Albertan to head national Canadian Parents for French

 October 25, 2010

OTTAWA - October 16 2010 marked a historic day for Canadian Parents for French (CPF) when officials at the 34^th Annual General Meeting for the organization elected a French immersion graduate as its national president for the first time ever.

Lisa Marie Perkins, a native Albertan currently employed as a corporate strategist for the City of Red Deer, has been an enthusiastic member of the National Board of Directors for several years now. As president, she will represent a network of approximately 26,000 members nationwide who support the advancement of French-second-language (FSL) opportunities for youth in Canada.

A mother of a 13-year-old son studying FSL himself, Perkins looks forward to taking on a leadership role for more students across Canada

“I’ve gone through the French Immersion program, first as a student and now as a parent,” says Perkins. “I know first-hand what FSL can do. I’m honoured and excited to represent this amazing community and deliver its message to our country: the message that every student in Canada can become bilingual, and deserves opportunities to make that dream a reality.”

Perkins is backed by a talented and diverse Board of Directors, including Newfoundland’s Jordan Wright, newly elected national vice-president. Wright is also a graduate of the French Immersion program and together, Perkins and Wright represent an important evolution in CPF’s governance structure, with the students who benefited from the organization’s advocacy years ago now stepping into place as its leaders.

Albertans have a unique relationship with official bilingualism, says Perkins. “Some people in Canada might be surprised to learn that there are many supporters of official bilingualism in Alberta, but I can say with pride that Francophile Albertans are here, and we’re vocal and active in our communities. Alberta does indeed have a strong support base for linguistic duality and that’s the support base I come from—one that does not shy away from activism and is not afraid of a challenge.”

Perkins has degrees in Political Science, History, and French from Simon Fraser University and a Master's Degree in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University. Perkins also works with other community organizations in facilitating strategic planning and learning sessions.

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Canadian Parents for French is the national network of volunteers which values French as an integral part of Canada and which is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French-second-language learning opportunities for young Canadians. There are currently 26,000 members across Canada.