Management a) An accountability framework, an action plan and accountability mechanisms are in place (5%) |
The National Arts Centre (NAC) is a leader in promoting Canadian artistic excellence in all performing arts, and is the only multidisciplinary, bilingual performing arts centre in North America.
The institution does not have an accountability framework, but it is developing
one. It does not have an action plan for Parts IV, V and VI of the Official
Languages Act but an Action Plan (2004-2006) for the implementation of
section 41 of the Act has been prepared.
In its Official Languages (OL) policy (which requires updating), there is a description of the NAC's commitment with respect to the services it offers to the public and the creation of a work environment that is conducive to the use of both official languages. Managers are responsible for providing services to the public in both OL. |
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b) Visibility of official languages in the organization (5%) |
OL are reflected in the key document entitled, Restoring our Vision 2001-2006. OL are also reflected in the NAC's Annual Report. It mentions French theatre, regional programming, Francophone variety shows, bilingual activities for youth, etc. OL are not part of internal audits. The OL coordinator provides monthly updates to the OL champion, who is a member of the Executive Committee. This Committee discusses OL at least once per year and as needed. Each year, a status report on equity, OL and multiculturalism is presented to the Board of Trustees. Co-ordination of all sections of the Act is good. |
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c) Complaints (5%) |
Complaints are forwarded to the OL coordinator and to the champion. Key managers are involved in finding solutions. There are very few complaints. Lessons learned are shared with all sectors. |
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| Service to the public –Part IV a) Bilingual services advertised to the public and sufficient bilingual staff (4%) |
Bilingual services are advertised in BUROLIS and in the Blue Pages. All signs are bilingual. People who serve the public are bilingual. All three NAC Web sites are bilingual. 100% of incumbents of bilingual positions serving the public meet the language requirements of their position. (Source: NAC data, OLIS II, December 31, 2004) |
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b) Findings on active offer and service delivery (15%) |
According to observations of in-person service made by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL) in the fall of 2005, active visual offer was present in 100% of cases, active offer by staff was made in 0% of cases, while service in the language of the minority was adequate in 100% of cases. According to observations of service on the telephone made by OCOL in the fall of 2005, active offer of service by staff or by an automated system was made in 100% of cases, while service in the language of the linguistic minority was adequate in 100% of cases. |
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c) The service agreements delivered by third parties or in partnership provide for the delivery of bilingual services (2%) |
The contractual agreements with third parties contain a clause for the delivery of services in both OL. (Most of the agreements are with orchestras, opera companies and dance companies, etc.) The person responsible for the stage where the group in question is performing carries out the necessary monitoring. It is not known, however, if these controls are adequate, nor how often they occur. |
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d) Bilingual services quality monitoring (4%) |
Employees are informed of the requirement to offer services in both OL at the hiring interview and during the orientation session for new employees. A copy of the OL policy is also given to new employees. Supervisors periodically monitor the availability and quality of services to the public. |
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Language of work – Part V a) Adequate bilingual supervision and language of work policy (12.5%) |
100% of supervisors in bilingual regions who are required
to supervise their employees in both OL are able to do so. (Source: NAC data,
OLIS II, December 31, 2004)
The OL policy addresses language of work but it needs to be updated. There are support measures such as language training, translation and revision. |
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b) Establishment of an environment conducive to both official languages (12.5%) |
All training and development courses are given in the employees' language of choice. Bilingual courses are substituted when participation in either language is below the minimum requirement. All work tools are bilingual. Agendas and minutes of meetings are in both OL. Internal communications are in both OL. Over the past year, it has been noted that some e-mails were sent to employees in only one OL. To remedy the situation, two e-mails were sent to employees to remind them of their language of work and communications responsibilities. Employees are encouraged to use the OL of their choice, particularly during meetings. A copy of the OL policy that addresses language of work (which requires updating) is given to new employees. Meetings of the Management Committee and supporting documentation are in both OL. There is no monitoring of the application of the language of work policy. |
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Equitable participation – Part VI a) Percentage of Francophone participation throughout Canada (5%) |
Francophones account for 32.2% of the NAC's workforce as
a whole. (Source: NAC data, OLIS II, December 31, 2004)
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b) Percentage of Anglophone participation in Quebec (5%) |
There are no offices in Quebec. All staff work in the National Capital Region (NRC). |
N/A |
Development of official language minority communities and promotion of linguistic duality – Part VII a) Strategic planning and the development of policies and programs take into account the development of minority language communities (12.5%) |
The NAC takes into account the development of minority language communities.
The institution has developed an Action Plan (2004-2006) for the implementation
of section 41 of the Act. This plan describes a number of activities
that concern both linguistic communities, including French theatre, English
theatre and regional programming. These activities aim to provide NAC with
easier access to Canadian artists and to put on shows on the Fourth Stage starring
Francophone artists from across Canada.
The NAC is continuing its efforts to develop theatre within minority Francophone
communities through its Regional Development Program. This program, which stems
from the NAC's national mandate, assists in the development of the performing
arts throughout the country. Through this program, the NAC funded 10 projects
from eight companies working in five provinces.
The National Arts Centre is also part of the Agreement for the Development
of Francophone Arts and Culture in Canada, as well as the Joint Theatre Forum
co-ordinated by the Interdepartmental Co-ordination Directorate of the Department
of Canadian Heritage. "Théâtre français" plays an active
role in organizing the Biennale du théâtre en région.
The institution does not have its own communications policy. The NAC places
a number of different types of advertising. Advertising for vacant positions
are always published in accordance with the Communication Policy of the
Government of Canada and are targeted to both language groups. The same
applies to dance and orchestra performance announcements. The other types of
advertising (for French theatre, English theatre, variety shows, etc.) are
placed in newspapers serving the targeted audience. The institution chooses
minority community newspapers when advertising events concerning OL minority
communities.
Employees are informed of the needs of these communities during their orientation session. |
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b) Strategic planning and the development of policies and programs take into account the promotion of linguistic duality (12.5%) |
Within the NAC, strategic planning and the development of policies and programs generally take into account the promotion of linguistic duality. The institution strives constantly to reach Canadians across the country and give artists from both linguistic groups national and international visibility. Since its inception, the Fourth Stage has become a major focal point for artists in the National Capital Region. For example, it presents a wide range of musical programming, from promising young musicians to established stars. Among the most popular concerts are Les vendredis de la chanson francophone, which present a variety of Francophone artists from all parts of the country. This concert series enables the public to discover the talent coming out of Canada's Francophone communities. For its fifth season, the NAC's Fourth Stage will host artists from almost every part of the country, which will give the audience a taste of the richness and diversity of Canadian culture. The Quebec Scene, a multidisciplinary festival that will be held in spring 2007 in the NCR, will present more than 800 Quebec artists. This event is already generating buzz among employees and raising employee interest in everything related to the French language. The NAC continues to look for a variety of presentations that represent and appeal to both linguistic groups. To promote internal linguistic duality, one NAC department implemented "French Fridays," where employees are invited to participate in French-language lunchtime discussions on a different theme every week. One participant is invited to lead the discussion and to encourage all participants to get involved. (For example, one of the themes was travel. Participants were invited to bring vacation photos and talk in French to their colleagues about their vacations.) This initiative was very successful and NAC now encourages other departments to implement similar initiatives. |
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OVERALL RATING |
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