Ontario Invests in Cornwall Francophone Groups
November 22, 2019Cornwall Ontario – The Province of Ontario investing in Francophone communities.
Community organizations and businesses across Ontario will receive a total of $ 1 million in funding as part of the redesigned 2019-2020 Francophone Community Grants Program. The list includes 3 community agencies in Cornwall.
Francophone Community Grants Program supports the cultural and economic development of the province’s Francophone communities. Based on feedback received from organizations, businesses and ministry partners in roundtables and meetings organized earlier this year, it was expanded for 2019-20 to target both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations.
Funding from the program will help strengthen the capacity of 48 Francophone organizations and businesses to serve Ontario’s French-speaking community, with a focus on improving front-line services, and to promote the French-language and culture. The scope and objectives of the selected projects span several key sectors and include festivals, cultural events, training and recruitment activities to help businesses find bilingual workers, as well as workshop initiatives, marketing and promotional supports.
“The Francophone Community Grants Program is a central element of our government’s plan to build the capacity of Francophone organizations across Ontario and those serving Francophone markets, said Minister of Francophone Affairs Caroline Mulroney . “By providing them with opportunities to implement impactful projects, we will help Francophone communities thrive and contribute to the overall prosperity of our province.”
Local projects include the following:
Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario (ACFO) – Stormont, Dundas et Glengarry
- $25,000
- The “L’humour fête la francophonie dans toute sa splendeur et sa diversité!” project will provide youth with professional coaching, networking opportunities and a mentor who specializes in career management, all in the field of humour.
Centre Charles-Émile-Claude, centre polyvalent des aîné(e)s Inc.
- $21,125
- The “Des aînés plus branchés et moins isolés” project will offer a series of French workshops to members, volunteers and administrators from the Centre Charles-Émile-Claude and other Cornwall Francophone organizations to build their capacity.
L’Équipe d’hygiène mentale pour francophones de S.D. & G. Inc.
- $15,742
- The “Formation professionnelle continue pour les partenaires communautaires et régionaux qui travaillent de concert pour le mieux-être et la santé mentale des enfants, jeunes et familles francophones de l’Est Ontarien” project will provide two training sessions in French to mental health workers and school staff in eastern Ontario. One session will be on suicide intervention and the second will be on intervention strategies geared towards school personnel and mental health workers.
In addition to the above, the project “Tournée en régions pour accroître le sentiment d’appartenance communautaire des personnes d’affaires francophones en Ontario afin de favoriser l’emploi bilingue et le développement économique” will promote the identification and recruitment of Francophone bilingual workers in the community. Through a series of networking events supported by the Club canadien de Toronto in six different cities (Toronto, Cornwall, Ottawa, Kapuskasing, Sudbury, Windsor), it will help recognize young business entrepreneurs and set-up a Franco-Ontarian business forum.