This summer, Collège Nordique welcomed the first cohort of its Francophone Talent Incubator. Over five Saturdays, participants aged 18 and over came together to dedicate time to an academic, personal or professional project in French, while benefiting from workshops, mentorship and exchanges with other members of the group.

The projects developed this summer reflected the wide range of initiatives that can find a place within the Incubator. One participant worked on their doctoral thesis, while others focused on the promotion and creation of a documentary miniseries about the northern agri-food industry. Other projects included the development of a bilingual daycare, an artistic practice in textured painting and the writing of a narrative essay on identity.

This diversity proved particularly enriching throughout the sessions. Even when projects initially seemed to have little in common, participants could share their challenges, exchange ideas and benefit from each other’s perspectives. The Incubator provided a space to work independently without necessarily working alone.

Expertise to support projects

Several experts were invited to share their knowledge throughout the cohort. Participants had the opportunity to:

• identify their strengths and consider how to apply them to their projects through an introduction to Gallup CliftonStrengths with Erika Cairo-Luce;
• gain a better understanding of funding opportunities and resources available in the Northwest Territories with Haudry Escandón;
• learn how to present their project clearly, concisely and convincingly in three minutes through a workshop led by Natacha St-Vignes.

Mentorship also gave participants access to expertise directly related to the needs of their projects. Yvanna Ogolong, for example, received mentorship from artist Diane Boudreau to further develop her skills and practice in textured painting.

Discover the projects through the Incubator podcast

During the summer cohort, Médias TNO also met with participants to give them an opportunity to talk about their projects, motivations and experiences within the Incubator.

The first episode of the NWT Francophone Talent Incubator Podcast, produced in partnership with Médias TNO, is now available. It offers another way to discover the people behind the projects and hear, in their own words, what they hope to develop and accomplish.

Two mobility bursaries to take projects further

At the end of the cohort, two projects were selected to receive mobility bursaries to support their continued development or increase their reach during the 2026-2027 year. To be eligible, participants were required to have attended at least 80% of the Incubator sessions, a criterion recognizing their commitment throughout the cohort.

Marilou Pilote received a $2,000 bursary for her narrative essay in progress, Le privilège d’exister autrement. Her project explores identity development and the spaces, physical or otherwise, that foster a sense of community, shape our identities and allow us to find our place without constantly feeling the need to justify it.

With this bursary, she hopes to reconnect with community and educational organizations in Quebec that she was involved with earlier in her life. About a decade after participating in conferences, awareness initiatives and media appearances related to health, well-being and healthy lifestyles, she hopes to return to some of these communities with a new perspective. This will give her an opportunity to present her current work and foster new conversations around identity, belonging and community.

Yvanna Ogolong received a $1,000 bursary to continue developing her textured painting practice. This mobility funding may allow her to pursue further training or take advantage of an opportunity to present her work during the 2026-2027 year.

Collège Nordique will follow the next steps of both projects and share what these mobility opportunities enable them to accomplish over the coming year.

A new format with Parcours Élan this fall

The Incubator’s second cohort will begin on September 26, 2026, with Parcours Élan, a 60-day format designed to help participants make concrete progress on their projects.

Six in-person sessions will take place in Yellowknife from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on September 26, October 10, October 24, November 7, November 21 and December 5.

Each session will combine dedicated project work, personal development workshops, group discussions and support. Upon registration, an initial conversation will help identify each participant’s goals and needs. A coach will then support the group throughout the program with regular check-ins and tools to track progress and prepare for the next steps.

The strength of the group will also remain at the heart of the experience. Sessions will provide opportunities to share experiences, support one another and maintain momentum throughout the program. Parcours Élan will conclude on December 5 with a presentation showcasing the projects and the work accomplished over the 60 days.

Mentorship and mobility support opportunities will also continue to be part of the Incubator. Depending on their project, participants may be eligible for financial support of up to $2,000 to pursue a development opportunity or showcase their project outside the Northwest Territories.

A $50 participation deposit is required upon registration. It will be refunded at the end of the program to participants who attend at least 80% of the sessions, or five out of six Saturdays.

The first cohort demonstrated that there is no single type of project that belongs in the Incubator. Academic research, artistic creation, writing, entrepreneurship and community initiatives can all find a place within the program.

The Incubator is open to people aged 18 and over living in Yellowknife who want to dedicate time to developing a project in French.

Do you have a project you would like to dedicate time to developing? The next Parcours Élan cohort begins September 26.