Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, January 23, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - Parents in Yellowknife have the chance to learn French along with their children.

A program through the Federation franco-tenois in partnership with Canadian Parents for French (CPF) is offering classes to parents of French immersion students.

Vicky Lyonnais is co-ordinator of literacy services with the Federation franco-tenois. She worked with the Canadian Parents for French organization in Yellowknife to bring French programs to parents in the city. - Cara Loverock/ NNSL photo

"It's a program we imported from Vancouver," said Leo-Paul Provencher, with the Federation franco-tenois.

"(It's) a program geared to support parents. It's partly learning French and, at the same time, supporting parents to help them cope with homework with the kids in school."

Provencher said the program is closely related to what is being taught in the schools and is attended by parents with kids in French immersion programs and French language schools with both the public and Catholic school boards' involvement.

The program, called French for Parents, was started a couple of years ago. Three groups of roughly eight to 12 people will be starting classes in February, with classes at levels one, two and three. Some parents are continuing with training they began previously with the program and some newcomers will be starting at the beginner level.

CPF has three chapters in the NWT, two of which are in Yellowknife. The Catholic schools chapter is headed up by Glenn Tait and John Stephenson is president of the Yk1 chapter. Stephenson said he was involved in the groundwork for starting the program, and participated in the classes as a parent.

"It was quite empowering actually," said Stephenson. "Just even on simple stuff, to be able to go through the alphabet with my young daughters. It brings the French into our home a little bit."

Provencher said the success of the program has spurred a new idea for a larger set of programming. "We're putting in place a post-secondary institution that will deal more completely with that (French language) service, because we know there is a big need in that area," said Provencher.

The new institution will include continuing education and training programs plus post-secondary services as well as distance and language training in both French and English.

The organization is in the process of developing the institution and hiring a director. There will not be a new building, but the institution will work in partnership with different organizations for space.

An agreement has already been worked out with Ecole Allain St. Cyr to use their facilities at night.

"That is yet to be finalized and organized, but we're initiating the service," said Provencher.

"Our intention is to provide the service of francophones and francophiles. There are 3,700 persons speaking French in the NWT, so amongst that you have quite a number of anglophones who learn French and want to pursue some training, so we'll be there for them too."