Searching for Francophones

• Ensures the development and the prosperity of the francophone community in Northwestern Ontario at the political, educational, economic, linguistic, social and cultural levels
• Works at the political level to claim the rights of Francophones in order to preserve, improve and increase French Language Services
• Facilitates the engagement and the participation of Francophones in their communities
• Counters assimilation while supporting good relations with the non francophone community and groups in the region
• Seeks the co-operation of the francophone community in asserting and recognizing its identity
• Serves the interests of the group members in a timely and professional way
• Ensures the financial viability and the effective operation of the association

Services include:

Services for newcomers

• facilitation of economic and social integration in Northwestern Ontario
• job search assistance
• housing search assistance
• information on the school system, health care, government administrative procedures
• transportation and tutoring service

Employment services

• assistance with resume writing
• assistance with interview preparation
• information on the job market
• workshops focused on employability

Support in creating Francophone daycare facilities and in income diversification

• facilitation of creation of non-profit francophone daycares as well as in school settings
• support for individuals looking to set up francophone daycares in a family setting
• organization, participation and promotion of events in the region as well as economic community development, allowing for networking amongst participants
• income and service diversification within francophone organizations that contribute to community economic stability

All in-person services are by appointment only; services are also offered virtually, by phone or video conference

Provides confidential and free support for Francophone women affected by sexual assault including the following:

• Accompaniment
• Advocacy
• Community liaison and development
• Counselling and peer support
• Information and referral
• Practical assistance

Also provides:

• Free lending library
• Prevention programs
• Public education
• Volunteer training

Satellite office located in:

• Geraldton

• Offers instruction in French as a first language from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12
• Offers full educational programs in French as a first language with English courses starting in Grade 4

Responsible for the following schools

• École catholique Franco-Supérieur Thunder Bay
• École secondaire catholique de La Vérendrye Thunder Bay
• École St-Joseph Geraldton
• École Notre-Dame-de-Fatima Longlac
• École catholique Val-des-Bois Marathon
• École catholique Franco-Terrace Terrace Bay
• Notre-Dame-des-Écoles Nakina
• École catholique de l'Enfant-Jésus Dryden
• École Immaculée-Conception Ignace
• École catholique des Étoiles-du-Nord Red Lake

• Operates a residential treatment facility for male youth who are stuggling with substance abuse, addiction, and mental health issues
• Utilizes traditional aboriginal healing practices along with western treatment methods to guide individuals towards autonomy
• Offers a recovery program that is centred around farm life, equine therapy, and outdoor therapy
• Enables the recipient to reintegrate into society, school, and work

Offers the following services:

• Equine therapy
• Family participation in therapy
• Individual and group counselling
• Life skills development
• School program
• Therapy outdoors or in nature

Training, consultation and resources on assault prevention, equity and inclusion for children and youth in school and minority French-speaking communities

Carrefour des Immigrants FrancoQueer (CIF)

• settlement and integration services
• information, orientation and reference
• information and orientation workshops
• help with refugee application process and follow up
• discussion groups and peer support, including matching with someone already settled
• social integration activities to adapt to Canadian life
• psychosocial support and crisis counselling

Employment preparation

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• labour market information
• training and work placement opportunities
• workshops on job search techniques
• resume writing support
• interview skills
• mentorship
• support during the process of developing and launching a business

Pre-departure services for immigrants -- preparation prior to arrival, after arrival and support for employment and integration in the workplace

Works with ministries to ensure that the French Language Services Act is applied

• Ensures that the public has access to services in French in the 25 designated areas
• Provides information on the province's Francophone population
• Supports the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
• Information on how an agency or a region can receive a designation under the FLSA
• Provides advice relating to Francophones and the delivery of French-language services
• Gathers and provides information on Ontario's Francophone community
• Acts as a link between the Francophone community and government ministries and their agencies

Represents the Ontario French-language public school boards

• supports its members who serve Francophone communities
• provides support, training, advocacy and information to its members

Web-based, distance learning option for Ministry-funded Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) program * students may wish to take the web-based course in addition to an on-site course

Designated LBS service providers deliver e-Channel distance learning programs, including specialized services available to Aboriginal, Francophone and deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing adults:

Anglophone (English speakers)

• The Learning Hub

Indigenous -- Sioux-Hudson Literacy Council, Good Learning Anywhere (GLA),

Francophone (French speakers)

• Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• Deaf Learn Now -- online instruction in American Sign Language

Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) Program -- College Sector Committee,

• Students needing to meet admission requirements for specific apprenticeship and postsecondary programs may wish to complete the Academic & Career Entrance (ACE) Program, available at many colleges and also available online

Francophone helpline for women

• crisis intervention
• support and referral to community agencies
• confidential calls

COVID-19 -- office currently closed to in-person service; toll free and local phone lines are OPEN; complaints may be made using online complaint form on website, or via email to sf-fls@ombudsman.on.ca

• reviews and investigates complaints, including systemic issues
• makes recommendations regarding provision of French language services by the provincial government
• promotes compliance with French Language Services Act (FLSA)

Professional organization that offers visual language interpretation in French and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) and computerized note-taking

• offers an initial assessment of needs, selects a team of interpreters, and manages preparation materials

Develops the full potential of francophone deaf or hard of hearing, deafblind, blind or low vision students in Ontario

• education services and resources
• learning full and abbreviated Braille as well as specialized programming for students with blindness or low vision
• help ensure the overall development of the child and his inclusion in the society
• advisory services for school-aged children

Provincial organization that serves its membership

• contributes to the development of the Franco-Ontarian artistic and cultural community
• regroups seven sectors of activity and acts as a forum for dialogue between the the cultural and artistic contributors of the province for the collective development of Franco-Ontarian culture
• ensures action of financing the arts and Franco-Ontarian culture, of the status of artists and of the language-culture-education link

Free, confidential 24-hour support and crisis line for French-speaking women in Ontario

• supports and connects survivors of violence to community services
• victims and survivors of violence of any form
• security plan
• information and referral support to local, regional and provincial service providers

Organization that works towards the elimination of oppression experienced by women

• advocates action through cooperation between networks
• adopts action based on a feminist analysis of the social and community situation
• promotes the development of resources for French-speaking women in Ontario
• develops cooperation and communication between the various networks
• offers legal services for Francophone women dealing with violence
• offers online and in-person training for the general public and interveners
• runs awareness campaigns on violence against women

Legal services

• supports actions aimed at equal access to justice in French through close collaboration with other government, community and legal organizations
• provides tools to justice professionals so that they can offer their services in French
• informs and equips the general public to develop an understanding of, and capacity to participate in, the legal system in French

National organization providing services in the arts

• regroups 17 theatre companies established in Francophone communities in New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British-Columbia
• promotes the development of a franco-canadian theatrical scene by organizing and supporting various promotional activities

National organization that

• promotes artistic and cultural expression of Francophone and Acadian communities
• includes representatives from seven national groups in theater, literature, song and music, media arts and visual arts
• these organizations promote cultural and artistic development in the eleven provinces and territories of Canada

Advances French expression and contributes to the development of the full potential of Francophone youth

• main player in Franco-Canadian youth