Canadian Parents for French

Canadian Parents for French is an organization created by French Immersion parents for French Immersion parents. The Canadian Parents for French website includes:

• A newsletter
• Information on presentations, conferences, speakers, and workshops for parents
• Opportunities for students to enhance their French language skills
• Ideas how parents can support their child’s language learning
• A resource library

Canadian Parents for French – Edmonton Catholic Schools Chapter

CPF Edmonton Catholic Schools Chapter is a volunteer association working to promote and support French second language learning opportunities for those associated with Edmonton Catholic Schools. Our activities include support for parents, advocacy for and promotion of French language programs, enhancement of student learning, and the promotion and hosting of a variety of activities that support the development of French Language and Culture.

You can support local schools, teachers, and your children by purchasing a membership.  65% of your membership fee comes back to the local chapter, CPF Edmonton Catholic Schools.  Visit the CPF Alberta Membership page for more information and an online form.

Supporting Your French Immersion Child

Yes, You Can Help! handbook

Concerned about helping your immersion child? Want to know what other immersion parents have learned? Looking for French resources and extracurricular activities? The handbook Yes, You Can Help! answers these and many other questions. A wealth of useful information for French immersion parents, the handbook is written by unilingual parents with the assistance of teachers, administrators, researchers, and education department staff; published by Alberta Education; and available from Canadian Parents for French. Visit the CPF Alberta website for more information on Yes, You Can Help! book .

Join CPF

Join Canadian Parents for French. It costs just $25 for one year or $60 for three. Of that fee, 65% goes to the Edmonton Catholic Chapter, 25% goes to the provincial branch, and 10% helps to cover processing costs. By joining CPF you support your child through:

• access to more information about ways to help, local events in French, and other people to talk to
• participation in CPF-organized events, including workshops, conferences, and activities for families
• demonstration of support for French-language education to federal and provincial governments and local school boards.

Visit the CPF Alberta Membership page for more information.

Edmonton Catholic Chapter Events

Annual General Meeting

Annual General Meetings are held at the beginning of the school year. Notice will be sent to all members once the date and place have been set. Come and meet parents wanting to support French second language learning for their children.  Bring a friend and find out what the chapter has been up to and help us look at what our chapter can do to support French learning opportunities. 

Le Gala Oratoire

Each year CPF sponsors and helps to organize the annual Gala Oratoire.  This is an opportunity for students to take to the stage and share their public speaking skills in French.  The event is usually held in March or April and is not to be missed!

Bringing French chez nous  -  French at home

• Once a month, l'InstitutGuy-Lacombe de la famille in Edmonton presents an animated movie for the whole family: i.e. Kiki la petite sorcière, Kirikou, Ponyo, Oseam, etc.  The show is held on the campus St-Jean theatre (8406 - 91 Street) and it is FREE!  For more information, please call the Institut Guy-Lacombe de la famille at 780-468-6934. For a small annual fee, parents and students may also borrow toys, books, games, videos, and audio materials that support French language.  This is an outstanding resource centre!
• Movies on DVD -- Most DVDs now have language options. Encourage children to watch their favourite movies in French to see what differences in expressions are used.
• Cartoons -- Encourage children to watch cartoons in French on channel 12 Radio-Canada (the CBC French television channel). Consider establishing a rule: when you watch cartoons on Saturday morning, watch at least one show in French.
• Movies on TV -- Check out channel 12 (Radio-Canada, the CBC French television channel) for their Ciné-famille (family cinema/movie) on Saturdays at 12:30 p.m.
• Radio -- Listen to CBC Radio One (740 AM) Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon for C'est La Vie . It's a program in English (mostly) about French Canada. According to their website: "The program tells the stories of French-speaking Canadians, both in Québec and in the rest of the country. It is not a program about politics, the Constitution or national unity, but it doesn't shy away from controversy. The program examines French-speaking life in such areas as media, arts and culture, sports and business."
• Radio -- Radio Canada (90.1 FM) "Espace musique" plays a variety of music (jazz, classical, world music, emerging artists, French singers) from around the world. The talking is in French, but a lot of the music is English, so it's a nice mix for French immersion parents. According to their website: "Espace musique est une radio musicale qui vous accompagne nuit et jour, sans publicite, avec une multitude de styles et de rythmes : du classique, du jazz, de la chanson francophone, de la musique du monde et de la musique emergent."
• Eat out in French -- Take your children to a French restaurant and let them help order in French for the family.
• Music in French -- Bring more French music into your home. Check out the Librarie le Carrefour Bookstore, 8927 - 91 St. (Suite 40) (bottom floor in La Cité Francophone), Edmonton, 780-466-1066
• Books in French -- Bring more French reading material into your home. Check out the Librarie le Carrefour Bookstore, 8927 - 91 St. (Suite 40) (bottom floor in La Cité Francophone), Edmonton, 780-466-1066. You can even get items like Archie comics in French.
• French events -- Attend a cabane è sucre. Visit Pere Noel. Or visit Culture.ca , Canada's cultural gateway.
• Newspaper in French -- Get a subscription to Le Franco newspaper to get find out about community news and events across the province. Call 465-6581.  Or get a subscription for your child to Les cles de l'actualité junior, a children's newspaper from France, available from Express Mag
• Magazines in French -- Get a subscription for your child to a magazine like Pomme d'api or J'aime lire from Canada's Bayard Press .
• Visit the CPF Alberta website for more activities and resources for students.

Links

French on the web

Visit the CPF Alberta Link page for links to organizations related to French language.

French Catholic Parishes

The city of Edmonton has a rich heritage that is rooted in French culture. French missionaries established many of the original parishes and their legacy is the many French parishes that are in the Edmonton and surrounding area. The following parishes offer services in French:

• St. Thomas d'Aquin (French)
• St. Joachim (French)
• Ste-Anne (French)
• St. Albert