Meeting with MLA Kieron Testart: A Key Conversation for the Future of French-Language Education in the North

On December 11, 2025, Collège Nordique had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Kieron Testart, Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, accompanied by his assistant, Taylor Pagotto. The meeting took place in a context where they expressed concerns about the stability of federal funding for French-language postsecondary education in the North.

This visit created space for an open and constructive discussion about the College’s realities, its partnerships, and its contributions across the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut.

Understanding the Growth and Impact of Collège Nordique

During the visit, the College team presented the exceptional increase in student enrolment over recent years. This growth spans several fields, including early childhood education, where demand for training adapted to northern realities continues to rise.

Guests also had the opportunity to explore the College’s learning spaces, meet staff members, and gain a deeper understanding of the College’s role in supporting access to French-language education in a minority setting.

Languages, Cultures, and Northern Collaboration

Discussions highlighted the diversity of the College’s language offerings: French, English, Spanish, and Indigenous languages, including the tłı̨chǫ yatıì program, which remains one of the most popular.

These programs are rooted in long-standing partnerships with Indigenous governments and organizations, where language learning is viewed as an act of openness, respect, and relationship-building between communities.

The conversation also underscored the parallels between francophone minority communities and Indigenous language revitalization efforts, particularly regarding intergenerational transmission and cultural preservation.

Supporting Immigration, Mobility, and Economic Development

Patrick also presented the significant growth of the College’s language testing services, which have become essential for many individuals navigating immigration or professional integration. This year, 364 people completed the CELPIP English test, representing a remarkable 146% increase compared to the previous year. The French TEF test followed a similar trend, with 23 test-takers, an increase of 188%.
This steady growth confirms the College’s central role as a regional hub for language assessment and demonstrates the increasing importance of these services in the northern immigration and economic development landscape.

A major highlight of the meeting was the arrival of the Explore program in the Northwest Territories—a first in more than 50 years. Beginning in summer 2026, Collège Nordique will offer this five-week intensive French immersion program, allowing learners from across the country to study their second official language directly in a northern environment. The College aims to welcome a cohort of approximately 16 students, hosted by francophone families in Yellowknife, forming a unique model of linguistic and cultural immersion seldom possible in northern regions. This initiative positions the College as a key contributor to national language-learning initiatives and strengthens the vitality of the Francophonie in the North.

Building a Pan-Territorial Vision

The meeting also highlighted growing collaborations with partners in Yukon and Nunavut, as well as the ambition to develop, over the next few years, a truly pan-territorial model. This vision is supported by strong relationships with francophone organizations and by the College’s active participation in UArctic and other international networks dedicated to languages, minority cultures, and skills development.

Financial Stability and Long-Term Sustainability

An important part of the conversation focused on the funding challenges faced by the College, including reliance on short-term project-based funding and recurring delays in the allocation of certain envelopes.

These issues affect long-term planning and the College’s ability to fully meet rising demand, while also creating significant operational pressure—resulting in hiring delays, reduced marketing capacity, and increased workload for teams that can lead to burnout.

The meeting allowed MLA Testart to gain a clearer understanding of how these constraints impact operations, staffing, and the services offered to francophone and multilingual communities across the North.

A Renewed Commitment to French-Language Postsecondary Education

Collège Nordique extends its sincere thanks to MLA Kieron Testart and Mr. Taylor Pagotto for their visit, their attentive listening, and their willingness to better understand the realities of a postsecondary institution operating in a northern and minority-language context.

This meeting reinforces the importance of maintaining an ongoing dialogue between educational institutions and elected officials to collectively support the future of French-language education in the North.

Published on December 19th 2025