CPF PEI recognized by Commissioner of Official Languages

At a recent dinner celebrating Canadian Parents for French P.E.I.’s 40th anniversary, the Island organization received a certificate as the recipient of the Commissioner of Official Languages eighth annual Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Linguistic Duality. Mylene Theriault, from the office of the Commissioner of Official Languages in Moncton, N.B., was on hand to present the certificate. The official recognition came from Ottawa during the Commissioner of Official Languages Graham Fraser’s 10th and final annual report. Fraser announced the award acknowledging the work of organizations or individuals who have committed to the contribution, development and promotion of linguistic duality at home and abroad.

The commissioner congratulated Canadian Parents for French for “its exceptional work in the area of research and promotion, for providing opportunities for young Canadians to learn French in school and communities and supporting their sometimes unilingual parents, and for respecting French as an integral part of Canada.”

Gail Lecky, CPF P.E.I. executive director praised Fraser for his wholehearted support for access to quality French immersion and French secondlanguage programs for all Canadian youth in schools. She thanked him for his time and visits to P.E.I., participating in their École Ambassadrice du français and business symposium projects.

“Our relationship with OCOL (Office of Commissioner of Official Languages) has been one of the highlights of our 40 years supporting French second-language education in P.E.I.”