FRANCOPRESSE – About sixty organizations from Quebec and Canadian Francophonie are meeting in Quebec for the second edition of Mobilization franco. The event, co-organized by the Federation of Francophone and Acadian Communities and the Center de la Francophonie des Amériques, aims to create more links between Francophone organizations in the country.

“The medium to long-term goal is to see how Canadian Francophonie can integrate with Quebec’s networks and vice versa, and create new opportunities for exchanges that go beyond the annual event,” explains Alain Dupuis, Executive Director the Federation of Francophonie Acadian Communities (FCFA).

At the first edition in 2022, cultural and tourist issues were the subject of numerous discussions, he explains. “There was a collaboration to promote our French-speaking artists outside and in Quebec and to ensure the mobility of French-speaking artists in the countries,” explains Alain Dupuis.

This year’s event “will also be attended by a group from the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, but also business associations from some other regions and some provinces and territories who have come together in recent months to propose a new French.” “Economic alliance,” he adds.

The President and CEO of the Center de la francophonie des Amériques (CFA), Sylvain Lavoie, believes that the event is a safe step in bringing together the country’s Francophonies. “This desire is part of Quebec’s policy towards Canadian Francophonie, which marks an action policy that genuinely wants to bring Quebec and Canadian Francophonie closer together.”

Bringing Quebec closer to Canadian Francophonies: a challenge

If today organizations are a means of bringing Canada’s Francophonies closer together, there was a time when it wasn’t, language columnist Jean-Benoît Nadeau confirms in L’actualité magazine.

Alain Dupuis, the effects of the franco mobilization will be felt over the years. Photo: Christian Lalonde-Photolux

“I would say that I think the big problem in relations between Quebec and the Francophones of the other provinces has long been the organisations,” recalls the man who held the inaugural conference. According to him, the organizations did not work to maintain a connection with Francophones from other provinces.

However, he points out that mobilizing Franco over time “can make a difference”.

“If we can manage to create lasting connections, real connections, bridges in minds, I think that’s what’s missing,” adds the linguist.

Jean-Benoît Nadeau held the opening conference of the second edition of the event. Photo: Paul Nadler

Anyone who has been observing Francophonie for several years nevertheless distinguishes the role of government from that of civil society. “We have to work together, we have to learn from each other and that civil society is ultimately the best place for this dialogue.”

According to Jean-Benoît Nadeau, the Quebec government is trying to “correct”. [cette situation] at the Center de francophonie des Amériques for 15 years.

Results of the first edition

“We have had good results with the proposed initiatives,” says Sylvain Lavoie, referring to the first edition of the event.

Throughout the year, the FCFA and the Center de la francophonie des Amériques followed the participants of the first edition. “We visited all the groups that were there to see what had been done three months and six months later,” says Alain Dupuis.

During the first edition, the University of French Ontario (UOF) and the University of Montreal implemented a student mobility project during the first edition of Mobilization franco. Mareva Cestor, head of the establishment’s knowledge crossroads, specifies that “it was a crucial step”.

Mareva Cestor is director of the Carrefour des savoirs at the University of French Ontario. Photo: Vanessa Diosa

The program consists of developing experiential learning in a community environment and introducing the student community to life in a French-speaking province in a minority and majority situation, emphasizes Mareva Cestor.

She adds: “We are part of the concept that there was no Franco-Canadian student mobility program and even less in the area of ​​experiential learning in a community setting.”

The UOF received five members of the student community and the Université de Montréal received four. Mareva Cestor will present the results of this first collaboration to the participants of the Franco 2023 mobilization.

The Mobilization Franco event ends on May 9th.