French Language Services Advisory Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:
3
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Electronic Participation
Present:
  • Warsama Aden, 
  • Marc Beaudry, 
  • Mireille Brownhill, 
  • Diane Desaulniers, 
  • Danièle Filion, 
  • and Neiges Sénéchal 
Absent:
  • Fatouma Ali-Ismail, 
  • Katherine Dupuis, 
  • Marc Maisonneuve, 
  • and Lina Nada Maach 
Present non-voting Member:
  • Councillor Stéphanie Plante 

1.
Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

This item has attachments. 
1.Public Notices French - Advisory Committee.pdf
2.Public Notices English - Advisory Committee.pdf

Members of Committee and Council, City staff, media and the general public may join the meeting with this link:


Zoom no. 898 1508 7381


Notices and meeting information are attached to the agenda and minutes, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers; notices regarding minutes; and remote participation details.


Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.


The deadline to register to speak by phone or email, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on the day of the meeting.

2.
Declarations of Interest

 

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.
Confirmation of Minutes

 

4.
Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department

 

4.1
Presentation on FLSAC Work Plan Goal 1, Activity 1: Francophone participation in recreation and cultural programs and French programming offered by the City of Ottawa

 

Items 4.1 and 4.2 were considered concurrently by the Advisory Committee. 

Caroline Barrière, Program Manager, Business and Technical Support Services, Recreation, Cultural and Facilities Services Department (RCFS), provided a slide presentation on current processes and programs offered by RCFS. Dan Chenier, General Manager, RCFS, was also available to answer questions from the Advisory Committee. 

Alexandra Baril addressed the Advisory Committee to speak on current RCFS programs offered in French. 

The Advisory Committee discussed and asked questions regarding the following topics:

  • A request for data such as courses offered, registration rates, cancellation rates, preferred languages of clients using RCFS services, the current break-even threshold used to determine when a French program is cancelled, and so on;
  • How RCFS defines a "French hub" and what determines that a centre is French or English and whether French programs are offered in non-French centres;
  • Whether RCFS has a way to gather data and feedback without residents directly submitting complaints about their programs; 
  • How language requirements are managed between full-time and part-time employees and whether a certain level of bilingualism is guaranteed in drop-in programs, and the language competencies of supervisors; and,
  • What market research was conducted and media campaigns used to promote French-language programs.

The Advisory Committee received the presentation for information on items 4.1 and 4.2.

ACTION:

  • RCFS will provide members of the Advisory Committee with additional data covering a 5-year period as requested in a follow-up email. 
  • Member Diane Desaulniers has volunteered to receive and consolidate feedback and recommendations from members of the Advisory Committee for the benefit of the working group. 
  • The Committee Coordinator will follow-up with members of the Advisory Committee on behalf of the Chair to solicit volunteers to form a working group and draft a report for FLSAC Work Plan Goal 1, Activity 1 and FLSAC Work Plan Goal 2, Activity 2. 

  • Recommendation

    That the French Language Services Advisory Committee receive the presentation for information and provide feedback as appropriate.

    Received

4.2
Presentation on FLSAC Work Plan Goal 2, Activity 2: French-language services provided to residents and training provided to new hires as it relates to the Bilingualism Policy and the requirement to provide an active offer

 

  • Recommendation

    That the French Language Services Advisory Committee receive the presentation for information and provide feedback as appropriate.

    Received

5.
Committee Items

 

5.1
Changing start time of French Language Services Advisory Committee meetings

 

  • Recommendation

    That the French Language Services Advisory Committee consider the matter and action accordingly.

  • Motion No. FLSAC2024-03-01
    Moved byMireille Brownhill

    WHEREAS at the meeting of February 8, 2024, the French Language Services Advisory Committee discussed the possibility of a change in the meeting start time to better accommodate members’ schedules; 

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, pursuant to section 9 (1) (a) of the Advisory Committee Procedure By-law, the French Language Services Advisory Committee approve that the start time of meetings be changed to 6:30 pm for the remainder of this Term of Council.

    Carried

6.
In Camera Items

 

There were no in camera items.

7.
Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

 

There were no Notices of Motion.

8.
Inquiries

 

There were no Inquiries.

9.
Other Business

 

Member Diane Desaulniers asked if it would be possible for staff to provide Advisory Committee members with links to news articles that are relevant to members of FLSAC. Nathalie Lemire, Coordinator, French Language Services (FLS), Municipal Elections and French Language Services Department, indicated that staff can look into this request and determine whether FLS can provide this information to members of the Advisory Committee. 

10.
Adjournment

 

Next Meeting


September 12, 2024.

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm.

No Item Selected