to speak French!” The Winnipeg-born francophile attended immersion school from kindergarten to grade 12. After dropping French when he entered the workforce, he decided to reconnect with the French-speaking world. In his ” Press 2 for French ” radio show, he discusses language insecurity from the perspective of a Francophile. He also discusses the causes of this insecurity and how to overcome it. We’re bringing you a webinar in interview format, where we’ll tackle the issues of language insecurity and the use of French, while allowing Kaj to illustrate his experience as a Francophile trying to get involved in the Canadian Francophonie. A refreshing, motivating and non-judgmental webinar. (Video in French only)

Webinar: L’insécurité linguistique et les services en français

Lack of confidence in speaking French. Fear of making grammar or syntax errors. Deeming your level of language to be insufficient to speak and provide services. These are all symptoms of linguistic insecurity, which is the theme of this webinar offered to staff who provide services in French within governments. Developed by the Conseil jeunesse francophone de la Colombie-Britannique, this interactive activity tackles preconceived notions about how the language works and provides tools to build confidence when using French. Led by sociolinguist Dr. Suzanne Robillard, this workshop is for all French speakers, including first-language speakers, as they are part of the equation. (Video in French only.)

Do you know how French can be an important asset in a person’s life?

As part of a project to promote the use and learning of the French language, here are the views of Jason Quilliam, Chief of Protocol for the Government of Saskatchewan.

Webinar: Pour des communications inclusives

The Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie (MCCF) presented on March 8, 2022, a webinar on inclusive communications for government employees. Antonin Rossier-Bisaillon, an analyst at the Bureau de valorisation de la langue française et de la Francophonie of the Université de Montréal, offered an overview of existing processes for communicating inclusively, both in writing and orally, in order to represent all people in an equitable manner.

Using examples, the presenter outlined a variety of possible strategies, including neutral phrasing, the use of syntactic doublets, and the use of recommended feminine forms of person names.

Some useful resources to begin practicing the principles of inclusive communication in your everyday routine:

Guide d’écriture inclusive de l’Université de Montréal

The Guide d’écriture Inclusivement details in an accessible way, the writing processes that allow for the equitable representation of all people in society. The guide is available on the Web in French and in PDF format.

Online Training from Université de Montréal

Inclusive writing is taught in a 50-minute free Online Course offered by the Université de Montréal. To access the training, you will need to create an account on the Université de Montréal’s online learning platform, StudiUM formation continue.

The importance of bilingual communications in times of crisis

The health crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has generated a phenomenal amount of communication between governments and their populations. Beyond the obligations associated with the various linguistic frameworks in effect in Canadian provinces and territories, all governments have taken measures to reach both official language communities.

In order to support the continuity of these efforts and to reiterate the importance of bilingual communication in times of crisis, the Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie (MCCF) has produced the following video.

General knowledge webinar: Un canadien errant

To celebrate the Rendez-vous de la francophonie, the Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie (MCCF), in collaboration with the University of Toronto, presented on March 31, 2021, a webinar on Francophone mobility to government employees. Professor Monica Heller, a renowned Canadian linguist and anthropologist, offered an overview of the research project entitled Un canadien errant. Using historical examples, such as the recruitment of Francophone immigrants between the 19th century and present day, and economic mobility and nomadism, the webinar presents an overview of the history of the Canadian Francophonie.

This research project brought together researchers from several Canadian universities to study the migratory path of the Francophonie, from yesterday to today, for all Canadian provinces and territories. The construction of spaces for living in French, ensuring the vitality and development of Francophones, requires that this mobility be taken into account by those who offer and develop services in French.