Canada Invests $13.5 Million to Enhance French Education in Yukon

The Government of Canada has announced a funding initiative exceeding $13.5 million aimed at enhancing French education in the Yukon. This investment was revealed during an event held at CSSC Mercier, the French-language high school in Whitehorse, on September 29, 2023. The funding is part of a broader commitment to support bilingualism and cultural diversity within the region.

At the announcement, key figures such as Jean Sebastien Blais, president of the Commission Scolaire Francophone du Yukon, Yukon Member of Parliament Brendan Hanley, and Yukon government Minister John Streicker addressed the importance of French education in the territory. Hanley emphasized the significance of language, stating, “More than just words, language is a living expression of culture, a way of seeing, sharing and shaping the world around us. The Franco-Yukon community holds a proud and growing place in our cultural landscape as the third-highest French-speaking population per capita in Canada.”

The agreement signed by Hanley and Streicker formalizes a partnership focused on minority-language education and second-language instruction. The federal government’s contribution will be distributed over a period of four years, specifically targeting the promotion of French as both a minority language and a second language.

This initiative aims to broaden access to French education from pre-school levels through to post-secondary institutions in the Yukon. The funding is expected to enhance the educational landscape for French-speaking students and those learning French as a second language, reflecting Canada’s commitment to supporting its bilingual heritage.

The Yukon region boasts a vibrant and engaged Franco-Yukon community, deeply integrated into its social, economic, and cultural fabric. With this new funding, the Government of Canada seeks to bolster this community further, ensuring that the French language and its associated cultural expressions continue to thrive in the territory.