Toronto: A magnet for newcomers?

by Annik Chalifour, Toronto, Ontario

More immigrants settle in Ontario than in any other Canadian province, and they most often choose the Toronto area. In fact, they say that Toronto is the most multicultural city in the world. In 2006, approximately half of its residents were born outside Canada, and the mother tongue of 49% of residents was neither English nor French. In this cosmopolitan environment, how do Francophone newcomers adapt? To find out, here are a few of their stories.

Toronto, an increasingly Francophile city

Dieudonné, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), came to Toronto in 2006. “I consider myself a Francophone, since all my education was in French in my native country before immigrating to Canada,” he says. In 2008, Dieudonné decided to go back to school at Collège Boréal (in French only) (Toronto campus), where he continued his post-secondary education in French. Dieudonné wants his children to immigrate to Toronto as well. “They will attend French-language schools,” he says.

Dieudonné adds that “it’s not always easy for a newcomer to live in French in a minority environment. For personal matters, such as a doctor’s appointment or meeting with a lawyer, it’s natural to want to speak in your first language. However, health and legal professionals who can provide service in French are not readily available in Toronto.”

“When I first arrived here, in spite of the fact that I spoke English fairly well, I had to take language classes to get used to the fast rate at which people spoke and to help me better understand people,” Dieudonné adds. In his view, “when you arrive in a bilingual country like Canada, it is important to know both languages to better integrate into society. You don’t have a choice.”

In spite of it all, Dieudonné hopes to find employment as an IT specialist, preferably within the Francophone community. “However, I remain open to the possibility of working in a position that requires knowledge of both languages,” he adds. Doing so would allow him to take advantage of two main fields that are in demand in Toronto.

Sylvain, also from the DRC, came to Toronto, like Dieudonné, several years ago. “Since I arrived in 1997, I have noticed a 50% improvement in the delivery of services in French in the city. At first, it wasn’t easy to find Francophones and resources in French in Toronto. For example, to obtain a social insurance card, I needed the assistance of an interpreter. However, at that time, there was a significant shortage of interpreters. But in the past 10 years, things have changed a lot. More resources are dedicated to welcoming and guiding Francophone newcomers,” he says.

According to Sylvain, “if we want to strike a balance between both languages in Ontario, the French language must be used as much as possible to spread it across the province.” What is more, he says, “French is my mother tongue. When I came here, I had to take English classes for two years to help me integrate into society, even though I already had some knowledge of English. But I prefer to study in French and look for employment in a Francophone environment, specifically so I can continue promoting French. We need to step up efforts so that French can thrive in our minority environment.”

Sylvain is the father of four children between the ages of three and eight. “It is very important for my children to attend French-language schools so they can learn the Francophone cultural vocabulary used here,” he says. “Immersion schools are not ideal because all the educational material and communications with the school are in English, which is not always easy for French-speaking parents who want to help their children.”

Interestingly, several English-language schools in Ontario have become immersion schools in recent years. It is impressive to see that many non-Francophone immigrants choose to send their children to an immersion school, for example, Michaëlle Jean Public School in Richmond Hill and Vaughan Secondary School in Thornhill, so they can become bilingual.

Increase in assistance programs for newcomers

In response to massive immigration to Ontario, the government increasingly promotes the implementation of non-profit organizations that offer newcomers a range of customized services, including language classes. Some well established semi-governmental agencies have adjusted their programs to the changing needs of immigration.

Since 1990, La Passerelle I.D.E., has specialized in activities that promote the inclusion of Francophone immigrants in Ontario’s education system and labour market. The Heritage Skills Development Centre (HSDC) has been offering support services for immigrants since 1993, targeting vulnerable youth, seniors and single mothers. The HSDC also offers free computer and French classes.

Another well established organization, the Centre francophone de Toronto (CFT), increasingly manages programs that are tailored to the needs of Francophone newcomers, including employment services, health services, social services, legal aid, school enrolment and an early childhood assistance program. The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), created in 1978, acts as a collective voice for agencies that provide services to all immigrants in Ontario. The mission of OCASI is to achieve equality, access and full participation of immigrants and in all aspects of Canadian life.

Immigrant women

Franklina was born in Ghana. She first came to Montréal in 2000, then settled in Toronto in 2004 to join her spouse, who was already living there. Ghana is an English-speaking country. However, Franklina’s father used to teach French. She lived in Niamey, Niger (a country of the Francophonie), where she attended a French-language elementary school. “In Ghana, I took a bilingual secretarial course, but the English was not very strong. When I arrived in Montréal, I decided to continue my education at Concordia University, which is a bilingual institution. I also took private classes to hone my English,” she says.

In Franklina’s view, knowledge of several languages is an undeniable asset in life. “My mother tongue is Twi, and I studied in English in Ghana and in French in Niger, where I also learned Djerma, one of the country’s native languages. I also speak Spanish. At home, I speak in French to my two girls, aged two and three,” she adds.

Socially, Franklina is currently active in the Franco-Torontonian community. “One of my former professors from Concordia, now based at Glendon College [York University’s bilingual campus] suggested that I enrol at Collège Boréal to improve my French and become perfectly bilingual. He said this would help me more easily access the labour market in Ontario. Once I finish my studies, I will seek employment in a bilingual environment, in the social work sector in Toronto.”

Madjiguène is originally from Dakar, the capital of Senegal. She is currently an international student in the French-language business administration and marketing program at Collège Boréal. “I have been in Toronto for one month. My mother tongue is Wolof, and French is my second language. I completed all my studies in French in Senegal—I am a Francophone. Even though I had a basic knowledge of English prior to arriving in Canada, I sometimes find it hard to understand English speakers here, when I ask for help with public transit routes or schedules, for example. I can speak some English, but understanding it is quite a challenge.”

However, even though Madjiguène feels comfortable in French and could have a career in French in the business sector back in her native country, she believes “English is a major international language and, since I’m hoping to work in business, I want to become bilingual [French/English]. I also want my future children to be bilingual. If I stayed in Canada, I would look for a job that requires both languages.”

The stories of the four newcomers interviewed in this article, for whom French is an intrinsic part of their identity, show that, even though they realize how important it is to know English, it is also important for them as residents of Ontario to preserve their Francophone heritage and French language. Language is clearly a major component of culture: preserving cultural identity has a direct impact on the promotion of the French language.

Credits

Credits: Annik Chalifour, L'Express de Toronto