Educational Francophonie in Action

From May 20 to 23, 2025, Collège Nordique had the privilege of welcoming three representatives from Cégep Gérald-Godin (CGG) — Marie Aboumrad, Sandra Dubé, and Christian Bergeron — as part of the ongoing development of the Centre for Research and Innovation in Educational Francophonie (CRIFÉ).

This visit reflects the growing collaboration between our two institutions, driven by a shared ambition: to promote an inclusive, multilingual educational Francophonie that responds to contemporary realities.

Exploring Pedagogical Challenges and Solutions Together

On the very first day, discussions focused on the challenges of teaching French in multilingual contexts. Pedagogical teams reflected on approaches that consider the diverse profiles of learners, the ongoing professional development of educators, and the creation of teaching resources tailored to minority-language settings.

As Patrick Arsenault, Executive Director of Collège Nordique, shared in a LinkedIn post:

“Some connections are formed naturally, almost as if they were meant to be. […] Since then, our conversations have paved the way for a promising collaboration between CNF and CRIFÉ, aligned with a vision of sustainable transformation in our communities.”

Project Sharing and Pedagogical Innovation

The second day highlighted tangible initiatives carried out by Collège Nordique. Édouard Debeugny, Project Manager at the College, presented our work in the health sector, emphasizing the importance of offering French-language training in this vital field. Lucas Beaudre, also Project Manager, discussed projects in early childhood education, aimed at meeting the needs of educators in the North.

These discussions also addressed key institutional challenges: accreditation, program development, and community engagement with Francophone populations across the Northwest Territories. The CGG team's expertise brought new perspectives, helping to enrich our educational vision.

Reconcili-action and Multilingualism: A Shared Vision

The final day centered on a core theme: reconcili-action in multilingual contexts. Together, the teams explored concrete ways to integrate Indigenous and Francophone languages and cultures into Collège Nordique's programs and services.

As Christian Bergeron, Principal Investigator at CRIFÉ, noted:

“I was impressed by the ability of the Francophone minority community to also integrate the teaching of Indigenous languages. A truly concrete way to contribute to reconciliation.”

A Living, Vital Educational Francophonie

This partnership between Collège Nordique and CRIFÉ is especially meaningful in a territory like the Northwest Territories, where 11 official languages coexist. As Patrick Arsenault reminds us:

“Linguistic and cultural plurality is not optional — it is our daily reality.”

In this context, applied research becomes an essential tool. It enables us not only to better understand our communities, but also to take meaningful action to strengthen them. The partnership with CRIFÉ paves the way for high-impact projects based on evidence, capable of advancing a stronger, more inclusive Francophonie, deeply rooted in its communities.