Participatory Workshop in French : The Challenges of Living Together in the NWT
This workshop offers a space for dialogue on EDI and living together across the territories.
Free
IRCC Acknowledges Collège Nordique’s Role in Supporting Integration in the North
Collège Nordique recently had the pleasure of welcoming Melanie Holmgren, Director of the Settlement Network, and Yann Legrand, Deputy Director of Settlement and Resettlement Operations, from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This first visit was part of a broader tour of organizations funded by IRCC to provide settlement services to newcomers.
The visit was an opportunity for the Collège to showcase its new facilities: modernized classrooms, upgraded administrative offices, an interactive information kiosk, and soundproof plant boxes — all designed to foster learning, focus, and well-being.
Our guests particularly highlighted the pan-territorial reach of the LINC program, offered in person in the Northwest Territories and online throughout the NWT and Nunavut. During a special classroom visit with levels 3 and 4, students introduced themselves, shared their journeys, and named their countries of origin — a meaningful moment that reflected the diversity and human richness found in our classrooms.
The Collège also took this opportunity to underline the significant rise in demand for CELPIP and TEF language tests, providing a tour of the dedicated testing facilities. With adapted infrastructure and a skilled team, the Collège is well-equipped to meet the growing needs of the North.
Patrick Arsenault, Executive Director of Collège Nordique, warmly thanked the IRCC representatives for the recently renewed three-year funding granted to the institution. He also emphasized the importance of a major new development: beginning in fall 2025, the Collège will offer free French language courses to newcomers. Until now, francophone immigrants were required to register for English classes due to the lack of a funded French option. The territories were the only region in the country not offering IRCC-funded language instruction in both official languages. The Collège now aims to make this service available across all three northern territories.
We thank IRCC for their attentive listening, openness, and recognition of Collège Nordique’s essential role in welcoming, integrating, and supporting the language learning of newcomers living north of the 60th parallel.