The CNF participates in discussions on the future of post-secondary education in French in minority communities.

The Congrès annuel du campus Saint-Jean de l'Université de l'Alberta, the annual meeting of Canada's francophonie, was held on April 18 and 19 in Edmonton, Alberta. For three days, Collège Nordique, represented by its General Manager Patrick Arsenault, played a leading role in this event, affirming its leadership and commitment on the national scene. 

Discussions on post-secondary education in French in a minority setting. 

On the first day of the Grand Dean's Conference, Morocco's ambassador to Canada, Souriya Otmani, had the honor of speaking as a special guest. Her talk on collaboration between Morocco and Canada in the field of green energy, for example, opened up new perspectives on opportunities for international cooperation.  

The second day, organized by Collège Saint-Jean, saw a number of speakers focus on post-secondary education in French in minority environments. CNF board member Alexandre Jay was also present at the conference. He asked Senator Michèle Audette to elaborate on the links between learning French and indigenous languages. The Senator replied, "I'm convinced it can be done, but it's more difficult when only one or two languages are official." She added that indigenous languages should be credited more often. 

Professor François Larocque, answered the crucial question: is there a constitutional right to Francophone post-secondary education in a minority setting? He stressed the need to create and recreate a dynamic and inclusive knowledge society. 

The day also provided a valuable networking opportunity with leaders from Western Canada and beyond, including Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Yukon. Patrick Arsenault was the only representative from the Northwest Territories, underscoring the importance of Collège Nordique's presence in these national discussions.  

Université de Hearst President Luc Bussières addressed the issue of sustainability and accessibility of post-secondary programs, issues that are also present in Northern Ontario and the Northwest Territories. Her speech underscored the importance of French-language post-secondary institutions in minority communities, in keeping with the vision of Collège Nordique. 

Linda Cardinal, Associate Vice-President Research at the University of French Ontario (UOF), emphasized the importance of research and creation in French, and their dissemination across the country and around the world. She called for the strengthening of francophone post-secondary institutions that conduct research, particularly on the realities that affect them. This perspective aligns perfectly with Collège Nordique's vision of developing contextualized learning resources. 

Solutions for post-secondary education  

Patrick Arsenault also took part in the Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta (ACFA) think tank on post-secondary education in French in western Canada. He actively contributed to discussions with other leaders on ideas for revitalizing French-language post-secondary education. ''It's essential to develop programs that meet the aspirations of young people," he says. 

Asserted leadership 

Collège Nordique's presence at the Campus Saint-Jean Congress is a testament to its commitment to French-language post-secondary education and its essential role in developing innovative solutions. As a major player on the national scene, Collège Nordique confirms its leadership in promoting and sustaining French-language post-secondary education in minority communities.