Canadian Parents for French - Calgary Chapter

last modified: 14 May 2010

Our vision        Information sessions        Chapter activities        Become a CPF Calgary volunteer

French immersion in Calgary        Support your child        French in your home and community

   Upcoming activities for children & families

CPF Calgary Chapter is a volunteer association working to promote and support French-second-language learning opportunities for those associated with the city of Calgary, Alberta.  Contact us at cpfcalgary@yahoo.ca.

Support local schools, teachers, and your children by purchasing a membership in Canadian Parents for French.  65% of your membership fee comes back to your local chapter.  Click here for membership benefits and to join.

Discount from the Alliance Française for CPF Calgary members: Members of CPF in Calgary can now access a special rate -- just $25 -- for membership in the Alliance Française of Calgary.  This membership permits parents and children to use the excellent library of current French magazines, books, children's books, DVDs, CDs and music and to participate in many events and activities promoting and supporting the French language and culture. Simply show your current CPF membership card to the folks at the Alliance Française on the 2^nd floor in the Memorial Park Building, 1221 - 2 St. SW.

You can enhance French-second-language learning in our city by becoming a CPF Calgary volunteer.  Click here for a list of volunteer opportunities and to indicate your area of interest.

Our vision

1. All Calgary parents have adequate information on which to base a choice of language program for their children’s education.

2. All interested students have good access to French Immersion programs, and access is not limited to those with a parent available to drive or those who can afford a transportation fee.

3. Students with special needs are supported and accommodated in French Immersion programs so that they, too, can become bilingual..

4. Parents have adequate information to be effective and comfortable in supporting their children in French programs from kindergarten to post-secondary.

5. Parents know what to look for, expect, encourage, and support in French Immersion programs so that they can be partners with the education system in making the program the very best that it can be.

6. Students have good access to the extra-curricular opportunities to experience and use French that are so important to becoming not only fluent in French but confident in using the language.

7. All students receive the information, encouragement and support they need when making the choice of whether to continue to study in French.

8. CPF Calgary Chapter grows stronger so that it can be increasingly effective in achieving this vision.

Calgary Chapter Information Sessions

All CPF members and potential members are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Watch this space for details of our 2010/11 school year information nights.

Chapter Activities

OVER THE PAST YEAR, CPF Calgary volunteers:

• organized a display about French immersion for the Family-a-Fair to inform preschool parents of opportunities for their children to learn French

• provided information pamphlets about French immersion and core French for use at school information meetings, open houses, etc.

• offered French for Immersion Parents courses

• donated prizes for French entries at the Calgary Youth Science Fair

• promoted the BookRapport educational program of the WordFest writers' festival

• sponsored French performers for the Calgary International Children's Festival

• offered a prize to one member of the graduating class of each French immersion high school in Calgary, to acknowledge the commitment to continue in immersion to the end of Grade 12

• supported French for the Future, a forum for local senior high school students to learn the career benefits of bilingual education

• distributed the pamphlet Stay in French! to Grade 6 and 9 students

• circulated information about the above and many other opportunities through our school liaisons and via the internet.

Your membership in CPF supports these activities!

French Immersion in Calgary

Did you know that in 2008/09 there were more than 10,300 French immersion students in the two Calgary school districts? This represented 7% of the total school population within those districts. There were also 1,000 immersion students in three private schools.

The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) offers public French immersion programs from Kindergarten through to Grade 12.  For information follow these links:

• early French immersion (students begin in Kindergarten or Grade 1)

• late French immersion (students begin in Grade 7)

• find the designated CBE French immersion school for your area: elementary map   middle/junior high map    senior high map

• for an overview of all CBE language programs click here

The Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) offers public French immersion programs from Kindergarten through to Grade 12.  For information follow these links:

• early or late French immersion (students begin in Kindergarten/Grade 1 or Grade 7)

• the designated CCSD French immersion schools for your Calgary community district

French Immersion programs are offered at the following private schools:

• Calgary French and International School

• Lycée Louis Pasteur

• West Island College

For a list of preschools and playschools in Calgary which feature some French-second-language learning, click here.  This ranges from "immersion" programs in which most or all of the time is spent in French to those which regularly include some French-language activities.

Supporting your child who is learning French

Yes, You Can Help! Handbook

Concerned about helping your immersion student?  Want to know what other immersion parents have learned?  Looking for French resources and extracurricular activities? The handbook Yes, You Can Help! Information and Inspiration for French Immersion Parents answers these and many other questions. A wealth of useful information for French immersion parents, the handbook is written by unilingual parents with the assistance of teachers, administrators, researchers, and education department staff.  Published by Alberta Education.

Join CPF

Your membership in CPF makes this web page possible!  Join Canadian Parents for French.  It costs just $25 for one year or $60 for three.  Of that fee, 65% goes to the Calgary Chapter, 25% to the Alberta Branch, and 10% covers processing costs.  By joining CPF, you support your child through:

• access to more information about resources/ways to help, local events in French, and other people to talk to

• participating in CPF-organized events, including workshops, conferences, and activities for families 

• demonstrating support of French-language education to federal and provincial governments and local school boards.

Upcoming events and activities in Calgary

• The 2010 Calgary International Children's Festival (May 25-29) will include three different French presentations during school hours:  Pekka (preschool to kindergarten), Baobab (preschool to grade 3), and Alice au pays des merveilles (Alice in Wonderland) (grades 1-5). There will also be a puppet creation workshop in French for grades k-3.  Click here for more information.

• The Alliance Française and the SPEFSA in conjunction with the CICF present activities in French and Baobab on Saturday, May 29, 2010.  Picnic and activities for children starting at 1 p.m. in the Founders Room of the Epcor Centre. Tickets available at the Alliance Française.  A special showing in French of Baobab begins at 2:45 pm in the Big Secret Theatre. Tickets $12.50, available at the AFC and at calgarychildfest.org

• La Cité des Rocheuses (near Mount Royal University) offers Camp de jour francophone (Univers des Jeunes) for children aged 6 to 13 who speak French (including immersion students).  A variety of activities including time at a swimming pool and a different field trip each week. June 28 to August 20.  Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with before- and after-care available.  Fees from $112 to $165 per week, with a 10% discount for a sibling.  Alexandra at 403-249-1749, ext.232.

• The Alliance Française of Calgary offers summer immersion programs for children and teens to improve their French through a variety of motivating and fun activities.  Ages 7 to 11 and 12 to 17.  10 hours/week from July 5 to August 27.  Free level testing is available.

• Preliminary information is now available about the Festival des Mots (Book Rapport) in-school and field trip events in conjunction with WordFest.  To learn about the French children's authors and the early bird prices, see the Early Bird Brochure on their web site or call 403-327-9068 and ask to speak with Janet Halls.

• Once a month the Alliance française offers a traditional French breakfast (café and a croissant) with story telling for children -- but get there early for the free croissants!  This event is free for all.

• French films:  La Cité des Rocheuses offers a Ciné-Club, showing two French films each month from September to May, one for children on Sunday afternoons and one for adults on Wednesday evenings.  Non-members 6-16 yrs: $5.; 16 yrs+: $6.  Price includes popcorn!

• for many more opportunities follow these links:  camps and summer programs    exchanges    work experiences

French in your home and community

• The Alliance Française offers French courses for students and adults, book and media libraries, cultural events, and the DELF examinations.  They also offer volunteer opportunities for grade 10-12 immersion students.

• Livres Lacoste Books -  Located in the lower level at 818 - 49 Ave. SW (in the Britannia Shopping Centre near Starbucks), this French bookstore has a variety of materials in addition to novels and dictionaries.  The staff are always ready and willing to assist English-speaking parents.

• SPEFSA (the Société de la petite enfance et de la famille du Sud de l'Alberta) offers support and learning opportunities in French to families.  Activities in French for preschool children include themed storytimes, crafts, puppet shows, learning to play together, etc.  SPEFSA also offers a bibliothèque (book lending library) and a joujouthèque (toy lending library).  Located in La Cité des Rocheuses.

• La Cité des Rocheuses  -  Throughout the year the Francophone community centre at 4800 Richard Rd. SW offers a variety of events for all ages.

• CDL2000 Logicels Inc. in Calgary specializes in French educational software. The owner has a background in education and will assist English-speaking parents in person or over the phone to find programs suitable for immersion students. Contact Sylvie Mercier at 403-246-2900 or 1-866-277-5529.

• Subscribe to a French magazine or a book-of-the-month - click here for a list of sources

• Read Le Chinook  - A free copy of the newspaper of the southern Alberta francophone community can be picked up at Co-op or Safeway.

• Go to a French Restaurant/Bakery  -  For example, take your student to the Eiffel Tower Bakery at 4 St. and 25 Ave. NW or the Manuel Latruwe Belgian Pâtisserie & Bread Shop at 1313 - 1 St. SE  and have him/her place your order in French!  At the Calgary Farmers' Market at the Currie Barracks your child can buy authentic maple syrup at A Taste of Quebec or order delicious crêpes or croissants at Ladybug Organic Foods.

• Watch French TV on Channel 9 and listen to French Radio on 103.9 FM.   www.radio-canada.ca has good information about French TV and radio, as well as a variety of games and activities (click on jeunesse).

• Watch DVDs in French   - Have your student choose the French language option on his/her favourite DVD.

• For a wide range of additional ideas -- from camps to games to visual arts -- click here.

Help us support French second-language learning in Calgary

Yes, I would like to help!  I am interested in:

Serving as a liaison between CPF Calgary and a school  (bi-monthly)

Serving on the chapter executive (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and from one to five Directors-at-large)  (monthly)

Serving on the Nominations Committee for the chapter executive  (5 hours)

Helping to organize the CPF booth at the Family-a-Fair  (contact organizations/schools/reps)  (January - March)

Helping to man the CPF booth at the Family-a-Fair (March)  (2 - 5 hours)

Serving on the committee for the French for the Future forum  (December - April)  (6 monthly meetings)

Promoting the Calgary Youth Science Fair (French entries) to immersion schools  (spring)  (2 - 5 hours)

Coordinating Teacher Appreciation Week (spring)  (4 - 5 hours)

Coordinating the Grade 12 prizes (May/June)  (4 - 5 hours)

Helping to organize the distribution of CPF brochures to school liaisons and others  (2 - 5 hours)

Helping to keep the membership list current  (2 hours monthly)

Helping to store and manage loans of the display boards (one volunteer needed per quadrant - please choose: NW NE SW SE)  ( 2 hours January-February)

Helping to check the chapter's e-mail messages  (1/2 hour per week)

Please contact me with more information about the above at:

Name:                                             

Telephone:    E-mail:                                      

I have a child(ren) in this school(s):

Comments / questions: