QCGN Launches new community development website</h1> <article> <h1>QCGN Launches new community development website</h1> <p>Roseline Joyal — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:28:00 GMT</p> <font face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;TEXT-TRANSFORM:uppercase;">Montreal, Monday, September 21</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;">, 2009 – A new collaborative website, launched by the Quebec Community Groups Network, is designed to become an indispensable, internet-based tool for community organizers and institutions in English-speaking Quebec.</span></font><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;"><font face="Calibri">“QUESCAN – the <b>Qu</b>ebec <b>E</b>nglish-<b>s</b>peaking <b>C</b>ommunity <b>A</b>ction <b>N</b>etwork, located at </font><a href="http://www.quescan.info/"><font face="Calibri">www.quescan.info</font></a><font face="Calibri"> - will be the place where individuals, community groups, government and university partners learn about and contribute to the vitality of English-speaking Quebec,” commented Robert Donnelly, President of the Quebec Community Groups Network which launched the new site at its annual convention in Gatineau on September 11<sup>th</sup>.</font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;"><font face="Calibri">Robert Donnelly said QUESCAN (pronounced Q-SCAN) aims to support the development of key institutions and networks and to encourage and nurture political understanding and support for English-speaking communities and their institutions. The website also aims to increase awareness of existing resources available to English-speaking Quebec and to encourage inter-community and inter-institutional collaboration.</font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;"><font face="Calibri"> </font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;"><font face="Calibri">Thanks to a collaborative community effort already in progress, Donnelly is convinced that QUESCAN will become an indispensible and convenient resource for community action that will support and enhance the vitality of English-speaking Quebec – the main mission of Quebec Community Groups Network which brings together 32 Quebec-based organizations from various sectors and regions. </font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;"><font face="Calibri">The QUESCAN website was designed using the dynamic, community-based Wikipedia, or Wiki, model. The Wiki is flexible and expandable and designed to grow and evolve through community contributions. It also uses social media tools to build, engage and strengthen the wider English-speaking community of Quebec.</font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;"><font face="Calibri"> </font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;"><font face="Calibri">Go check it out and take part in a new way of collaborating to enhancing the vitality and comprehension of your community!</font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;"><font face="Calibri"> </font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;"><font face="Calibri">To read the press release, </font><a href="http://www.qcgn.ca/page.asp?intNodeID=39775"><font face="Calibri">click here</font></a><font face="Calibri">.</font></span> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Understanding diversity in English-speaking Montreal</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Mon, 25 May 2009 13:43:00 GMT</p> <p class="Default" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;">Below an excerpt from a speech given by Dennis Smith, GMCDI Chair, to launch an event held on Friday May 22nd. </span></p> <p class="Default" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;"></span> </p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;">"What better place to begin a conversation about diversity than in Montreal, the most diverse community in Quebec and one of the most diverse in Canada and North America. Montreal’s English-speaking community has a longstanding tradition of embracing diversity and is considered by many to be a model of successful integration. </span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;"></span> </p><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;">The GMCDI represents a group of community volunteers that wishes to engage and consult English-speaking Montrealers, community leaders, and local professionals on key issues affecting the English-speaking communities of the Greater Montreal Area.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;">The 2007 Greater Montreal Community Development Initiative Report indicates that Quebec’s English-speaking communities have the highest level of diversity among provincial official-language minority communities in Canada in terms of their ethnic origin, place of birth, religion and visible minority status. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;"></span> <span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;">The 2001 census indicates that one quarter of English-speakers in the Greater Montreal area identified themselves as members of a visible minority. Newcomers have continually modified the community’s composition and have been fundamental in contributing to the vitality of English-speaking Quebec. The strong presence of ethnic communities in the metropolitan area is the main reason organizers of this symposium exploring diversity in English-speaking Quebec decided to hold a specific forum about Montreal. Here the issue of diversity is specifically relevant and it is a key issue for the English-speaking community of Greater Montreal.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;"> </span> <p> </p> <p class="Default" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;">While some individuals reluctantly accept the minority label, here in Quebec everyone belongs to a minority community and many are proud of that fact. The English-speaking community is a minority within a French-speaking majority that is also a minority. Ethnic groups are also minorities within those two groups. While we Quebecers have a lot in common, we do not always know how to address the issues we have in common as minority groups. We hope today's forum will help launch that important dialogue and we hope today’s conversation between Montreal’s diverse minorities is the first chat in a long lasting dialogue." </span></p> <p class="Default" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;"></span> </p> <p class="Default" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;"></span> </p><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;">What do you think of this issue? </span> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Montreal needs us!</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:06:00 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">According to Mélanie Joly, co-founder of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal;">Génération d’idées</i>, (La Presse, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal;"><a class="" href="http://www.generationdidees.ca/montreal-a-besoin-de-nous/2009/05/04/">Montréal a besoin de nous</a>, </i>by Mélanie Joly, May 3, 2009, p. A14), Montreal is loosing some of its scope, integrity and talents. It no longer possesses the same cultural inspiration. Nonetheless, this downturn may create an opportunity for young ethnic, cultural and philanthropic organizations to contribute to the city with new strength. Ms. Joly thinks that in this case, the imminent priority for Montreal should focus on community engagement as a strategy to develop wide-ranging initiatives that would address key challenges such as environment and immigration. Citizens are at the heart of the city’s expansion and they should make sure that their voices are being heard. </font></font></span></p><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></font></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">So how does the English-speaking community participate? Immigration is an issue rarely discussed with relation to the English-speaking Quebec, but it is a great source of diversity and renewal for the English-speaking community. In order to develop deeper into this issue, the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) and the Greater Montreal Community Development Initiative (GMCDI) are working together with the Association for Canadian Studies and Concordia’s Quebec English-Speaking Community Research network (QUESCREN) to organize a forum on diversity at Atwater Library on May 22<sup>nd. </sup>Entitled “Understanding Diversity in English-speaking Montreal”, it will focus on demographics, employment, health and social services, education and the role that non-government organizations play in the integration process. (For more information please visit this site: <a href="http://www.acs-aec.ca/index.php?option=com_events&task=events&xlang=English&eventid=50">http://www.acs-aec.ca/index.php?option=com_events&task=events&xlang=English&eventid=50</a>)</font></font></span></p><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></font></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">While this article opens the door for minority groups and immigrants, notably, to contribute to the vitality of the city, there seems to be a lack of leadership and management at the municipal level.</font></font></span></p><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></font></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Since Montrealers are getting ready to go to the polls on November 1<sup>st</sup> to elect their municipal representative, how do you think diversity should be addressed to solve the challenges of the English-speaking community in Montreal and raise the city’s development plan at the same time?</font></font></span></p><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></font></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Furthermore, what is the role of the community at large and non-government organizations in informing the municipal government of the issues and challenges the ESC faces?</font></font></span></p><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></font></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">What can the ESC contribution be in meeting the challenge that Ms. Joly gives us in defining a new inspiring vision for Montreal?</font></font></span></p><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></font></span> <span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Tell us what you think!</font></font></span> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Employment strategies in Montreal</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:16:00 GMT</p> <span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;">On April 5th, a strategy for the purpose of accelerating employment for Montreal immigrants was launched (</span><i><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"><font color="#0000ff"><a class="" href="http://www.arrondissement.com/tout-getMod-directory-COM/t1/u9025-lancement-defi-montreal-millions-pour-accelerer-acces-emploi-montrealaises-montrealais-issus-immigration/">Lancement de Défi Montréal – 6 millions $ pour accélérer l’accès à l’emploi des Montréalaises et des Montréalais issus de l’immigration</a></font></span></span></i><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;">). </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;">“Défi Montréal”, under the guardianship of the <i>Conseil regional des partenaires du marché du travail</i>, was created so that key socioeconomic organizations in Montreal could gather towards a coordinated approach to enable employment access to new comers, such as visible minorities and women. At the moment, nine projects are ready to begin in Villeray, Saint-Michel, Ahuntsic-Cartierville and the East part of the Island. These projects represent a 900 000$ investment that will allow 600 immigrants to get employment. Through the description of these projects, there is no mention of the English-speaking community. A brief description of each project is available <a class="" href="http://www.micc.gouv.qc.ca/publications/fr/divers/DEP_DefiMontreal.pdf">here</a> (only in French).</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"> </span> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"></span> </p><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;">According to the <a class="" href="http://www.qcgn.ca/page.asp?intNodeID=31297">Greater Montreal Community Development Initiative Report</a>, in 2001, visible minority group members made up 25.9% of the Anglophones in the Greater Montreal Area. This percentage represents two and a half times the proportion found in the Francophone community and nearly double the Canadian average.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"> </span> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"></span> </p><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;">Should “Défi Montréal” consider devoting a strategy to provide employment opportunities to the visible minorities within the English-speaking community specifically?</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"> </span> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"></span> </p><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;">If not, on what demographic observation was that strategy based since a majority of immigrants in Montreal are English-speaking compared to the French-speaking?</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"> </span> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"></span> </p><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;">What do you think?</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Verdana','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"> </span> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>What is the relationship between a community and its institutions?</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:56:00 GMT</p> <p>An article in the Montreal Gazette today entitled "<a href="http://www.montrealgazette.com/United+church+converts+French/1497838/story.html">United Church Converts - to Frenc</a><a href="http://community.gmcdi.ca/controlpanel/blogs/www.montrealgazette.com/United+church+converts+French/1497838/story.html">h</a>" explains that a congregation that had, for over 50 years been English-speaking, was forced to shut down English services due to a lack of attendance. This article is a clear example of the difficulties that the English-speaking community faces, particularly where its numbers are dwindling and where institutions and communities no longer have a relationship. Richard Bourhis, an expert researcher on language minorities states that "Institutional control is the dimension of vitality <i>par excellence</i> needed by language groups to maintain and assert their presence within state and private institutions such as education, the mass media, local government, health care, the judicial system, commerce and business. It is proposed that language groups need to achieve and maintain a favourable position on the institutional control front if they wish to survive as distinctive collective entities within multilingual states." (Bourhis, R.Y., Landry, R. (2008). Group Vitality, Cultural Autonomy and the Wellness of Language Minorities. InR.Y. Bourhis (Ed.) The Vitality of the English-Speaking Communities of Quebec: From Community Decline to Revival.Montreal, Quebec: CEETUM, Université de Montréal.) </p><p> </p><p>What do you think? </p><p> </p><p>What is the role of the community in sustaining its institutions? Is it a symbiotic relationship between the community and the institutions or is it one-way? Does the English speaking community need to demonstrate their support to other institutions - be they churches, hospitals, or schools - to ensure their survival? </p><p> </p><p> Do "traditional" institutions have a role to play in sustaining and developing the community? Is it important? Are institutions an effective yardstick to measure the health of a community? </p><p> </p><p>Are there new institutions that are supporting the sustainability of the English-speaking communities? If so, what are these new institutions? </p><p> </p><p>Thanks for your thoughts and contributions! </p> </article> <article> <h1>Similarities abound in language issues</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:13:00 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">An article in The Gazette on Sunday, entitled "<em><a class="" href="http://www.montrealgazette.com/Life/Language+panel+wrangles+over+anglicisms/1466154/story.html">Language panel wrangles over the use of anglicisms</a></em>" brought up the similarities that the English speaking minority in Quebec has with its French speaking majority - something that is not always evident in the language debate. </font></font></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The mixing of languages - where English speakers ask "Where is the nearest dep?" and French speakers say "C'est fun!" demonstrates the interconnectedness that both official languages have, especially in the Greater Montreal area. </font></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Most of all, the realization that a better knowledge of both languages will prove to be a competitive advantage for Quebec was an interesting conclusion from the event that was hosted by the Conseil superiur de la langue franciase. The author of the article points out that "despite the squabble over anglicisms, a consensus did emerge on English: As long as French is the dominant language in Quebec, English and other languages should no longer be seen as a threat, but rather as a necessary complement to French and a bridge to the larger world outside Quebec." This gives Quebec the tools it needs to be a strong player in a global world. </font></font></span></p><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Another interesting event on the weekend was the launch of a new blog on Montreal called <a class="" href="http://communities.canada.com/montrealgazette/blogs/metropolitannews/archive/2009/03/24/first-things-first-the-mandate-and-the-name.aspx">Metropolitan News</a>. This blog promises to look at "<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="COLOR:black;">Montreal events, news and personalities; highlight the city's vibrant online community, from bloggers to Twitterers to video posters; and tell you what is being said about our fair city in other parts of the blogosphere". </span></span></font></font></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="FONT-SIZE:11.5pt;COLOR:#464646;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:'Helvetica','sans-serif';mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman';"> Hopefully this will give people an opportunity to comment, participate and be up to date on the issues that are affecting this great city. </span></span></p><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman';"></span> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Benefits of a bilingual city</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:17:00 GMT</p> <p>An article entitled "<a class="" href="http://www.montrealgazette.com/Life/Should+stay+should/1437888/story.html">Should I stay or should I go?"</a> was published in The Gazette on Satruday March 28th, demonstrating the worldwide options that students from McGill's Faculty of Law have after they obtain their diploma. This article is a perfect example of the benefits that can be obtained in a bilingual and biliterate city such as Montreal and it also exemplifies the retention issues that are prevalent in the English speakign community. It also demonstrates one of the living legacies of the English speaking community to the city. Thanks to the levels of bilingualism and diversity in the English-speaking community, it is easy to see why they could choose to move abroad. </p> <p> </p> <p>But the best part of the article is that it highlights the many graduates who choose to say in Motnreal because of the benefits of speaking two languages, learning about two legal systems and the quality of life that can be obtained in this city. If there was a way to transpose the lessons learned in this faculty to others, it might be an interesting apporach to lowering the retention rates of English speaking graduates that leave the province at alarmingly high rates. </p> <p> </p> <p>What do you think?</p> </article> <article> <h1>Third GMCDI public conversation event...come join us!</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:43:00 GMT</p> <h1 class="title">A Changing Community: So I have a diploma, can I get a job? </h1> <div class="node"> <div class="info"><em></em></div> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-type-date field-field-date">Date: <span class="date-display-single">Wednesday, 18 March 2009</span></div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-about"> <h3 class="field-label">About the discussion</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"> <p>Wednesday, March 18 • 7 to 9 pm<br />Coop La Maison Verte, 5785 Sherbrooke Ouest</p> <p>A Changing Community: So I have a diploma, can I get a job? </p> <p>Statistics show that English-speakers have a harder time landing employment than their French-speaking counterparts, this is true of both unilingual, and to a lesser degree, bilingual English-speakers. Is this issue language-related or does it reflect a changing work environment? What are the various factors at play in the underemployment of English-speakers? Is the ‘brain drain’ still a reality in Montreal – highly-educated workers leaving the city to find better employment elsewhere? What about the ‘brain gain’ of immigrants who have university degrees but still find it difficult to find a job? In this conversation we will explore the topics of discrimination, networks, language proficiency, recognition of foreign credentials and the role of the education system in preparing graduates for life in Montreal. </p> <p>Guest:</p> <p>Giordano Rosa spent 35 years in education as a teacher (History, Special Education) and administrator (Director of Educational Services and Regional Director for Montreal School Boards). He retired in 2006 as Director General of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board. He now helps coordinate and supports the Council on Employment and Education for the Greater Montreal Community Development Initiative and is an active grandfather to Megan and Emily.</p> <p>Moderator:</p> <p>Lise Palmer is the Youth Project Coordinator at the Quebec Community Groups Network and a board member of the 4 Korners Family Resource Centre. Having grown up in one of Greater Vancouver`s sprawling suburbs, she is interested in learning about and contributing to community, identity, and engagement. She loves good food, bad jokes, and wilderness walks.</p></div></div></div></div></div> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Second GMCDI public conversation - Come join us!</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:18:00 GMT</p> <div class="field field-type-date field-field-date">Date: <span class="date-display-single">Wednesday, 11 March 2009</span></div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-about"> <h3 class="field-label">About the discussion</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"> <p>Wednesday, March 11 • 7 to 9 pm<br />Café Griffintown, 1378 Notre-Dame Ouest</p> <p>A Changing Community: How do we reconcile many histories in one community? </p> <p>Montreal is a city of many peoples and many histories. Although all of the past’s stories add up to paint a portrait of the city we have today, some of these stories become part of the official narrative while other histories – often the contributions of minority communities – are quietly forgotten as the generations pass. How can we gain a better understanding of the histories that abound in Montreal? Is it necessary to merge them into one unified story or is there space enough for a multiplicity of histories from many communities? In this conversation we will explore how the past is important for understanding our identity and creating community belonging, how many communities can be part of our historical narrative, and the role historians play in capturing history. </p> <p>Guest: </p> <p>Dorothy Williams is a historian who specializes in Black Canadian history. She has authored three books, and has contributed to other scholarly and academic publications. Dorothy volunteers as community archivist for the Black Studies Center and lends her expertise to the Atwater Library. Currently she is program director for the Black Community Resource Centre. Her interests and services lie in the areas of history, identity and race, gender, family support, mobility, empowerment, anti-gang intervention, entrepreneurship and education.</p> <p>Moderator:</p> <p>Lise Palmer is the Youth Project Coordinator at the Quebec Community Groups Network and a board member of the 4 Korners Family Resource Centre. Having grown up in one of Greater Vancouver`s sprawling suburbs, she is interested in learning about and contributing to community, identity, and engagement. She loves good food, bad jokes, and wilderness walks.</p></div></div></div> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>GMCDI Employment opportunity!!</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:04:00 GMT</p> <p>The GMCDI is looking for a project director. This exciting project promises to engage in some really interesting activities that promote the English-speaking community's vitality in the Greater Montreal area. If this sounds interesting to you, please check out the posting at the following website: </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><a href="http://www.qcgn.ca/page.asp?intNodeID=18153"><font face="Calibri" size="3">http://www.qcgn.ca/page.asp?intNodeID=18153</font></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;">You will find it on the right hand side of the page under Calendar of Events. All necessary information will be in the document. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;">If you know of anyone who might be interested in the position, please feel free to pass this info along. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;">Thanks for your help!</span></p> </article> <article> <h1>GMCDI Upcoming event - public conversations on the English-speaking communities...join us!</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:33:00 GMT</p> <p><strong><font size="6">A Changing Community: How do we navigate identity, accents and belonging?</font></strong></p> <p>Date: <span class="date-display-single">Wednesday, 4 March 2009</span></p> <div class="node"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-about"> <h3 class="field-label">About the discussion</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"> <p>Wednesday, March 4 • 7 to 9 pm<br />Arts Café, 201 Fairmount</p> <p>A Changing Community: How do we navigate identity, accents and belonging?</p> <p>A multitude of linguistic and cultural backgrounds, ethnicities and religions have all combined to create what we call Montreal’s English-speaking community. Far from being uniform, this definition of a community within the larger French-speaking community, comprises of individuals with many differing accents and identities. While visible minorities are increasingly accepted, audible minorities or those with differing worldviews, may experience other challenges. In this conversation we will discuss whether a community’s identity goes beyond simply sharing the same everyday language. We will take the time to address questions such as: Are accents an asset or a hindrance to being accepted? How are people treated differently if they are not fluent in their second or third language? What is the role of education, the media, and general arts and culture in creating a sense of identity and a sense of belonging to the larger English-speaking community and beyond?</p> <p>Guest: </p> <p>Geeta Nadkarni has been an immigrant twice over. Originally from Mumbai, she lived and worked as a journalist in Singapore and now lives in Montreal. She currently does a column called "Be Green" for Montreal's CBC News at Six and Radio One's Home Run. This past summer she piloted “Mashup” on CBC Radio, exploring the intersection of Canada’s many cultures. Since moving to Montreal, Geeta has devoted her time (not necessarily in this order) to her cats, her dog, her new husband, and, leaving a light environmental footprint.</p> <p>Moderator: </p> <p>Lise Palmer is the Youth Project Coordinator at the Quebec Community Groups Network and a board member of the 4 Korners Family Resource Centre. Having grown up in one of Greater Vancouver`s sprawling suburbs, she is interested in learning about and contributing to community, identity, and engagement. She loves good food, bad jokes, and wilderness walks.</p> <p>These discussions are prepared by the University of the Streets cafe in partnership with the Greater Montreal Community Development Initiative.</p></div></div></div></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Who is a part of the English speaking community of the Greater Montreal area?</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:29:00 GMT</p> <p>A recent article/interview with Dorothy Williams on CTV raised some good questions about the inclusiveness of the English speaking community of the Greater Montreal area. If you have not seen it yet, you are welcome to visit this <a class="" title="Dorothy Williams on CTV" href="http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090129/mtl_blacks_in_montreal_by_dorothy_williams090129/20090129/">link</a> to the article. While Ms. William's interview is specifically on the Black population of Montreal, this argument can be made for all the multicultural communities that make up the Montreal mosaic. </p> <p>How many generations does it take for a multicultural group to be considered as belonging to a community? </p> <p>Moreover, how do you create a sense of identity and belonging within a community and be as inclusive as possible?</p> <p>What are your thoughts on this matter?</p> </article> <article> <h1>Accessing Education in the English language in Quebec</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:22:00 GMT</p> <p>The Supreme Court of Canada is currently hearing arguments around Bill 104. (for further coverage please see the article in the Montreal Gazette by Elizabeth Thompson on December 14, 2008 entitled <em><a class="" href="http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=1075535">Charter, Quebec language laws square off in high court</a></em>) This Bill proposes to close one of the avenues of access to education in the English language. Until 2002 (when the Bill was proposed) students having attended one year of private English language schooling could gain access to public English schools. </p> <p>Is this a loophole that must be closed? Or is it the protection of a right guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?</p> <p>Does access to English languages schools in this way undermine the purpose of the langauge laws in Quebec? </p> <p>Should parents have the freedom to choose what language their children are instructed in?</p> <p>All these are questions that will be answered in some way or another when the verdict is given by the Supreme Court of Canada. What do you think about the issue? </p> </article> <article> <h1>Bridging the gap between supply and demand in the labour force...English-speakers could prove to be the missing link</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:57:00 GMT</p> <p>In 2001, English-speakers in the Greater Montreal area had an unemployment rate of 9.2%, which means that they were 24 per cent more likely than their Francophone counterparts to be unemployed. This statistic serves to dispel the myth that all English-speakers are all well-off in Westmount mansions. As a matter of fact, many English-speakers are preferring to leave the province altogether. Retention rates of highly educated English-speakers in the province as a whole is extremely low - with 73% of English-speaking PhDs leaving the province altogether. It is a fact that the government is one of the largest sources of employment in this province and the Greater Montreal area is no different. Unfortunately, English-speakers have a chronically low level of representation in the public services industry in the Greater Montreal area. Of the 65,000 people employed in such positions in 2001, English-speakeas accounted for only 9 per cent, despite the fact that they represent 25 per cent of hte labour force. (for more information please visit our <a class="" href="http://community.gmcdi.ca/controlpanel/blogs/www.qcgn.ca/greatermontrealinitiative">website</a> and see the <a class="" href="http://www.qcgn.com/files/QCGN/a20070306_economy_employment.pdf">discussion paper on Economic Development and Employment</a>)</p> <p> </p> <p>An interesting article in The Gazette this weekend "<a class="" href="http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/working/story.html?id=18033bce-bedc-4089-9006-1a088909a5a4">Municipal job flow to increase steadily</a>" by Stephaie Whittaker informs us that of the 80,000 Quebecers currently working in municipal administration, 16,000 will retire in the next five years, and half within the next 10 years. The rest of the article goes on to explain the efforts being made by the municipalities to engage and encourage youth to consider a career in the municipal administration. </p> <p> </p> <p>It would be interesting to know how much of that effort is being targetted to English-speakers and if it wouldn't be cost-effective to offer English-speakers increased access to jobs in order to stem the brain drain from the province, increase levels of employment and produce a public sector that is reflecting the reality of the mosaic that is Greater Montreal in 2008. </p> <p> </p> <p>What do you think about the issue of English-speakers finding employment in the public service of the Greater Montreal area? </p> </article> <article> <h1>Where is the nearest "dep"?</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT</p> <p>An article in the November 15th edition of The Gazette written by Mark Abley entitled "<a href="http://www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=e87bd9b6-a5e4-4ba5-a5a5-658b914cec3a"><i>Montreal English grows even more distinct</i></a>" highlights the links between language and identity that is debated quite often in the English-speaking community of the Greater Montreal area. As the author states, "the uniqueness of Montreal English may well be growing", demonstrating that the english-speaking community in Montreal is distinct from other Anglophones in Canada and the world, and yet the use of the language itself creates common linkages amongst all the English-speakers in the greater Montreal area. </p><p>Here are some of the major drivers of what makes Montreal English different than the English spoken elsewhere: </p><ol><li>Most English speakers in Montreal are reasonably fluent in French, and this language has slowly begun to influence the vocabulary and syntax of English speakers (as mentioned in the Abley article) <br /></li><li>The diversity of English speakers that exist in Montreal also has an effect on the type of English that is spoken, whether it be immigrants from the West Indies, from Latin America, from Europe or from Asia that bring their own vocabulary and influence to the language </li><li>Lastly the openness and acceptance of the culture and people of Montreal that try to communicate despite potential language obstacles, and where conversations are commonly heard between a Francophone, an Allophone and an English-speaker leads us to greater interweaving of languages than in other places <br /></li></ol><p>Can you think of any others? </p><p> All this goes to show that a Montreal English speakers identify more easily with each other than with other Anglophones and constitute a distinct and unique group. This sense of uniqueness gives Montreal English speakers a wonderful opportunity to play a role in building bridges between the rest of Canada and Quebec in terms of cultural appreciation and understanding. Most of all, we are one of the most bicultural and bilingual groups in the country. It is undeniable that this is a competitive advantage in business, in international relations and in life in general. </p><p>What do you think about this issue? We invite you to share your thoughts on the matter in the comment boxes below! </p> </article> <article> <h1>Montreal ESC Youth Interviewed on TV5</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:25:00 GMT</p> <span style="FONT-SIZE:11pt;COLOR:#1f497d;FONT-FAMILY:'Calibri','sans-serif';">As a follow-up to the QCGN youth forum, </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:11pt;COLOR:#1f497d;FONT-FAMILY:'Calibri','sans-serif';">Brent Platt (co-chair of YSC) was interviewed for Club Social TV program on TV5 regarding the forum and issues facing English-speaking youth. It`s going to be aired this Thursday at 8pm, and then re-run and available online at later dates (see below for re-run dates).</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;">Reruns will be on:</span> <blockquote><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;">Friday November 14th 2008 at 11h00</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;">S</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;">aturdayNovember 15 2008 at 17h00</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;">WedensdayNovember 19 2008 at 00h30</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span> </blockquote><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;">The interview will also be available on the TV5 website. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;">Let us know what you think about the issues that are discussed in the interview!</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"> </p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Provincial Youth forum a wonderful success!!!</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:52:00 GMT</p> <p>This weekend, a Youth Forum, organized by the QCGN, was held in Montreal. Over 100 youth from across the province came to participate in a jam-packed session of strategic thinking, visioning and overall networking. </p> <p>To read a little more about it you can check out:</p> <p><a href="http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/education/200809/29/01-24486-les-jeunes-anglos-reclament-de-meilleurs-cours-de-francais.php">http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/education/200809/29/01-24486-les-jeunes-anglos-reclament-de-meilleurs-cours-de-francais.php</a></p> <p class="amorce">Les jeunes anglophones du Québec veulent de meilleurs cours de français. C'est l'une des conclusions d'une conférence organisée, durant le week-end, pour contrer la saignée qui menace des dizaines de petites communautés en région.</p> <div class="entry"> <p>On recense près d'un million d'anglophones au Québec, dont 80% habitent la grande région de Montréal. Or, à l'extérieur de la métropole, la population a connu une baisse dramatique au fil des ans. La ville de Québec, par exemple, était habitée à 52% d'anglophones dans les années 1850. Il n'y en a plus que 2% aujourd'***</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=fe7f2640-c856-4136-9376-9510bdc64a12">http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=fe7f2640-c856-4136-9376-9510bdc64a12</a> </p> <p>The burden of bilingualism chafes on young anglos in Quebec. Many feel that even speaking both languages still leaves them second-class citizens.</p> <p> </p> <p>What do you think about the issues the youth identified?</p></div> </article> <article> <h1>Encouraging vocational training to increase youth employability</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:23:00 GMT</p> <p>To reduce the number of young people dropping out of school without the training they need to enter the job market, students who are not seeking a college diploma could be encouraged to turn earlier to vocational training at the high school level by creating a high school third-year diploma, says an Economic Note published by the Montreal Economic Institute.</p> <p>Did everyone see this story in the daily briefings yesterday? What do you think?</p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Re: Henry Aubin’s “Building a “smart city” begins with our teachers” (The Gazette, Saturday September 6th, 2008)</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:04:00 GMT</p> <font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;">Henry Aubin has appropriately identified education as a major component to creating smart cities, but from an English-speaking community perspective more in-depth analysis is required to better understand the nuances which surround this issue in Montreal. Though there is a 32% higher likelihood that the English-speaking communities’ youth obtain a high school leaving diploma than their French-speaking counterparts, our youth are still faced with the dilemma of leaving the city and the province for bette</span><span>r employment opportunities. </span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;"> With this in mind, stemming the brain drain of highly educated individuals may be a second step in Aubin’s strategy to making Montreal a “smarter city”. </span></font></font><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;"><font face="Calibri" size="3"> </font></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Aubin mentions four criteria that were used for the “smart city” study: knowledge, applied skills, cultural opportunities and community opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"> </span>Regarding cultural opportunities, Montreal’s concentration of artists is nearly 1.5 times the Canadian average. This makes Montreal quite a “wealthy” city, with the artistic and cultural sector contributing not only to the economy through employment but also through tourism. Montreal English-speakers contribute significantly in this area, with attendance at live cultural performances surpassing that of other Canadians. In artistic genres such as theatre/music, photography/film/video, literary creation, and visual arts, English-speaking Montrealers are also more likely to be practitioners than their French-speaking counterparts. This is one of the facts which really makes Montreal different, “smart”, and which will allow the English speaking community’s contributions to the attractiveness and well-being of the city to be better understood. </font></font></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;"><font face="Calibri" size="3"> </font></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Nonetheless, while Montreal English-speakers are supportive of the arts by attending events, they are much less likely than other Canadians to have acted in a volunteer capacity in the sector (41% less likely). This takes us to the fourth criteria that Aubin mentions - community opportunities – specifically volunteer work. The rate of participation in social clubs and organizations is relatively low for the English-speaking population of Greater Montreal (10% less likely than English-speakers in the province on average). The lowest levels of participation are found among youth, those of low-income households and those not born in Canada. </font></font></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;"><font face="Calibri" size="3"> </font></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">These are only a few examples of the variety of socioeconomic factors that affect the English-speaking communities’ contribution to Montreal as a “smart city”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"> </span>Strong leadership will certainly be required to coordinate resources and adopt a “community development” philosophy for the creation of a “smart city”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"> </span>The Greater Montreal Community Development Initiative (</font><a href="http://www.qcgn.ca/greatermontrealinitiative"><font face="Calibri" color="#0000ff" size="3">www.qcgn.ca/greatermontrealinitiative</font></a><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">) wishes to contribute to this task and coordinate community efforts in parallel to the contribution the teachers will be making in moving our city up the “smart” ranking. </font></font></span><span style="COLOR:#1f497d;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;"><font face="Calibri" size="3"> </font></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;"><font face="Calibri" size="3"> </font></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Dennis Smith and Don Taylor</font></font></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">GMCDI Co-chairs</font></font></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">514-868-9044 ext. 229</font></font></span> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Montreal's movers and shakers overlook non-francophones</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:18:00 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><b>In response to Henry Aubin - "Montreal's movers and shakers overlook non-francophones" - August 30, 2008</b><br /><br />Henry Aubin is right again! Any diagnosis and brainstorming on the city's place in the world must include people from outside the in-group. The English speaking communities of the Greater Montreal area and their respective leaders have also demonstrated the ingenuity and the skills to help address Rozon’s concerns.</font></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 12pt;"><br /><font face="Calibri" size="3">The QCGN’s Greater Montreal Community Development Initiative (GMCDI) has already produced a series of evidence-based research papers, reports and strategic plans on issues facing the English–speaking community. One of our Task Forces on the specific issue of Arts, Culture and Heritage was mandated with producing recommendations for promoting Montreal as a creative environment to retain and attract creative workers and artistic entrepreneurs and to enhance the commercialization possibilities of the communities' cultural talents and products. </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">Most importantly, one of the fundamental tenets of the GMCDI initiative has been to work in collaboration and partnership with the French-speaking cultural resources in presenting cultural products in both English and French, domestically and internationally. If Gilbert Rozon wished to contact representatives of the English-speaking community for a collaborative brainstorming exercise, the GMCDI might be a good place to start.</font></p><font face="Calibri" size="3"> </font> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">Dennis Smith and Don Taylor</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">GMCDI Co-chairs</font></p><span style="COLOR:#1f497d;"><a href="http://www.qcgn.ca/greatermontrealinitiative"><span style="mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"><font face="Calibri" color="#0000ff" size="3">www.qcgn.ca/greatermontrealinitiative</font></span></a><font face="Calibri" size="3"> </font></span><span style="COLOR:#1f497d;mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:FR-CA;"><font face="Calibri" size="3"> </font></span> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>New reports out today!</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:20:00 GMT</p> <p>The Office de Consultation Publique de Montreal has put out two reports today. </p> <p>One on the Protection of Mount Royal, the other on the Montreal General Hospital project. </p> <p>Soon the reports will be out in English, but if you would like to have access to them in French, here is the link:</p> <p> <a href="http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/ldvdm/jsp/ocpm/ocpm.jsp">http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/ldvdm/jsp/ocpm/ocpm.jsp</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Bibliotheque Nationale de Quebec</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:19:00 GMT</p> <p>Did you know that the Grande Bibliothèque offers services in English? It is entirely free and can be accessed by any resident of Quebec. </p> <p>Here are a few expamples of what they do:</p> <p> </p> <p>1. The <strong>Centre emploi-carrière</strong> is located on Level 2 of the Grande Bibliothèque. </p> <p><strong>Opening hours </strong></p> <p>Assisted service :</p> <div class="retrait">Tuesday through Friday: 5 pm to 10 pm (Between 10 am and 5 pm, only the collection is available.)<br />Saturday and Sunday: 10 am to 5 pm</div> <p>The Centre emploi-carrière is a service of Emploi-Québec de Montréal.</p> <p> </p> <p>2. In order to better meet the needs of our business clientele, particularly SMBs and self-employed workers, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) developed the <a href="http://www.banq.qc.ca/portal/dt/collections/collection_universelle_pret_reference/economie_affaires/cupr_economie.jsp">economics and business collection</a> and set up the Carrefour Affaires (business connection). In addition to enjoying access to the collection and the support of library staff, users can ask qualified professionals to do specialized business research for them, for a competitive fee. This service is offered to all Quebecers and is available in the Grande Bibliothèque (GB) and by telephone, fax or e-mail.</p> <p> </p> <p>Stay tuned for more services that the Grande Biblio offers! </p> <p>If you have any special requests, please do not hesitate to ask..</p> </article> <article> <h1>Thanks for visiting this new GMCDI tool!</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:18:00 GMT</p> <p>Hello everyone, </p> <p>This is our first day of being unofficially online! I am very excited about this tool, as I see huge potential for it. You will find a few different sections as you browse this website:</p> <p> Files: shows you all of the documentation that I have uploaded especially for the pupose of reviewing where the GMCDI has come from. You should have access to download the files that are presented in this area. </p> <p>Forums: Discussion areas where conversations can start on different topics. I have started with some questions in some of the forums, but these can always be changed and expanded. You should have access to post a thread on any conversation you choose. </p> <p>Blog: This is the section you are reading now. You should have access to read and commnet on the post. </p> <p> </p> <p>Clearly this tool is no where near complete, but the pupose is really to build a vibrant and active community that will refer to this as a source of infomration as well as a place to discuss ideas and post interesting comments. Hopefully the ESC of Montreal will benefit from a broader range of community leaders interacting on a regular basis through this tool! </p> <p>Thanks for your help in the initial phase of this experiment, </p> <p>Michelle</p> </article> <article> <h1>Interesting Article</h1> <p>Michelle Dupuis — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:25:00 GMT</p> <div class="storyheadline">Quebecers must learn English to play on international stage</div> <div class="storysubhead">Francophones must face the fact that English is the language of global commerce</div> <p> <table class=""> <tr> <td class=""> </td></tr> <tr> <td class=""><font class="storybyline"><strong>MICHEL KELLY-GAGNON</strong></font></td></tr> <tr> <td class=""><font class="storypub">Freelance</font></td></tr></table></p> <div class="storydate"><br />Monday, August 18, 2008</div> <p><br /> </p> <div class="storytext"> <p>A scientist from Denmark meets with government officials in China, and they converse in English. A conference of Eastern European and Turkish business people is conducted in English. The same at a meeting of Asian environmental activists in Tokyo.</p> <p>The participants in these events were not born into the language of Shakespeare. They learned it from necessity, having acknowledged it as the linguistic currency of the global village.</p> <p>This is not a new story but one with ever-increasing momentum, and it's leaving too many young French-speaking Quebecers in the "penalty box," as a friend of mine says. Here's the sad irony: In Quebec's educational system it seems that the world's current lingua franca remains a sort of bête noire.</p> <p>Following revolutionary developments in technology, all peoples of the world are communicating, trading, and sharing knowledge with each other. Commerce knows few borders. With mobility a defining characteristic of the modern era, the international community has adopted a standard language. That language is English.</p> <p>The mere fact that Quebec was "conquered" by the English in 1759 should not prevent Quebecers from learning English. Quebec francophones have an absolute right to preserve and better their own language, but it would be a huge mistake not to learn their second one. In the Netherlands, to take one example, an estimated 85 per cent of the people are said to know English well. To my knowledge this has not prevented the Dutch from protecting their national language.</p> <p>The overwhelming majority of written international communication flows in English. More than three-quarters of all information running on the computers of the world is estimated to be in English; the world's Internet content is more English than that.</p> <p>In our information age, knowledge increasingly represents wealth, and the ability to communicate knowledge has itself become a component of wealth. Consequently, the ability to speak the world's common language is a key to success. Nowadays, to choose to be unilingual in a language other than English is choosing to be illiterate in international relations.</p> <p>I certainly understand Quebec's unique situation in respect of this issue. Some of our nationalists - some, I insist - wish to diverge from the Anglo-Saxon reality, for reasons which need no recapitulation here. The historical background triggers emotions that have played a major part in the political history of Quebec for two generations.</p> <p>All of us must recognize, however, that the issue here is not the lingering French-vs-English drama. Rather it is about whether we are going to equip our children for the reality of today's environment. Francophone students should learn English for the sake of becoming winning and mobile players.</p> <p>Happily, more and more people, including many enlightened nationalists, understand that this is not a debate of sovereignty vs Canadian unity. For example, earlier this year Parti Québecois leader Pauline Marois said one of Quebec's priorities must be to teach English to francophone students. She said that instruction should begin in Grade 1, that courses such as geography or history might well be taught in English, and that all children ought to be functionally bilingual by the time they graduate from high school. Crucially, she also pointed out that proficiency in English among francophones would not diminish the importance, position or use of French in Quebec - an observation also supported by numerous studies.</p> <p>We have seen impressive success in the English-language school system in the teaching of French. Early instruction and immersion programs have produced bilingual anglophone teenagers. Whether or not our francophone school boards adopt similar pedagogical techniques is, in the end, a matter of detail. I am no education expert. Let the experts draw the instructional maps.</p> <p>But there should be no question about the general destination: a system-wide adoption of measures that aim at functional bilingualism for every young Quebecer. The need to reach this goal should be treated as nothing less than an absolute emergency.</p> <p>If I sound passionate about this issue it is solely because I believe we handicap the future of hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens by not providing the best possible instruction in English. If we want francophone Quebecers to make their way to the summits of the new world, we must provide them with fluency in the primary language of global commerce and science.</p> <p>Michel Kelly-Gagnon is president of the Quebec Employers Council.</p> <p>www.cpq.qc.ca</p></div> <div class="storycredit" align="center">© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008</div> </article> </main></body></html>