A new study providing a portrait of the needs of French-speaking and bilingual learners across Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut has been released today. Conducted in collaboration with Collège Nordique, the Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY), the Association des francophones du Nunavut (AFN) and Consultation Alegria Consulting, the initiative provides valuable data that will help guide the development of French-language learning in Northern Canada and support future collaboration among the three territories.

A Collaboration That Delivers Results

The pan-territorial portrait is the result of a collaborative effort led by Collège Nordique, the AFY and the AFN to better understand the current and future needs of French-speaking and bilingual communities across Northern Canada.

Based on responses from 454 participants representing the three territories, the study explores a wide range of topics, including young people's post-secondary education intentions, adults' continuing education needs, preferred learning formats, barriers to accessing French-language education, and the most sought-after fields of study and professional development.

By bringing these findings together in a single portrait, the partners now have a clearer understanding of the realities specific to Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, while also identifying the priorities they share.

A More Comprehensive Understanding of Northern Needs

Over the past several years, Collège Nordique has conducted a number of studies to better understand the needs of communities across Canada's circumpolar North. This new portrait builds on that knowledge by introducing, for the first time, a pan-territorial Francophone perspective.

The approach makes it possible to compare the realities of the three territories, better understand their unique characteristics, and identify the common challenges they face. It also highlights the importance of a flexible, accessible learning offer tailored to northern realities, whether in post-secondary education, professional development or lifelong learning.

For the Northwest Territories, these findings provide a valuable tool to support Collège Nordique's decisions regarding program development, services and partnerships, while placing territorial needs within a broader pan-territorial context.

Data That Will Help Shape the Next Steps

Presented to partners during the Pan-Territorial Learning Summit, the study helped inform discussions on the future of French-language learning in Northern Canada. Its findings contributed to conversations among community, institutional and government partners gathered in Yellowknife.

Now publicly available, the study will continue to inform future strategic discussions and serve as a foundation for new collaborative initiatives involving Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Supporting Collège Nordique's Evolution Toward a Pan-Territorial French-Language Postsecondary Institution

The findings of this study will also support the work surrounding Collège Nordique's evolution toward a pan-territorial French-language postsecondary institution by 2028, a vision announced at the conclusion of the Pan-Territorial Learning Summit.

By providing a deeper understanding of the needs expressed across each territory, this portrait will help partners plan learning opportunities that reflect northern realities while building on the strengths and complementary assets of Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The data collected will help guide decision-making, strengthen collaboration and support the continued development of French-language learning opportunities that meet the needs of northern communities.

Collège Nordique extends its sincere thanks to the Association franco-yukonnaise and the Association des francophones du Nunavut for their collaboration and leadership throughout this initiative. Together, the partners remain committed to building a future in which French-speaking and Francophile learners across Canada's circumpolar North have access to learning opportunities that reflect their realities, meet their needs and support their aspirations.