MANDATE : FRENCH EDUCATION DIVISION

Formed in 1999, the French Education Division received the mandate:

• to promote the French language and French-language education in Nunavut;

• to offer those eligible in Nunavut the support that will enable them to attain their educational objectives as provided for in Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;

• to support Nunavut schools that offer or would like to offer a French second language program;

• to offer a translation service in French to all divisions of the Nunavut Department of Education;

• to forge and develop relationships and partnerships with any other body dedicated directly or indirectly to the promotion of French-language education in Nunavut, Canada and the world.

History of the French First Language Program in Nunavut:

1982
Iqaluit’s francophone parents demand that the NWT Department of Education provide for the teaching of French. At that time, Nakasuk School was attended by about 23 students with French as a mother tongue.

1984-85
Dennis Patterson, Iqaluit MLA and Minister of Education, tables at the Yellowknife Legislative assembly a petition from Iqualuit’s francophone parents. In February of that year, a half-hour per day of French teaching is allowed.

1992-93
French as a first language is taught half-time at Nakasuk School.

1993-94
The Baffin Divisional School Board and the NWT Department of Education agree to establish a French first language program from first to sixth grade.

1994-95
The program extends henceforth from kindergarten to seventh grade.

1997
On November 16, 1997, at their respective general meeting, because of the creation of Nunavut and for efficiency purposes, the Comité de parents francophones d'Iqaluit and the Association francophone d'Iqaluit are dissolved. They would be succeeded by the Association des francophones du Nunavut (AFN). This new association would thus also speak on behalf of eligible parents.

1999 At the AFN’s annual general meeting, Nunavut Minister of Education James Arvaluk signs a memorandum of understanding for building a French primary language school in Iqaluit. Construction begins in summer 2000.

2001
The 38 students begin attending the school in December.

2002
Official inauguration of the school, named École des Trois-Soleils in reference to the parhelion phenomenon observed in the arctic winter sky.

2004
At the start of the school year in September, 48 students are registered from kindergarten to ninth grade.

Click HERE for Inuktitut version

Please contact us at:
bef@gov.nu.ca if you have any questions