Fransaskois teachers were finally able to meet in Saskatoon on March 30-31 for the first face-to-face conference since the pandemic began. The organizers of the meeting, the Local Association of Fransaskois Teachers (ALEF) and the Professional Association of Fransaskois Teachers (APEF), logically chose the topic See you to recharge your batteries.

“The first mandate of the Teachers’ Congress is professional development,” explains Roxanne Schulte, President of APEF. We bring together all French and Francophile teachers to meet their needs. »

“My goal as President is to take things off the teachers plate by providing resources and services that other organizations or other teachers are willing to offer. We want to make life as easy as possible,” she continues.

A big meeting

The two associations managed to attract 250 participants during the congress. A success that would not have been achieved without the partnership with the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises (CÉF).

“It’s a valuable partnership,” says Roxanne Schulte. All our teachers are free during these two days to attend the congress. »

For the past 30 years, APEF has organized this congress together with ALEF every year. A collaboration that facilitates networking between CÉF educators, educational organizations and external trainers.

“It’s not necessarily easy to meet the needs of teachers because of the limited resources in our minority situation in Saskatchewan,” says Roxanne Schulte. We invite speakers from Quebec, Manitoba and elsewhere to offer a useful and multidisciplinary conference. »

beautiful moments

After two years of virtual conferences, Fransaskois teachers were able to meet in person to network.

Since Fransaskois make up less than 2% of the province’s population, teachers are not only colleagues but also members of the same family or friends. The congress thus contributes to the maintenance of professional and personal relationships.

During the banquet, the CÉF started the evening with a beautiful tribute to the teachers by broadcasting a video made by several dozen school board students thanking their teachers.

This moving moment was followed by the presentation of two prizes: the Onesime-Dorval prize, awarded to a teacher of exceptional qualities, and the Dubois-Leblanc prize, awarded to an educator committed to his professional development.

This year, Karlyn Séïde, teacher at the École canadienne-française in Saskatoon, and Yvette Forcier, psychosocial worker, are the recipients of the Onésime-Dorval and Dubois-Leblanc awards, respectively.

After the formal line-up was complete, a number of dance groups took to the stage to share their culture and energize the well-fed after-dinner crowd.

The Ahenakew family of the Ahtahkakoop Cree First Nation took the lead, then the Northern Prairie Dancers followed with a Métis dance, followed by Cameroonian CÉF teachers who brought their instruments and costumes to perform. Finally, the music group La Raquette à Claquettes played until the end of the evening.

Load

A Quebec celebrity was also present at the convention. “We were proud to welcome Pierre Lavoie to our home,” says Roxanne Schulte. It also gives him a chance, he will get to know our little Fransaskois community better. »

Amateur triathlete, specialist in the Ironman distance, Pierre Lavoie is the founder of the Great Challenge that bears his name, a media sports event dedicated to the study of lactic acidosis, in addition to promoting sporting practice.

The latter attended a session whose aim was to motivate participants to “reflect on the importance of getting involved and taking responsibility for the challenges that arise, whether personal, professional or societal”.

Other workshops gave pride of place to resources on a variety of topics, including technology, reading, math, and leadership.

“We include technology workshops so that teachers can learn how to use and manage them, but also because technology is a tool for adaptation,” explains the President of APEF.

A special workshop was even led by Michel Vézina of the Saskatchewan Historical Society (SHS). “The workshop aimed to re-experience traditional Canadian-French culture,” adds Roxanne Schulte.

The next Congress of Fransaskois Teachers will be held on April 24th and 25th, 2024.

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