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Official Languages Good Practices
We need your help!
We have added two new sections under the Good Practices
heading: Second-Language Learning and Learning Retention.
In addition to the compendium
of good practices published in June 2004, we
regularly include your good practices on the OLLO Web site. This is our way to
share with you what is happening within the official languages networks.
Furthermore, we want to encourage you to adapt these good practices to your
situation or to create new ones. In general, these practices can be applied to
any organization.
The practices are not protected by copyright. All the good practices listed on
the site include the name of a contact person. If you have a question regarding
one of these good practices, we invite you to communicate with the contact
person.
Share your experiences with us by writing to OLLO@hrma-agrh.gc.ca
Publications
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 Compendium of Good Practices - Official Languages... it's
a matter of respect - 2004 Edition
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Compendium of exemplary practices
1999 Edition
Language of Work
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Canadian International Trade Tribunal Employees Happy to Use Both Languages Alternatively
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One of the Tribunal’s sectors, Legal Services, has put in place a very popular practice regarding the use of official languages for work operations, staff meetings and dealings amongst employees whereby one language is used for
one week and to the other language for the following week. Employees are particularly happy with this arrangement.
Contact : Julia Ginley, jginley@citt-tcce.gc.ca
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Golden Rules of Chairing Bilingual Meetings Effectively at
Transport Canada
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| Transport Canada has created a workshop on chairing meetings. The
workshop gives you a strategic approach to optimize the contribution
of the people attending your meeting and will make you feel in
control when things run smoothly and objectives are met. As a
chairperson, you will learn techniques to increase your confidence
in chairing bilingual meetings, help you keep to meeting timelines,
and achieve concrete results. Skilled chairpersons can play an
important role in fostering teamwork; people will come to your
meetings prepared to contribute in a positive and productive manner,
in their preferred official language.
Transport Canada is pleased to offer you this PDF presentation
for more details.
Chairing meetings (PDF)
Contact: Francine Charbonneau, charbof@tc.gc.ca |
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Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
(CRTC) Awareness Campaign
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| In September 2003, the CRTC launched an official
languages awareness campaign entitled Hello/Bonjour.
As a result of the creation of the Official Languages Committee,
chaired by the champion, all Agency staff received posters sporting
the logo, bookmarks and calendars.
What achievements have been made?
The Committee's first recommendation was to install a
simultaneous translation booth in the Commission's main meeting
room. Other projects are currently under consideration to promote
bilingual meetings and the use of the official language of one's
choice in verbal and written interactions.
The official languages contact is the corporate project manager,
who works closely with the champion.
Language obligations and the promotion of official languages are
priorities for the Commission.
Contact: Lynne Poirier, lynne.poirier@crtc.gc.ca. |
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Health Canada Brochure for Employees and Managers in
Unilingual Regions
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| Health Canada has developed, for its employees and
managers in unilingual regions, a brochure detailing their official
languages rights and obligations. It answers the questions that
managers and employees might have on a variety of topics, including
communications, supervision, staffing, training and development, and
provides examples.
The brochure, entitled Official Languages in Unilingual
Regions, is also available on Health Canada's human resources
Intranet site.
Health Canada is proud to share its good practices with its
partners.
Contact: Ginette Pelletier, ginette_pelletier@hc-sc.gc.ca |
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Health Canada Brochure on Language-of-Work Rights and
Obligations in Designated Bilingual Regions
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| Health Canada has developed, for its employees and
managers in designated bilingual regions, a brochure detailing their
official languages rights and obligations. The brochure, in question
and answer format, addresses various issues, including supervision,
work tools, personal and central services, meetings and the role of
senior management. It also explains what to do when an individual
feels that his or her rights have been infringed upon.
The brochure, entitled Language of Work – It's Your Right!
It's a Question of Respect! is also available on Health
Canada's human resources Intranet site.
Health Canada is proud to share its good practices with its
partners.
Contact: Ginette Pelletier, ginette_pelletier@hc-sc.gc.ca |
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At the National Research Council Canada, a
research tool like any other for bilingualism
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In fulfilling its mission, the National
Research Council Canada (NRC) invites citizens to come
discover and innovate, two areas about which people tend to be
equally passionate in French and in English. Thus, at the NRC, research and development had no difficulty overcoming
the linguistic barriers. The NRC has made it one of its basic
work principles. Its managers and supervisors use a guide
describing specific objectives for language of work and,
particularly, the means for achieving them.
Contact:
Christiane Charron, christiane.charron@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca |
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Second language: showing our true colours at
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
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In this department, promoting the use of the
second official language at work includes setting up a
reference centre, providing brochures, books, newspapers, and
posters in meeting rooms and using the intranet. The
department's National Committee of Official Languages
Champions is brimming with ideas: creating events for national
bilingualism day, circulating word games, and handing out pins
marking language training successes are just some of the ways
used to promote pride in the use of official languages and to
make them easier to learn.
Contact: Guylaine Durand, durandg@ainc-inac.gc.ca
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Posters on Language of Work at
Health Canada
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| Health Canada attaches
considerable importance to creating an environment conducive
to the effective use of both official languages. In the past
year, the department adopted a proactive approach in
putting forward a number of initiatives. Among other
things, the
department has installed laminated posters on language of work
at strategic locations to encourage employees to speak the
official language of their choice.
For more information by e-mail, please contact ginette_pelletier@hc-sc.gc.ca. |
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Linguistic duality: an asset for Veterans Affairs
Canada
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Linguistic duality is well entrenched in the
life of the country and an intrinsic part of the diversity
that makes up the cultural richness at Veterans Affairs
Canada. A brochure on language of work, posters, and
billboards on conducting meetings are all part of the arsenal
used by employees to help them serve in one of the two
official languages.
Contact: Hélène Hupé, hlhupe@vac-acc.gc.ca |
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Language of work: the legacy is alive and well at
the Department of Canadian Heritage
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A group of employees, in collaboration with
departmental senior management, has developed an action plan
on language of work. Guidelines and standards have been
prepared to promote the use of official languages in verbal,
written, and electronic communications. This plan contains
ideas that will facilitate the lives of users, including
documents, software, meetings, and even voice
mail.
Learn more by visiting the site at http://www.pch-presentations.ca/.
Contact:
Chantal Bruyère, chantal_bruyere@pch.gc.ca |
Products
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Notepads with tips for Correctional Service
Canada employees on how to improve their second language skills.
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Correctional Service Canada has provided its employees with notepads
containing practical tips on using their second official language
and developing their language skills. Each page provides employees
in bilingual regions with sound advice to encourage them to develop
and use their second language skills.
"Take a cooking course in French / Prenez un cours de
cuisine en anglais, Go shopping in a francophone community / Allez
magasiner dans une collectivité anglophone" are just two
examples of the tips found in the notepad.
Don't just think about it, do it.
Contact: Gisèle Seck, seckgi@csc-scc.gc.ca
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Words about grains in Canada
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Grain terminology in English and French is now available to the
public in a glossary on the Canadian Grain Commission’s web site.
The online CGC
Glossary is a user-friendly database with over 2700
entries pertaining to grain inspection, grading, weighing, sampling,
research and other related activities. This glossary, available to
all, serves as a tool to encourage consistent use of terminology in
agricultural documents while promoting official languages in Canada.
Contact: Louise Vandale, lvandale@grainscanada.gc.ca
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Western Official Languages Newsletter – Coup de
pouce
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Coup de pouce is an electronic monthly newsletter addressing
official languages issues of interest to the western provinces. The
Pacific Federal Council currently has the lead, with monthly
content provided by all four regions. Each province's edition
features a combination of western regional and provincial content.
It is an excellent example of the synergy achieved through western
collaborative initiatives regarding official languages.
Every month, the format consists of a front page of provincial
interest, a word of the month, an official language minority
community profile, a best practice, a website (of western or
national interest) and upcoming provincial events. The translation
of the western content of the bulletin is graciously provided by the
Canada Revenue Agency, Pacific Region.
Coup de pouce is distributed electronically to specific
audiences and posted on each of the Western Federal Council sites at
the following addresses:
British Columbia: http://pfc.gc.ca
Alberta: http://afc.gc.ca/collaborative_initiatives/aldn/index-e.cfm
Saskatchewan: http://publiservice.gc.ca/committees/scsfo-cffs/menu_e.html
(available only on the internal Public Service Network)
Manitoba: http://mfc-cfm.gc.ca
Leads:
British Columbia: David Cowie, David.Cowie@pwgsc.gc.ca
Canada Revenue Agency: Laurette Drolet, Laurette.MDrolet@ccra-adrc.gc.ca
Contributors:
Alberta: James Richardson, James.Richardson@pwgsc.gc.ca
Saskatchewan: Arline Trew, arline.trew@wd-deo.gc.ca
Manitoba: Michel Loiselle, loiselle.michel@ic.gc.ca
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A Communicating Mouse Pad
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Transport Canada has developed a mouse pad to
illustrate how employees should communicate with their colleagues
while respecting the language of work obligations.
Contact: Carole Savage, savagec@tc.gc.ca
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A Poster to Chair Bilingual Meetings
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As part of a workshop on chairing bilingual and effective meetings,
Transport Canada developed a poster aimed at the active offer of
services describing the roles of the chairperson and participants.
Tent cards giving the same message are also available.
Contact: Carole Savage, savagec@tc.gc.ca
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Linguistic Writing Tools at Export Development Canada
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EDC’s internal Translation Services launched a
tool to support employees writing in French. “Le Francais a la
Carte”, is a monthly bulletin that highlights anglicisms and
other common mistakes that are made when writing in French. This
bulletin is available to all employees through EDC’s intranet, Livewire.
They have also offered other tools in both official languages,
such as a model French language letter, a Country and territory name
lists in both official languages, and a list of currencies and ISO
codes (International Organization for Standardization) in both
official languages.
Also, “Grammar on line”, a join project of Translation
Services and EDC’s in-house official languages teachers, is an
innovative service, which supports employees who communicate in
writing in their second official language. The employee forwards an
electronic copy of the draft communication to “Grammar on line”,
and same-day electronic editing service is provided-often within
hours of the request being received.
As a result of this good practice, the overall
cultural climate related to bilingualism at EDC has been positively
impacted.
Contact: Hocine Toulaït, htoulait@edc.ca |
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The Prince Edward Island Federal Council's Official
Languages Toolbox
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| The Official Languages
Toolbox section of the Web site offers access to a wide variety of tools.
Whether you are looking for information about service to the public,
writing and translation, language evaluation or another topic, the
site makes it easier by providing links that add to your knowledge
base.
Television and radio programs are also highlighted!
A good way to retain second-language skills!
In addition, the Council members wish to work cooperatively to
ensure that the Acadian and Francophone community of PEI receives
services in French. The Official Languages Committee is working to
meet that need. Several activities have been undertaken, such as a
volunteer mentoring program for learning retention and an
information fair.
For more information, please visit the Council's
Web site. |
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Health Canada Official Languages Program Promotional
Memo-Pad
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| Official Languages - For each one of us
— this is the message that Health Canada is passing on to all
employees by providing them with an official languages promotional
memo-pad. It is a short, but effective, slogan and is a very simple
way of raising employee awareness about official languages. The
memo-pad is a vital and practical tool that is always on hand for
employees to write short messages. In addition, it lists the address
of the Intranet site where people can obtain more information about
the Official Languages Program. The promotional memo-pad is the
perfect complement to the range of tools available to Health Canada
employees to keep them informed about official languages.
Health Canada is proud to share its good practices with its
partners.
Contact: Ginette Pelletier, ginette_pelletier@hc-sc.gc.ca |
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Health Canada Monthly Official Languages Newsletters
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| Health Canada's Diversity and Official Languages
Programs unit has taken a pro-active approach by posting a monthly
official languages newsletter for all employees on Heath Canada
Broadcast News. Throughout the year, various topics were addressed,
such as the new official languages policies, the Directive on
Language Training and Learning Retention and the Rendez‑vous
de la Francophonie. In addition, as summer vacations and
holidays approached, suggestions were made to all employees for
bilingual messages about absences in order to remind them of the
importance of communicating in both official languages, where
prescribed by the duties of the position and the region.
Thanks to these topical official languages newsletters, Health
Canada employees are well equipped to contribute to the advancement
of the Official Languages Program within their institution.
Monthly newsletters – an effective, winning formula!
Health Canada is proud to share its good practices with its
partners.
Contact: Ginette Pelletier, ginette_pelletier@hc-sc.gc.ca |
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Health Canada Comparison Table and Brochure on Human
Resources Policies
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| Health Canada has developed, for its human resources
community, a comparison table of former Treasury Board policies and
revised Treasury Board policies that came into effect on
April 1, 2004. The document, in table form, sets out the
elements that have been retained and those that have been added.
This comparison table is also posted on Health Canada's human
resources Intranet site.
Health Canada has also developed a brochure that clearly explains
the key changes of the new policies.
These are essential tools!
Health Canada is proud to share its good practices with its
partners.
Contact: Ginette Pelletier, ginette_pelletier@hc-sc.gc.ca |
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Health Canada Poster on Bilingual Meetings
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| Health Canada places a great deal of importance on
creating an environment conducive to the effective use of both
official languages. The Department has put up a poster in all
meeting rooms in regions designated as bilingual for
language-of-work purposes to remind managers of their
responsibilities when holding bilingual meetings. Colourful and
attention-grabbing, the poster describes, in diagram form, six key
elements that enable managers to ensure effective and successful
meetings in both official languages. This large bilingual poster is
also reversible, thus allowing for a visual presentation that
corresponds to the predominant official language of the province.
Health Canada is proud to share its good practices with its
partners.
Contact: ginette_pelletier@hc-sc.gc.ca |
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From Dialogue to Action - the
Pacific Federal Council's Official Languages Toolkit
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In follow up to the 2001 pilot project on
providing services to the public in both official languages, the
Council wanted to continue the dialogue between the community and
the partner organizations. In an effort to achieve a transformation
in culture that would impact daily activities, the Council created a
workshop entitled "Official Languages…a matter of
respect."
The goal of the workshop is to promote a change in
mentality in the application of the Official Languages Act,
specifically, to provide service to the public in a spirit of
respectful cooperation, ultimately resulting in improvements in the
areas of staffing, recognizing the needs of the Francophone
community and the clients served, and shifting from an abstract
rules-based approach to a more concrete values-based
approach.
The workshop includes four components: a discussion
on the roles of central agencies, a participatory session on values,
principles and ethics, a component on the history of the Francophone
community, and discussions on good practices.
This workshop
could serve as a model for other regions in Canada.
The
Council's slogan is "Official Languages…a matter of
respect."
The Council also developed an easy-to-use Official
Languages Toolkit that can be consulted to obtain online information
on official languages. A mouse pad with key phrases promotes the
provision of services in both official languages, which completes
the move from dialogue to action.
Check out the Web site for
more information: http://pfc.gc.ca/commits/off_lang/docs/toolkit_en.cfm
These
initiatives were made possible through regional funding allocated
under the Official Languages Innovation Program.
Contact:
Laurette Drolet, laurette.drolet@ccra-adrc.gc.ca
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Single window to writing at the
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and the Public Service Human Resources
Management Agency of Canada
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These two organizations provide employees
with key documents that can be very useful in everyday applications.
These linguistic tools come from different sources, both internal
and external, and are available on InfoSite, the departmental
intranet.
These indispensable tools give advice and practical
tips on grammatical difficulties, syntax, and usage and offers links
to a number of handy tools. They are easy to use, regardless of in
which official language: glossaries, writer's guides, dictionaries,
TERMIUM Plus®, encyclopedias, tips of the month, etc.
Playing
with words has just become child's play! Just try a few and you'll
be hooked!
Contact: Michel Des Rochers, desrochers.michel@tbs-sct.gc.ca
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Language of work: one of the responsibilities of
managers at Canada Post Corporation
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The Corporation has introduced a
training module exploring its managers' responsibilities with
respect to language of work. Based on case studies, the
training provided under this module ensures better
understanding of the policies in this area. Specifically, the
module describes the rules and responsibilities of supervisors
in terms of their communications with employees and draws up a
list of resources available to them.
Contact: Robert
Gauthier, roberta.gauthier@canadapost.postescanada.ca
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Easy-to-use writing tools at National Research
Council Canada
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Whatever the task, a good tool can
make all the difference. At the National Research Council
Canada (NRC), common sense also helps facilitate the use of
official languages. The NRC has created a bookmark to help
remind its employees of the URL address of its writing tool
box, which was designed to help them use their second official
language. The bookmark is also useful to employees who do not
always use a bilingual keyboard, since it contains characters
and accents that can be accessed through a few quick
clicks.
Contact: Christiane Charron, christiane.charron@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
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Interactivity supports language learning at the
Communications Security Establishment
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Should your communications be
prepared in both official languages? The Communications
Security Establishment provides the answer through an
interactive decision-making tree for its employees. An
intranet guide, presented in question format, helps employees
figure out whether their written communications should be
prepared in both official languages. This makes it easier for
them to meet their responsibilities to the
public.
Contact: Julie Birch, julie.birch@cse-cst.gc.ca
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Parks Canada: satisfying the public in both
official languages
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Measuring public satisfaction is an
essential element in understanding and solving problems. In
2002-03, Parks Canada surveyed visitors to 3 national parks
and 11 historic sites. Visitors reported 92% and 98%
satisfaction, respectively, with access to quality services in
both official languages. These results were similar to those
obtained in the previous year, which is encouraging in terms
of pursuing the efforts made.
Contact: Diane Lépine, diane.lepine@pc.gc.ca
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Citizenship and Immigration Canada: an
accountability framework that works
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By developing an accountability framework
for official languages, Citizenship and Immigration Canada was
aiming to ensure that everyone's roles, priorities, and obligations
would be better defined. This framework focusses on the equal status
of English and French. The official languages champion and employees
feel compelled to ensure that nobody is prevented from exercising
their rights.
Contact: Brigitte Fortin, brigitte.fortin@cic.gc.ca
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VIA Rail Canada: all aboard!
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What could be more natural than
inviting all employees to get on the "official languages
train" at VIA Rail Canada! By focussing the 2003 strategic
plan on more extensive use of the two official languages and
organizing workshops across the country, the organization's
leaders have laid the tracks for a productive dialogue under
the theme of "People Who Move People." Managers and employees
of the national carrier had the opportunity to discuss the new
mission, vision, values, and goals, including an excellent
occasion for the proper use of both official
languages.
Contact: Sylvie Leblanc, sylvie_leblanc@viarail.ca
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Assessing Clients' Expectations, it Works at the
VIA Rail Canada
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| The marketing services conduct a number a
surveys every year. The results obtained for 2002 indicate a high
degree of client satisfaction with regard to the quality and
availability of services in both official languages. Employees were
also consulted on this issue, and discussion groups were put in
place to review in detail all of the results, establish the priority
of required improvements, and develop concrete and feasible action
plans. The high participation rate and quality of the feedback
received convinced managers to continue to conduct employee surveys.
For more information, please contact Sylvie Leblanc at the
following e-mail address: mailto:Sylvie_Leblanc@viarail.ca
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National Film Board: featuring ongoing
dialogue
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Why not have lunch in both official
languages and combine business with pleasure? Every month
since its strategic plan was completed, the National Film
Board's Commissioner has organized bilingual working lunches.
The menu features ongoing dialogue and discussions about
promoting bilingualism.
Contact: Isabelle Tessier, i.tessier@nfb.ca
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The Language Nook of the Government of Canada:
avoiding pitfalls and overcoming language traps
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Dagan the Dragonfly, the Translation
Bureau's mascot, can be found in the Language Nook of the
Government of Canada, where users can follow it through the
intricacies of the language of Shakespeare. Its French cousin,
Virgule, lives in the Coin linguistique du gouvernement du
Canada, guiding users through the traps and difficulties of
the language of Molière.
These sites contain unique
linguistic opportunities and discoveries. Grammar, syntax,
proper use, various examples, amusing games, an on-line
library, and linguistic bibliographies are just some of the
many appealing gems found in this wonderful tool box. Not only
is it regularly updated, but it is also free on the
Translation Bureau and TERMIUM® Web sites. Federal employees
across Canada can access it through http://coinlinguistique.bureaudelatraduction.gc.ca/.
Come
meet the mascot.
Contact: Denise Fournier, denise.fournier@pwgsc.gc.ca
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The Department of Canadian Heritage posts
language on line
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Launched in the spring of 2003, the
Department of Canadian Heritage language tool kit set a double
objective: increasing the quantity and quality of French content on
the Internet. Users of the kit can find numerous tools to help them
with writing and revision in both official languages.
Find it
at Word Wizards.
Web site: http://www.wordwizards.gc.ca/
Email:
info@wordwizards.gc.ca
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Health Canada: keeping languages in shape
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The orientation course entitled Discovering
Health Canada now has a 30-minute capsule covering the key
aspects of the Official Languages Program. Health Canada is
fully committed to initiating new employees and guiding them
to ensure that they use both official languages on a daily
basis. Moreover, the language training program has acquired a
new stream for the development of the first official
language.
Contact: Hélène Mainville, helene_mainville@hc-sc.gc.ca
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Radio-Canada: an ideal way to reach the
French-speaking community
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Access to and use of French-language
services is a measure of the progress made with both official
languages. Société Radio-Canada's broadcast of the messages
prepared by the Fédération des francophones de la
Colombie-Britannique shows how well the corporation has
understood this.
Contact: Brigitte Tesnière, brigitte_tesniere@cbc.ca
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Canada Post Corporation: focussed on its
clients
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The Corporation's bilingual counters
are some of the best meeting places between members of the
public and those whose mission it is to serve them in the
official language of their choice. "Mystery Client" is a
special program aimed at providing a better understanding of
client satisfaction levels, which can help the Corporation
adjust its practices.
Contact: Robert Gauthier, roberta.gauthier@canadapost.postescanada.ca |
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Public Service Commission of Canada: spotlight on
bilingualism
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Shining the spotlight on bilingualism
every day is one of the Commission's ways of raising
awareness. Mascots and pins are all part of the effort to
increase the visibility of the principle of respecting both
official languages. In 2003, the Commission stepped up its
promotional efforts by developing a national segment of the
Rendez-vous de la Francophonie. Shows, tributes, games,
meetings, and networking brought Francophones and francophiles
closer together. This initiative was well received at the
Commission.
Contact: Allan Kimpton, allan.kimpton@psc-cfp.gc.ca |
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Statistics Canada: a methodical application of the
principles of bilingualism
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For more than 25 years, the active involvement of
Statistics Canada's employees has formed the basis of the
application and management of the Official Languages Program.
Enhanced linguistic profiles and training, co-operation among
colleagues, tools and resources, responsibilities and recognition of
rights, and leadership by managers are some of the ingredients in
the recipe for the everyday use of both official
languages.
Monthly meetings, discussion groups with official
languages co-ordinators, surveys, studies, and internal audits are
also part of the methodical approach developed by the department to
achieve effective application of the Program. The preparation of a
quick-reference guide on the principles of the Official Languages
Act, the creation of an orientation module on the linguistic
responsibilities for new supervisors and the introduction of an
Official Languages Award of Excellence to reward good practices
round out the impressive panoply of means applied to make the use of
both official languages an everyday occurrence.
Contact:
Gisèle Battison, battgis@statcan.ca |
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Industry Canada: bilingualism as a reference
point
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Industry Canada's objective is to apply the
spirit and the letter of the Official Languages Act through
the publication of a reference tool for employees and
managers. The manual provides information about policies on
service to the public, language of work, and participation of
English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians. The issues
addressed in this reference manual also include highlighting
and encouraging the vitality of English and French language
groups.
Contact: Cindy Sullivan, sullivan.cindy@ic.gc.ca |
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Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: bilingue
ou unilingue, that is the question
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At the Corporation, knowledge of official
languages is part and parcel of what is needed to establish
the competency profile for a position. Thus, the Corporation
has come up with the Linguistic Profiler, an on-line tool that
can help managers with the linguistic designation (bilingual
or unilingual) of a position and the choice of appropriate
linguistic profile, based on three categories defined by the
required skills. Regardless of the levels, areas of work, and
functions, the Linguistic Profiler provides a rapid and
uniform procedure for the whole organization. Managers wishing
to expand on the issue of linguistic designation also have
access to an on-line guide. This highly regarded guide has
been borrowed and adapted by other
institutions.
Contact: Denise Doré, ddore@cmhc-schl.gc.ca |
Networking
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The Ontario Federal Council’s Official Languages
Sub-Committee
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The sub-committee’s mandate is to work together to help
realize the development priorities of the Francophone
community in Ontario and share good practices by providing
bilingual services and supporting the development of Ontario’s
Francophone community.
Among its objectives are:
· To provide a forum to support federal
institutions in establishing partnerships to address
issues related to the implementation of the Official
Languages Act (the Act) in the Ontario Region,
including service to the public, language of work, equal
participation, and the development and vitality of the
Francophone minority community.
· To encourage the delivery of quality services
in both official languages.
· To facilitate networking between our members
and the French-language service coordinators of the
Ontario government.
The sub-committee is chaired by the Federal Council’s
Official Languages Champion. It is composed of the
representatives from the departments and agencies that are
responsible for the implementation of parts IV to VII of the
Act in Ontario.
Please visit the Ontario
Federal Council’s site to learn more.
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The Manitoba Interdepartmental Network of Official
Languages Coordinators (MINOLC) is active in the West!
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The Network was established on the
recommendation of the Manitoba Federal Council's Official
Languages Champion. The Network's activities consist mainly of
improving the knowledge of departmental
representatives and
exchanging information concerning the implementation of the
various parts of the Official Languages Act.
The goal of the MINOLC is to promote collaboration and
create opportunities conducive to the exchange of models, good
practices and initiatives.
The Network is involved in a variety of activities, such
as:
· Awareness presentations
and the organization and promotion of French clubs, learning
sessions and French corners where people can engage in
discussions in French. Tools are available, such as
glossaries on targeted subjects.
· Promotion of technical
courses taught in French.
· Registration for
second-language training, taking into account needs and
especially succession planning.
· Use and promotion of
self-learning kits and Internet and network courses.
· Public satisfaction
surveys and quizzes.
For more information, please visit the Manitoba
Federal Council's Web
site.
|
-
Pacific Federal Council: union +
action = results
-
|
The Pacific Federal Council Official Languages
Committee is not sitting idle! Its dynamic initiatives in support of
the Francophone community in the Pacific (British Columbia and
Yukon) include exchange networks, the exploration of new ways of
promoting the mandates of the different stakeholders, and analyzing
complaints to correct weaknesses and find solutions. The results are
evident in: 10 minutes of air time on Radio-Canada every two weeks,
two-and-a-half hours of air time on Rogers and Shaw, and articles
published in Le Soleil (B.C.) and in Aurore boréale
(Yukon). These regional activities also include the dissemination of
good practices and conferences on official languages. Twenty-six
federal institutions are participating in the Committee, which
reports to the Pacific Federal Council.
Contact: Laurette
Drolet, laurette.drolet@ccra-adrc.gc.ca
|
-
Prince Edward Island Federal Council:
province-wide support for the second language
-
The key objectives of the Prince Edward Island
Federal Council include introducing a mechanism to foster the
growth and development of the Francophone minority in Prince
Edward Island, identifying the institutions that are capable
of combining their efforts, and applying information
technologies to improve the level and quality of services.
This concerted approach is based on the knowledge-based
economy partnership agreement and support from the federal and
provincial governments. Thus, the Official Languages Committee
was mandated to prepare a list of initiatives that could help
departments and agencies support the priorities identified by
the community and implement measures involving the
collaboration of at least two federal departments or other
organizations.
Contact: Guy Labonté, guy.labonte@ccra-adrc.gc.ca |
-
Terms of Reference Committee on Official Languages PEI Regional
Federal Council
-
|
Whereas the members of the Prince Edward Island
Regional Federal Council (The Federal Council) desire to work
cooperatively in order to ensure that the Acadian and
Francophone community of Prince Edward Island receives the
highest possible level of services in the French language in
full respect of the provisions of the Official Languages Act;
and
Whereas the members of The Federal Council
desire to work cooperatively in order to promote the
development and foster the vitality of the Island's Acadian
and Francophone community as per the provisions of Part VII of
the Official Languages Act; and
Whereas by virtue of the Knowledge Economy
Partnership (KEP) the governments of Canada and Prince Edward
Island are committed to promoting a collaborative approach in
finding new, innovative effective and efficient means to
deliver government services and programs in both official
languages,
The members of The Federal Council have
decided to create a Committee on Official Languages. The
principal objectives of the Committee shall be to:
* establish a mechanism among federal
institutions in Prince Edward Island to share good practices
and address challenges with respect to the provision of
bilingual services and the provision of support for the
growth and development of the Island's official language
minority community;
* identify areas where federal
institutions, other levels of government, the private and
non-profit sectors and the official language minority
community can work together to assist the Island's Acadian
and Francophone community with the implementation of its
developmental priorities;
* identify areas where, consistent with the
objectives of KEP, the level and quality of bilingual
services may be enhanced by an integrated approach and the
use of modern communication and information
technologies;
* facilitate liaison between the Committee
on Official Languages, federal institution official
languages coordinators and the Office of the Commissioner of
Official Languages;
* assist Canadian Heritage in its
coordinating role in implementing the cross-government
commitment set out in Section 41 of the Official Languages
Act.
On the establishment of the Committee on
Official Languages, The Federal Council mandated the Committee
to:
coordinate the review by federal
institutions of the strategic and action plans of the
Island's Acadian and Francophone community as identified on
September 29 and 30, 1997 at Forum 97 in order to:
1) develop a comprehensive list of
initiatives which can be supported by individual departments
or agencies in response to the priorities identified by the
community, and
2) identify initiatives where there is a
need for a cooperative approach by two or more federal
departments or agencies (identify the lead department and
suggest means to minimize the administrative burden on the
community). |
-
Official languages: focussing on the strength of
networking
-
Strengthening connections and sharing
information are essential. The Official Languages Branch of
the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of
Canada, in recognition of these priorities, has developed a
consultation and communication mechanism between central
agencies and institutions to discuss the directions,
priorities, and directives related to the implementation of
the Official Languages Program. The initiative's three
objectives are to survey, identify global trends, and propose
solutions. The partners express their concerns and share the
ideas that feed the debate and enable the Agency to renew its
official languages actions.
A number of committees and
networks are looking at the key issues, which
include:
- the Network of Official Languages Champions,
which looks after promoting the Program within each
institution;
- the Departmental Advisory Committee on
Official Languages;
- the Crown Corporations Advisory
Committee on Official Languages;
- the
Interdepartmental Consultative Committee of Contributors in
Official Languages; and
- interdepartmental
sub-committees, created under the auspices of the federal
regional councils, where meetings are held in the regions for
consultations on policy development and service delivery
issues.
Contact: Bernadette Larrue, larrue.bernadette@hrma-agrh.gc.ca |
-
Pacific Council of Senior Federal Officials -
Official Languages Committee
-
| An interdepartmental Committee on Official
Languages was created in 1996 thanks to the Canada Revenue
Agency's lerdership to better serve francophone
communities in the Pacific regions (British-Columbia and
Yukon).
The regional initiative consists essentially in supporting
departmental operational practices by creating discussion
networks, exploring new ways of promoting the stakeholders'
respective mandates among the francophone community, and
identifying together the shortcomings referred to in
complaints in order to develop a consistent approach to
improving the situation. By way of example, let us note the
results that have stemmed from this initiative: agreements
with Radio Canada, which has allocated 10 minutes of air time
every two weeks, and the Rogers and Shaw cable companies,
which have set aside two-and-a-half hours of air time a month
for Francophones. With regard to the print media, articles of
general interest are published in francophone newspapers in
British Columbia and L'aurore boréale (Yukon). A number of other initiatives have
also emerged in connection with this undertaking, such as
disseminating information on good practices and circulating a
roster of those interested in giving presentations on official
languages.
Twenty-three federal institutions are participating in this
initiative.
Examples of Pacific region official languages best practices (RTF)
(PDF)
This Committee reports to the Pacific Council of Senior
Federal Officials. The Committee's minutes are sent to the
Council and the Committee makes recommendations to the
Council, if necessary.
For more information, please contact Laurette Drolet or
David Cowie at the following e-mail addresses:
Laurette.drolet@ccra-adrc.gc.ca
or David.Cowie@pwgsc.gc.ca
|
Service to the Public
-
Tailored Information to serve the public
-
|
Export Development Canada (EDC) offers a number of
on-line tools in both official languages. The on-line format ensures
that these services are available to Canadians in all geographic
regions of the country in the official language of their choice. EDC’s
online initiative is a bilingual questionnaire titled Are You
ExportAble/ Êtes-vous prêt-à-l'export? It
allows companies to gain a better understanding of exporting
realities and when combined with EDC's Online Solutions
Advisor/Le Conseiller en ligne, it gives customers fast and
convenient 24-hour bilingual access to EDC solutions and service for
exporting needs.
Other free online innovative initiatives are also
offered such as learning courses and a free online video on
exportation, which are offered to EDC’s clients and the general
public in both official languages. Online learning provides a free
90-day access to variety of bilingual online learning courses from A
Primer on International Trade to Doing Business in the Americas
Certificate geared to the needs of small exporters.
Contact: Agnieszka Reiske, areiske@edc.ca |
-
More Ways to Serve You – Canada Revenue Agency Weekly
Radio Spots
-
| During the 2005 tax season, radio spots were regularly
broadcast on Radio Canada in Vancouver.
Listeners really enjoyed the clear, easy-to-remember, "did
you know" messages. They received valuable advice and were kept
well-informed. The interest listeners showed in the spots was a
reward in itself.
This was a successful initiative for the Canada Revenue Agency
and Radio Canada. What an effective way to reach clients!
Does this initiative catch your interest?
Contact: Laurette Drolet, laurette.drolet@ccra-adrc.gc.ca |
-
Health Canada Brochure on Service to the Public
-
| Providing quality service to the public requires that
we respect the right of all Canadians to receive services in the
official language of their choice. So begins Health Canada's
brochure on service to the public.
The brochure addresses various elements of service to the public
in order to help employees remain pro-active while ensuring that
Canadians receive an active offer of quality service in both
official languages.
In order to keep employees up-to-date on departmental directives
on service to the public and to help them apply those directives
appropriately, the brochure lists several sources of general
information on official languages. The Health Canada brochure also
promotes some of the official languages publications of the Public
Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada and even offers
tricks on how to get everyone talking!
Are you interested?
Health Canada is proud to share its good practices with its
partners.
Contact: Ginette Pelletier, ginette_pelletier@hc-sc.gc.ca |
-
Responding better to
Francophones is what the Newfoundland and Labrador Federal Council is aiming
at
-
The Council has set up a project aimed at improving
French-language communication and service delivery of its programs
and services by properly trained officials. This project involves
the following elements: support for its sub-committee on official
languages; a French documentation centre; language training to meet
the needs associated with the acquisition and retention of
languages, both for trainers and students; and the hiring of French
tutors for group and individual courses and for the dissemination of
information.
The activities include:
Parlons
français!: part-time French classes;
Le Coin
français: a French-language learning centre;
Encart du
gouvernement du Canada: thirteen articles from eight
organizations published in Le Gaboteur, a French-language
regional newspaper;
Rencontres casse-croûte:
presentations on a variety of topics in French; and
Séance
de formation du formateur: a session with the Language Training
Centre to prepare trainers to teach French.
Contact: Martin
Sévigny, martin.sevigny@acoa-apeca.gc.ca |
-
-
|
Since 1999, the Agency has been offering training in
western and northern Canada to all of its employees, members of
friends of the park associations, volunteers, and vendors. Each
module is custom-made, adapted to clients' needs, and provided on
site or by telephone. The goal and background of the Official
Languages Act, as applicable to Parks Canada, is covered through
the use of interactive presentation methods. The training uses
demonstrations, application exercises, and reference
materials.
Reference tools
Contact: Louis Guyot, louis.guyot@pc.gc.ca
|
-
Serving the Public in Both Official Languages at
the National Research Council (NRC)
-
| Serving members of the public in the official
language of their choice is integral to
NRC's Vision 2006 and reaffirms the
Council's commitment to the national good.
A practical guide offers suggestions and advice to
NRC employees who provide services to the
public in both official languages. The guide also includes
some commonly-used phrases for their convenience.
For more information, please contact Christiane Charron at
the following e-mail address: christiane.charron@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca |
-
Federal Centre in Edmonton: bilingualism on every
level
-
The Edmonton Federal Centre, under Public Works and
Government Services Canada (PWGSC), makes a point of taking
bilingualism right to the elevators. Elevator passengers hear Going
up / Nous montons-First floor / premier étage between floors. This
just goes to show that bilingualism is moving up. Still, PWGSC would
like to do more and is currently looking at the possibility of
creating an electronic bulletin, in association with other federal
organizations. The purpose of this tool would be to respond
instantly in both official languages to questions from the public
and to provide information on available services at the touch of a
button. Like the elevator, information technologies are proving to
be excellent vehicles for the values embodied by
bilingualism.
Contact: Denis Cuillerier, denis.cuillerier@pwgsc.gc.ca |
-
Banff National Park: official languages scaling
new heights
-
|
Good Morning-Bonjour! This is the greeting
heard every year by more than 4.7 million visitors to the
majestic Banff National Park, with its bilingual service
counter. As soon as they enter the park, visitors are invited
to tune their radios to 101.1 FM for information in English
and 103.3 FM for information in French. In peak periods, the
administration of this public treasure increases its bilingual
resources at every service point. Employees make it a point of
honour to respect the rights of Canadians to be served in the
official language of their choice, and this national treasure
naturally finds its place amidst the sumptuous
scenery.
Contact: Diane Lépine, diane.lepine@pc.gc.ca
|
-
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service
focusses on quality in connection with bilingualism
-
|
Members of the public can contact the Canadian
Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in the official language
of their choice at any time. Every year, to ensure that it
maintains and improves this service, CSIS compiles information
through a telephone survey of offices subject to the Official
Languages Act.
Contact: Denise Bisaillon, loeole@smpt.gc.ca
|
-
Parks Canada: bilingualism is never far away
-
|
National parks and historic sites are sometimes
located in remote areas, but this is where bilingualism can
flourish. Canadians visiting these places have the right to
expect services in both languages. Parks Canada has spared no
effort in finding ways to meet their expectations in western
Newfoundland at Gros-Morne, Port au Choix, and L'Anse aux
Meadows. Staff awareness and training, pins, signs, displays,
and bilingual flyers are just some of the ways of creating a
welcoming environment. Maintaining these services over
thousands of square kilometres is a challenge that is met
thanks to the commitment of employees.
Contact: Diane
Lépine, diane.lepine@pc.gc.ca
|
-
The western Passport Office: no-strings
bilingualism
-
|
Passport or visa to bilingualism! In the West,
the Passport Office has found an easy and effective way to
serve members of the public in the official language of their
choice. A bilingual employee carries a cell phone and is
always available to answer questions in French. Unilingual
regions with more than one office have posters indicating the
points of service providing services in the other official
language. These are little ways of achieving big
results.
Contact: Carole Lavoie, clavoie@ppt.gc.ca
|
Culture Change
-
Improving the quality of
communications in the bilingual regions of the Canada Revenue Agency
-
The Agency introduced a pilot project for managing
the quality of official languages to improve the quality of
communications in designated bilingual regions and to create an
environment conducive to the use of both official languages. This
project was introduced in stages, by region, including Quebec,
Northern Ontario, the Atlantic (New Brunswick), and headquarters.
This project was based on the ISO 9001 approach, with a focus on
respect for official languages and the human dimension, and a call
for cultural and structural change in the organization through a
promise of quality, a "quality" manual, and a range of procedures
and tools on language of work. This approach has many benefits,
including helping to integrate official languages throughout the
organization.
Contact: Marcel Éthier, marcel.ethier@ccra-adrc.gc.ca |
-
Natural Resources Canada: recommending
bilingualism
-
Advancing the level of bilingualism sometimes
calls for an analysis of the organization. This is the task
taken on by a working group headed by an assistant deputy
minister at Natural Resources Canada. Managerial leadership
and accountability, culture, positive work practices, and
enhanced organizational capacity in a bilingual work
environment are just some of the aspects on which the authors
of the report based their recommendations for improving
services in both official languages.
Contact: Gisèle
Seck, gseck@nrcan.gc.ca |
-
The Canadian Human Rights Commission: a natural
setting for language rights
-
The Commission owes it to itself to set the
example. In today's Canada, its priorities rest on the
principles of sound management and the creation of an
environment defined by respect for others, ongoing dialogue
with employees, and pride in speaking the official language of
one's choice.
Contact: Nicole Morin, nicole.morin@chrc.ccdp.ca |
Leadership
-
Transport Canada Official Languages Accountability Framework
-
|
The new Official Languages Accountability Framework,
which has been approved in June 2005, defines the specific roles and
responsibilities of the various levels of management, employees and
key enabling organizations in meeting Transport Canada’s official
languages obligations. It should be used as another vehicle to
ensure that the linguistic rights of employees, clients and the
general public are known and respected by all.
Transport Canada is pleased to offer you this PDF document for
more information
Official Languages
Accountability Framework
Contact: Francine Charbonneau, charbof@tc.gc.ca
|
-
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Official Languages Governance Team
-
|
Headed up by AAFC’s champion and co-champion, the Official Languages Governance Team provides guidance and makes general and strategic recommendations to the ADM of Human Resources. The team is made up of approximately 10 members representing a wide variety of employees from different regions of the country.
The team’s activities are focussed on the strategy and on the department’s plans for promoting bilingualism. In particular, the team:
- reviews the development and implementation of action plans and strategies;
- helps compile the results and communicate them to staff in a transparent way.
Contact: : Arline Trew, mamayaria@agr.gc.ca
|
-
Dialogue to Find a Common
Solution in Western Canada Forum 4‑2‑1 (4 Provinces,
2 Official Languages, 1 Plan)
-
| Because the challenges involved in official languages
and the desire to make improvements are not limited to one province,
the Saskatchewan Federal Council (SFC) suggested that the four
western federal councils meet in 2003 to discuss language issues.
The participating councils wanted to achieve a dialogue that would
serve as the basis for a sustainable cultural change.
This resulted in the creation of Forum 4‑2‑1
as a means of finding a solution to an essentially western problem,
thereby allowing the region to achieve full and fair participation
in Canadian affairs.
More than 100 participants attended the conference, held in
Regina, Saskatchewan, on November 18 and 19, 2003, including
delegates from the four western provinces, observers from the three
territories and representatives from provincial French-language
offices and the Francophone community.
A key outcome was the creation of a strategic plan that is built
on four pillars:
· Service to the public
· Development of the Francophone community
· Leadership and culture change
· Language training and retention
This is a wonderful model to follow.
The Forum received $60,000 in funding from the Regional
Partnerships Fund
component of the Official Languages Innovation Program.
The Official
Languages Committee is very active and anticipates
more achievements in 2003-2004.
Contact: Arline Trew, arline.trew@wd-deo.gc.ca
|
-
Bilingualism at the heart of the
vision of the National Research Council Canada
-
The Council's commitment to serving members of the
public in the official language of their choice includes
incorporating bilingualism in its long-term corporate plan. Part of
the commitment involves giving employees a guide containing helpful
phrases.
Contact: Christiane Charron, christiane.charron@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca |
-
Public Works and Government
Services Canada: medium- and long-term planning for the use of both official
languages
-
After conducting an in-depth review of
positions and staffing, the department is proposing a three-stage
strategic action plan to be run in parallel over three years. The
three stages are conformity, improved communications and commitment,
and, finally, daily integration of the Official Languages
Program.
Contact: Denis Cuillerier, denis.cuillerier@pwgsc.gc.ca
|
-
Linguistic links between the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency and the Department of Canadian Heritage
-
One effective way of promoting official
languages is to work co-operatively across federal
organizations. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and
the Department of Canadian Heritage collaborated with the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to implement cultural
and heritage support programs. Their objective is to ensure
that materials and services are available to the Francophone
community. This will mean economic promotion and official
languages promotion working as one!
Contact: Eugène
Aucoin, eaucoin@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
|
-
At the Canada Lands Company, bilingualism goes
hand in hand with effectiveness
-
Performance objectives and bilingualism are not
incompatible. The Company has included both as target
objectives in its performance management framework. Both its
corporate plan and its annual report include initiatives,
performance indicators, and results indicators in an effort to
entrench bilingualism in all designated
positions.
Contact: Gordon McIvor, gmcivor@clc.ca
|
-
Bilingualism and integration at Citizenship and
Immigration Canada
-
How can new immigrants be made aware of the
issues and realities of bilingualism? At Citizenship and
Immigration Canada, the answer to this question lies in the
creation of a steering committee in partnership with the
minority official language communities. The dual benefit is
that Francophone communities, employees, and service providers
become aware of the official languages requirements of each
province and it becomes easier to integrate new
immigrants.
Contact: Micheline Doiron, micheline.doiron@cic.gc.ca
|
-
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada: celebrating
official languages
-
Why not celebrate bilingualism? June 14 has
been designated Bilingualism Day. This is a tremendous
opportunity. At Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the
official languages champion is inviting employees to come up
with activities in their workplace to mark this special day.
This initiative is being extended to the intranet. Since
bilingualism is not just for June 14, posters will be used to
remind people to hold meetings in both official languages in
all designated bilingual regions.
Contact: Linda Whyte,
whytel@ainc-inac.gc.ca
|
-
Transport Canada: official languages are central
to the concept of service
-
At Transport Canada, serving the public in both
official languages is also a matter of ethics. In order to
ensure that official languages are an integral part of the
working environment, the department has produced a brochure
that highlights the rights of both clients and employees. In
terms of bilingualism, the department is far from losing its
momentum. The freedom to use the official language of one's
choice is a matter of respect and an integral part of everyday
life.
Contact: Francine Charbonneau, charbof@tc.gc.ca
|
-
Toolkit for Second Official Language Retention at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
-
|
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recognizes learning a second official language is a personal and collective asset. It is a good investment and a lifelong process. To this end, a toolkit has been developed to support CFIA employees who use their second official language at work. It offers a wealth of useful examples and references for applying and maintaining a second official language at work and at home.
Various tools are available: sample voice-mail greetings, ways to chair bilingual meetings, how to set up a bilingual signature block; it also provides references and encourages the use of the minority media (radio and newspaper).
The CFIA also recognizes that it is not an easy feat to acquire a second official language and how important it is to acknowledge the accomplishment of its employees. To this end, the toolkit includes a congratulatory letter that is signed by the employee’s most senior manager and the Official Languages Champion of the sector.
Contact: Jennifer Thompson at thompsonj@inspection.gc.ca
|
-
The “Grande Dictée” –
A Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada initiative
-
|
One of the Agency’s activities for Les Rendez-vous de la
Francophonie 2005 involved organizing a “dictée” with its
partners from Treasury Board Secretariat, the Public Service
Commission and the Department of Finance Canada. What a great
initiative!
The dictation was neither too difficult nor too long for lack of
time. The text of The Little Prince by Saint-Exupéry drew
close to 40 Francophones and Francophiles of all ages who, for about
half an hour, devoted their full attention to every word and
punctuation mark like schoolchildren. It was lovely to see.
Four participants made no mistakes whatsoever, others made very
few and some made a few more. Afterward, a number of participants
asked that a monthly dictée be held.
Dictations . . . they remind us of the good old days. It’s also
a nice way to reinforce one’s linguistic skills.
What a great experience!
Contact: Edith Kehoe, kehoe.edith@hrma-agrh.gc.ca
|
-
Language Retention at Export
Development Canada
-
|
In 2004, EDC Ottawa Toastmasters club was
launched. This program is provided to all permanent employees at no
charge. The Toastmaster club helps its members in learning the arts
of speaking, listening and thinking; it meets once a week with one
full meeting in French held every two months. The club has 34
members and welcomes auditing guests from inside and outside of EDC.
Ninety per cent of current members are bilingual.
As a result of this good practice, the overall
cultural climate related to bilingualism at EDC has been positively
impacted.
Contact: Agnieszka Reiske, areiske@edc.ca
|
-
Skills Maintenance at the
National Research Council of Canada
-
|
The National Research Council has decided to make its workplace
even more conducive to the use of both official languages by
introducing a Maintenance of Second Language Skills Campaign. The
objective of the campaign is to help employees maintain their skills
in a relaxed atmosphere, by providing them with a variety of tools
to achieve that goal.
Employees can register online to participate in activities that
are held in regions as well as in the National Capital Region.
Contact: Christiane Charron, christiane.charron@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
|
-
Language Retention at Industry
Canada
-
Industry Canada has launched two initiatives to help
its employees maintain their second-language skills.
The Second Language Deployment Program is geared to middle
managers (CO-02 and CO-03) and executives (EX). Candidates need to
possess an intermediate knowledge of the second language (high level
B) to be able to participate.
The other initiative is a language deployment. An employee is
deployed on an interim basis to another position to allow him or her
to work in the second language. This pilot project, which started
April 1, 2004, will be in effect for three years.
Contact: Cindy Sullivan, sullivan.cindy@ic.gc.ca
|
-
Mentoring at Industry Canada: a
winning formula
-
Expanding your knowledge of the second language while
learning more about your colleagues is a winning combination when it
comes to enhancing your speaking skills in a second language.
Industry Canada has facilitated this friendly exchange, where an
English-speaking employee and a French-speaking one form a voluntary
partnership to help each other learn the second language. Their
responsibilities are set out ahead of time. This gives each partner
a chance to discover the other one's culture, while at the same time
improving the ability of both to serve the department's
English-speaking and French-speaking clients.
Contact: Cindy
Sullivan, sullivan.cindy@ic.gc.ca
|
-
Farm Credit Canada: living in
French in an English environment
-
How can the level and quality of French be maintained
in an environment or region where English prevails? For many
citizens, this is an important question. The Corporation has
launched five initiatives aimed at maintaining French in such
circumstances. In addition to offering a bilingual audio cassette
and information sheets for its advisors, the Corporation has also
organized French Fridays, paired unilingual employees with bilingual
employees, and held dinners with games and conversations in French
and mini-immersions. These are simple ideas that are easy to
implement.
Contact: Marie-France Kenny, mariefrance.kenny@fac-fcc.ca
|
-
Learn from those who know at the
Bank of Canada
-
Helping each other can work wonders!
Learning the second language from a colleague who has mastered it
makes the learning easier. The Bank of Canada's Monetary and
Financial Analysis Department has decided to foster this experience
by setting up a program that encourages practising the second
official language with a partner.
Contact: Kevin Moran, kmoran@bank-banque-canada.ca
|
-
Réseautage Franco Fun - Pacific
Federal Council initiatives to promote the practice of
French
-
In cooperation with the Canada School of Public
Service, Western Economic Diversification and the French-language
organization Éducacentre, this project was designed to facilitate
and promote the maintenance of Canada's linguistic duality and
bilingualism in federal departments and
agencies.
Establishing visibility and creating ties between
the Francophone community and public servants encourage a commitment
to the issues in the Pacific Region.
Led by Éducacentre, the sessions promoted the use of French among
public servants and enabled them to maintain their skills. The
program contains a number of components, including presentations,
dialogues, monologues, ice-breaking games, workshops and all kinds
of other activities, designed to encourage the use of French and
improve French-language comprehension and oral
expression.
This project resulted in the creation of good practices, including a project summary on DVD, designed for
employees in the Pacific Region and in other regions across Canada.
A promotional poster was distributed to the three levels of
government.
Check out the Web site for more information:
http://pfc.gc.ca/
These
initiatives were made possible through regional funding allocated
under the Official Languages Innovation Program.
Contact:
Laurette Drolet, laurette.drolet@ccra-adrc.gc.ca
|
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Strategies for maintaining your
language skills at National Defence
-
To a large extent, success or failure in learning a
second language depends on the learning strategies acquired and
those we develop. National Defence publishes the Official
Languages Express in The Maple Leaf journal, with quarterly news
on official languages. One of the inserts described learning
strategies to help civilian and military employees find the strategy
that best suits them. As the article said, "There is no such thing
as a good or bad strategy; if it works, use it. ...You have to
practice your second official language or you will lose
it..."
The department has other ways of helping civilian and
military employees maintain their second-language proficiency. A
small, discreet, and very useful office calendar lists the
Minister's five commitments to the House of Commons Standing
Committee on Official Languages. Every month, the calendar displays
a thought or a statement on the responsibilities of managers and
senior officers.
Contact: Jeffrey de Fourestier, defourestier.jd@forces.gc.ca
|
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Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s “Our Bilingualism” program
-
|
Employees in unilingual positions at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have access to funding for second-language training through the “Our Bilingualism” program. This voluntary program for building bilingual capacity was designed to facilitate access to language training for the purposes of career development and human resources planning. It also fosters greater bilingualism within the department. This five-year program was launched in 2003–2004.
Contact: Adam Mama-Yari, mamayaria@agr.gc.ca
|
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Innovative Self-directed
Second Language Learning Tool
"For the Love of
English" – "Pour l’amour du français"
-
| The Canadian Space Agency is using innovative methods
to help its employees gain and retain second language skills.
The blended self-directed learning approach, which combines
computer-assisted training with guidance from teachers, makes it
possible to see the progress made in learning or maintaining a
second language. It gives participants the flexibility to combine
work and language learning at a pace that is right for them, and
results in cost savings for the organization. This project has
raised a great deal of interest and has even been shared with 15
other departments that now use computer-assisted learning tools.
Contact: Paulette Girouard, paulette.girouard@espace.gc.ca
|
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At home or abroad, Foreign
Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada provide language training
around the clock
-
If you need virtual access to a language training
campus, whether in Moscow or Rio, look no further! Employees of
these departments can get on-line language training anywhere in
Canada or the rest of the world through virtual campuses. And there
are exercises to help you retain or enrich your knowledge of the
second language outside of working hours.
Contact: Gerald
Redmond, gerald.redmond@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
|
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Language training takes off at
Air Canada
-
Information technologies are very helpful when it comes
to learning. This has not escaped Air Canada, which provides an
on-line language training service that is readily accessible to all
of its employees.
Contact: Louise McEvoy,
louise.mcevoy@aircanada.ca
|
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Indian and Northern Affairs
Canada: learning a language is child's play
-
You can even have fun figuring out how good you are
at finding the right words in one of the official languages! In this
department, the odds are excellent: learning the second language
through games has never been more fun, with a new game every month
to help hone your skills.
Try this one:
Find the equivalent expression / Trouver
l'expression équivalente
WORD OF THE MONTH: QUICK /
MOT DU MOIS : VITE
|
French Expression /
Expression
française |
Equivalent English Expression /
Expression
équivalente en anglais |
-
C'était vite fait
-
Ça ne va pas vite
-
La vie va si vite
-
Le temps passe vite
-
C'est un petit vite
-
Au plus vite
-
Je vis vite
-
Il faut penser vite
-
Marcher vite
-
Ce sera vite fait
-
C'est vite dit
-
Il n'était pas vite en affaires
-
Faire vite
-
Eh, pas si vite! |
-
Time flies
-
To walk quickly
-
It's easier said than done
-
It was done quickly / it was done in a flash
-
To hurry
-
You have to think quickly
-
It goes slowly
-
As quickly as possible
-
Hey, not so fast! Hey, hold on a minute!
-
He wasn't fast moving
-
Life goes by so quickly
-
It won't take long
-
I live in the fast lane
-
He's a smart cookie |
1-D, 2-G, 3-K,
4-A, 5-N, 6-H, 7-M, 8-F, 9-B, 10-L, 11-C, 12-J, 13-E,
14-I
Find the equivalent expression / Trouver
l’expression équivalente
MONTHLY THEME : NOVELTY / THÈME
DU MOIS : NOUVEAUTÉ
English
Expression/
Expression anglaise
|
Equivalent French Expression/
Expression
équivalente en français
|
| 1. The first time
I saw him...
2. The month’s new
releases
3. There’s nothing new
4. From the very first
day
5. People want something
new
6. A new thing in electronics / a
new electronic invention
7. New spring fashions
8. It’s the flavour of the
month
9. On opening night
10. It’s a first for our
team
|
A. Tout nouveau,
tout beau
B. C’est une (grande) première pour
notre équipe
C. Les nouveautés
printanières
D. Il n’y a rien de
nouveau
E. La première fois que je l’ai
vu...
F. Dès le premier jour
G. Le soir de la première
H. Les nouveautés du mois
I. Les gens veulent du
nouveau
J. Une nouveauté en
électronique
|
1-E, 2-H, 3-D, 4-F, 5-I,
6-J, 7-C, 8-A, 9-G, 10-B
|
Find the equivalent expression / Trouver
l’expression équivalente
MONTHLY THEME : COLD / THÈME DU
MOIS : FROID
English
Expression/
Expression anglaise
|
Equivalent French Expression/
Expression
équivalente en français
|
1. It leaves me cold.
2. To break the ice.
3. To keep a cool head.
4. My feet are cold.
5. A cold spell.
6. It’s cold/freezing cold.
7. To catch cold/a chill.
8. I got a cold reception.
9. There is a coldness between
them.
10. It gives me the
creeps/shivers.
|
A. Une vague de froid.
B. Prendre ou attraper froid.
C. Il y a un froid entre eux.
D. Briser la glace.
E. Garder la tête froide.
F. Ça me laisse froid.
G. Il m’a reçu froidement.
H. J’ai froid aux pieds.
I. Ça me donne des frissons.
J. Il fait un froid de
canard.
|
1-F, 2-D, 3-E, 4-H, 5-A, 6-J,
7-B, 8-G, 9-C, 10-I
|
Prepared by
OLLO Committee
Indian and Northern
Affairs Canada
Contact: Guylaine Durand, durandg@ainc-inac.gc.ca |
|
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