A Shared Vision for the Future: Highlights from the Pan-Territorial Meeting at Collège Nordique

On Sunday, February 8, Collège Nordique hosted a strategic meeting bringing together Marie-France Talbot from the Association des francophones du Nunavut (AFN), Souâad Larfi and Sophie Jacques from the Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY), as well as members of the Collège Nordique team. This working session was part of an ongoing pan-territorial collaboration dynamic.

Discussions focused on several key priorities:

• progress on the pan-territorial post-secondary project
• the upcoming Lifelong Learning Summit in June
• the realities of CLIC and LINC programs across the territories
• preparation for a joint panel at the International Forum on February 9 and 10

At the heart of the discussions was a clear commitment to think and act collectively.

Strengthening the Foundations of a Pan-Territorial Post-Secondary Model

Sophie Jacques reviewed the major milestones achieved since June 2024, when the three territories signed an agreement aimed at establishing a coordinated francophone post-secondary structure across the North.

Partners used the meeting to provide an update on the project’s progress and to discuss next steps, particularly in preparation for the meeting scheduled in May. Work continues in a spirit of collaboration and responsiveness to the specific realities of each territory.

Toward a Lifelong Learning Summit

Another central focus of the meeting was the Lifelong Learning Summit, scheduled for June 3 and 4 at the Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife.

The Summit is part of a national initiative led by RESDAC (Réseau pour le développement de l’alphabétisme et des compétences – Network for the Development of Literacy and Skills). After several years of strategic work, RESDAC held a National Summit on Learning for the Canadian Francophonie on March 5, 2024, bringing together leaders from across the country to co-develop a shared vision and a strategy to advance lifelong learning.

At the national Summit, participating organizations made a symbolic commitment to organize provincial and territorial summits adapted to local realities. Rosie Benning, Director of Training and Education at Collège Nordique, attended the event and contributed to this national mobilization.

Since then, New Brunswick has held its own summit, and Alberta will host its summit in May. Collège Nordique and AFY also participated, through RESDAC, in the first provincial Summit held in New Brunswick last November.

Souâad Larfi emphasizes the importance of that experience:

“I had the opportunity to be invited to participate in the New Brunswick Summit. This experience deepened my understanding of the different forms of learning and allowed me to explore concrete examples of informal and non-formal learning and their impacts. It also reminded me that learning extends far beyond the walls of a school and continues throughout life. I was able to recognize the essential role organizations can play in skills development and how they can actively contribute to building learning communities.”

In the territories, the choice felt natural: rather than working in silos, Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories decided to join forces to organize a pan-territorial Summit, reflecting the Northern reality where interterritorial collaboration is essential.

The goal is to bring together approximately 60 participants to reflect on the needs of Northern francophone communities in terms of skills recognition, training, and talent development.

The definition of learning adopted for the Summit is intentionally broad. Beyond formal post-secondary pathways, it also recognizes cultural, professional and relational skills, as well as informal learning. This approach values diverse and non-traditional pathways and highlights the richness of lived experiences within Northern communities.

To ensure the Summit is grounded in territorial realities, dedicated funding from RCCFC has supported local consultations.

Lucas Beaudre, Project Manager at Collège Nordique, traveled to Hay River to meet with community members, visit schools, and gather perspectives on lifelong learning needs. These consultations will inform Summit discussions and help ensure that identified priorities truly reflect local realities.

This preparatory work is part of a multi-year effort to build a coherent vision adapted to the Northern context.

LINC and CLIC: Complementary Realities

The LINC and CLIC programs were also discussed in depth.

A distance partnership already exists between Collège Nordique and AFN for both CLIC and LINC, and partners reviewed the progress of this collaboration, which continues to evolve very positively.

Marie-France Talbot, Head of Training Services at AFN, highlights the value of this partnership:

“This collaboration is valuable because it allows us to expand English and French course offerings for Nunavummiut while respecting the capacity of our training team in Nunavut.”

Client profiles vary significantly. At Collège Nordique, LINC levels 1 to 8 are offered (with levels 5 to 8 delivered in hybrid format). CLIC covers levels 1 to 4, also in hybrid format, with approximately six hours of instruction per week.

Leanne Robinson, French instructor for CLIC, explained that a newly arrived person will often choose English as their first language of integration, given its practical value and accessibility. CLIC participants are generally individuals who are already integrated into the community, making hybrid delivery more feasible.

In Yukon, interest in the CLIC program is strong. Souâad Larfi notes:

“We have a strong interest in offering the CLIC program to Yukoners and in enriching our language course offerings through a partnership with Collège Nordique. This project would also represent the very first pan-territorial program jointly delivered by our three organizations, marking a concrete step in our collaboration.”

Building for the Future

The February 8 pan-territorial meeting confirms that collaboration among the territories is part of a long-term vision.

By sharing their realities, constraints and aspirations, partners are strengthening a coordinated approach to skills development and lifelong learning in the Northern context.

In an environment shaped by diverse legal, cultural and institutional realities, this collaboration represents a strategic asset for the future of Northern francophone communities.

Published on February 19th 2026