CPF BC & Yukon Fall 2023 Magazine

L’Accueil chaleureux
Canadian Parents for French (CPF) is mobilizing its networks of
volunteers under an initiative to help retain French second
language (FSL) public school teachers in communities throughout
British Columbia.
With the participation of the Government of Canada and the
Ministry of Education and Child Care of British Columbia, L’accueil
chaleureux: New French Teacher Welcome Project is focused on
improving retention of new FSL teachers in their first three years of
teaching. By working with dedicated volunteers, CPF can help new
FSL teachers feel better connected socially and culturally in their
new home communities.
The project, which launched in late 2022 and continues until
June 2024, has two components. The first involves community hosts
who will introduce new teachers to the community during a series
of outings during the school year, helping to make social connections
and show what makes their community a special place to live. The
second component encourages new teachers to organize Frenchlanguage
community events to improve their confidence and
enthusiasm for teaching French.
The story below is an example of the difference CPF volunteers
can have by making their community a welcoming place for newly
arrived teachers.
Lynne Côté-Aubin
The Story of a Fort St. John Principal
Canadian Parents for French
volunteers made Lynne Côté-Aubin
feel at home in Fort St. John when
she arrived in the Northern BC
community to teach in 1990 from
Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. She put her
roots in Fort St. John and eventually became
principal at Ecole Central Elementary School.
Lynne tells us how, in addition to the type of
school district support she received, efforts
like the teacher retention project can make
a major difference for new arrivals.
Tell us about your first impressions
of moving to Fort St. John? I was
scared because I was fresh out of university
and brand new to teaching. I loved Fort
St. John from the moment I arrived because
the school and the city were very welcoming.
How did the welcome you received
affect your experience as a new
teacher? It made a huge difference! I felt
included from the start by the staff as well
as the parent community. All new teachers
were adopted by a CPF host family. We were
included in outings, dinners, celebrations,
etc. These events ensured we felt like we
belonged and gave us a sense of community.
When did you realize that you were
never going to leave? That is a funny
story! My adoptive family invited me to
Thanksgiving dinner where I met my
husband. He was my adoptive father’s
brother. After meeting my husband, Bert,
I knew I was never going to leave. The
outdoors (fishing, hunting, gardening,
nature, mountains) also played an important
part in my decision. I fell in love with my soul
mate and the province.
What has been the best part about
settling in a small town in BC? I love
the fact that I can get from point A to point
B in the town in a relatively short amount of
time, everyone is friendly and I feel I have a
huge network of support. Our school district
staff are approachable and very supportive,
also an advantage to a smaller school
district. There are many opportunities
for advancement.
Do you have any advice for new
teachers who are starting their
careers? Be patient! You will not know
everything from the start. Don’t be afraid to
ask for help and be open to collaboration.
Lastly, involve yourself in the community!
4 | CANADIAN PARENTS FOR FRENCH BC & YUKON FALL 2023