Mobilizing a Multifaceted Movement: Lessons from Canadian Parents for French’s History of Activism Matthew Hayday, Associate Professor Department of History, University of Guelph

Early Innovations McKee Elementary after-school program (North York) Toronto French School Kitchener-Waterloo Bilingual School St. Lambert French Immersion Pilot Calgary French School Chez Hélène

The Founding Conference

CPF in the late-1970s

A Federal Context Ottawa: Secretary of State (Canadian Heritage), Commissioner of Official Languages – Official Languages Act, Official Languages in Education Program, Promotion of Official Languages, Moral Support Provincial Ministries of Education – Curriculum Guidelines, Funding Structures Local/Municipal School Boards – Decisions to create / fund / expand programs

Strategies, Resources and Tools Volunteer Energy Effective Research Networking and Building Relationships Crisis Kits: Responding to the Critics Polling Data: Determining Parental Priorities and Public Support

Communications and Messaging Polling Data to Determine Parental Priorities: – Job Opportunities, Cultural Understanding Communications Campaigns – Learning English and French Opens Doors to Tomorrow – Learning French Makes a World of Difference

Transit Advertisement from the Learning French Matters Campaign (1989)

Working with Parental Concerns Compulsory vs. Optional Programs Avoiding the Zero-Sum Game Trap Financial Supports from Ottawa & Provinces Immersion and Improved Core French: Considering the Majority Needs Globalization: Steps towards Multilingualism

Challenges and Potential Pitfalls The Elitism Trap Considering Core Remedial Education & Special-Needs Students Alliances with Francophone Organizations Structural Constraints in Education An Evidence-Based Response to Challengers

Thank-you! Matthew Hayday, University of Guelph