Influence of French-second-language support group continues to grow

7 April 2006

As Canadians celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the French immersion program, the influence of a volunteer association dedicated to promoting, enhancing, and supporting French-second-language learning continues to grow in Alberta.

Canadian Parents for French (CPF) was founded in 1977, and within a year the Alberta Branch was established.  Today it includes parents, educators, researchers, graduates, and even grandparents in more than 80 towns and cities.

These volunteers are giving their time and energy to ensure that young Albertans have the opportunity to become fluent in French.  They encourage school districts to expand access to immersion programs and to enhance the teaching of core French (“FSL”).  They provide information and support to parents, most of whom know little or no French.  They work with schools to improve and enrich programs.  And they organize extra-curricular language and culture activities for students.

“It was a small group of parents that invented French immersion, and overcame a great deal of resistance to get the first program started in 1965,” explains CPF Alberta President Bob O’Reilly.  “Today, parents and other volunteers are still making a real difference.  The availability of French immersion continues to improve in Alberta, enrolments are growing, and more students are continuing in the program to graduation.”