EDMONTON, MAY 27, 2020 – Two weeks after launching the Sauvons Saint-Jean / Save Saint-Jean campaign, the ACFA would like to share a new update with the community.
Over the past week, the ACFA has held and attended several meetings and continues to invest its efforts into moving this important issue forward. In particular, a meeting took place yesterday with the Minister of Advanced Education, Demetrios Nicolaides. During this meeting, the Minister reiterated the financial issues facing the province. However, he indicated that his team is still working on this issue and that he will provide us with an update in the coming weeks. He also encouraged the ACFA to pursue its efforts by inciting a conversation and mobilizing with the University of Alberta.
“I sincerely thank all the people who are joining the Save Saint-Jean campaign; support is increasing and we are taking note of all the reflections and solutions proposed. I also wish to thank Minister Nicolaides who demonstrates an openness to the issue at hand. However, it is becoming urgent that a solution be found because decisions for September 2020 will have to be taken in the coming weeks by the Campus Saint-Jean. I remain confident that we will get there because, as I mentioned to him, the Campus Saint- Jean is a success story, both for Alberta and for Canada. »
-Sheila Risbud, President of the ACFA
In addition, the Provincial ACFA Board of Directors is meeting in the coming days and will discuss the next actions to be implemented as part of this important file for Alberta’s Francophonie/French-speaking communities.
Since the beginning of the campaign, more than 840 citizens have now written to the Premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney, to the Minister of Advanced Education, Demetrios Nicolaides, to the Minister responsible for the Francophone Secretariat, Leela Aheer, to the Parliamentary Secretary for the Francophonie, Laila Goodridge, and to their local MLAs from 76 ridings. Citizens who wish to do so can send a letter to amplify this campaign using the template, available in French and English.
Several virtual town hall meetings were also held, in French and in English, allowing several citizens to express themselves on this issue and reflect on the future of the Campus Saint-Jean. The last meeting of this type will take place tomorrow at 7 p.m. It is still possible to register.
RESOURCES TO READ AND WATCH (in French):
- Le précieux legs des oblats pour défendre le Campus Saint-Jean, Le Franco, Goeffrey Gaye
- Pour Rachel Notley, le Campus Saint-Jean est « le socle de la francophonie en Alberta», Le Franco
- Rachel Notley se prononce sur #SauvonsSaintJean, Le Franco, Simon-Pierre Poulin
- Mélanie Joly se prononce sur #SauvonsSaintJean, Le Franco, Goeffrey Gaye
- Sheila Risbud, au cœur de la crise Franco-albertaine Onfr+, Sébastien Pierroz
- L’ACFA rencontrera bientôt le gouvernement à propos des finances du Campus Saint-Jean, Radio-Canada Ici-Alberta
- D’anciens étudiants du Campus Saint-Jean réfléchissent sur leur parcours, Lise Nepton and Martin Kreiner, Radio Canada- Ici Alberta (La Croisée), François Joly
- Les étudiants du Campus Saint-Jean sont inquiets, Onfr+, Benjamin Vachet
- Une lettre ouverte de deux professeures du Campus appuyée par 937 signatures, Le Franco
Since 1926, the ACFA has been the voice of the French-speaking community in Alberta. Its role is to promote the interests of the latter and ensure its overall development.
Diane Fournier, Public affairs assistant
d.fournier@acfa.ab.ca
