Francophone Support

During CIITE Phase 3.1, the Francophone Support Activity Group identified and assessed ITIs specific needs in Ontario’s only two Francophone colleges, La Cité collégiale and collège Boréal.

It is clear that Francophone ITIs in Ontario face specific challenges:

• ITIs are more difficult to identify and recruit to Francophone colleges
• ITIs tend to enrol in English colleges because it is “easier” to then enter Ontario’s job market
• ITIs’ linguistic needs in ESL and FSL differ
• Translation of material developed in English is not always sufficient and tools need to be adapted for Francophone ITIs 

From the very start, both colleges took part in various activities. Collège Boréal and La Cité collégiale participated in ITI Advising Services, Employment Services, Data Collection, Organizational Planning, and Cultural Competence. La Cité collégiale also participated in Competency Assessment as well as Flexible/Modular Delivery.

The working group that brought together representatives of both colleges developed a work plan to implement the following:

• Ensuring that Francophone colleges were always onboard and updated to give Francophone ITIs adequate services despite language difficulties;
• Responding to the Francophone ITIs socio-cultural and linguistic specificity;
• Identifying ways to bring Francophone immigrants to French colleges.

At the end of CIITE 3.1 phase, 712 Francophone ITIs have received Advising services in French, and both Francophone colleges have documents and tools in French allowing them to adequately respond to the needs of the ITIs they service.