French Immersion students participate in Pathways to Bilingual Success

Close to 200 French Immersion students in Grades 10 to 12 in Rainbow Schools will participate in the Pathways to Bilingual Success Conference taking place at the Radisson Hotel in Sudbury on Thursday, October 28, 2010 from 10 am to 2 pm. Students from Confederation Secondary School, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, Lasalle Secondary School and Lockerby Composite School will be among the 500 participants from four school boards in Sudbury, North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.

Guest speakers Sharon Murdock, Executive Director of the Sudbury and Manitoulin Workforce Partnerships Board, and Dominic Giroux, President of Laurentian University (in a recorded message), will address the students on the benefits of official language bilingualism and employment. They will highlight the pathways to achieving on-going bilingual success and the added value that being proficient in both official languages will bring to anyone’s chosen career.  In addition, a host of successful students and working graduates will share their personal experiences on how bilingualism has enhanced their lives and careers.

Betty Gormley, Executive Director of Canadian Parents for French (Ontario), the sponsoring organization, said exchanges, work-abroad programs and more postsecondary opportunities are opening up for students to hone their existing French language skills. This will help meet future demand in the public, private and non-profit sectors for individuals who have both official languages.

“We commend Canadian Parents for French (Ontario) for giving students in Rainbow Schools an opportunity to participate in a conference that showcases the importance of French as a second language,” said Rainbow District School Board Director of Education Norm Blaseg. “Learning a second language enhances career choices, develops thinking and communication skills, and provides a greater appreciation of diversity.”

Canadian Parents for French (CPF) is the national network of 26,000 members that values French as an integral part of Canada and is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French Second-Language learning opportunities for young Canadians.

This event has been made possible with the generous support of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

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Media Contacts:



Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 705.674.3171, ext. 7217.



Contact: Betty Gormley, Executive Director

Canadian Parents for French (Ontario)

T: 905.366.1012 x 2 | E: [email protected] | W: www.cpfont.on.ca