If my first answer to the question “Why do you work as a consultant in the field of minority francophone education?” isn’t enough, I’ve got another.

It’s much more complex than the first one, but I can sum it up in three words: It’s a mission. The work I do as a consultant, with its roots deep in my involvement as a parent, has evolved into a personal mission for many reasons, including these two:

Individual benefits

One thing I’ve learned over the years is this: Kids who attend a francophone school in a minority setting can develop a much higher degree of bilingualism than students in English schools or French immersion programs.

Some francophone school boards have commissioned research that clearly shows this. If you know of any such study and are authorized to publish it, feel free to share it (including links) in the Forum.

 As I explain in Fusion, the bilingualism our kids can develop means more than just speaking two languages. It’s a way of understanding the world around them, of thinking, of acting and interacting with others. It enhances their ability to communicate effectively, which is invaluable in today’s increasingly global society — to say nothing of an asset when it comes to forging ties between English- and French-speaking regions of Canada.

And there’s much more: from the development of kids’ brains to the potential delay of cognitive problems later in life (as research is beginning to show), bilingualism truly is a lifelong gift. My kids have it, and I’ve dedicated myself to helping all parents who wish the same for their children.

Collective benefits

 When I first got involved in my kids’ school, I discovered that the Francophonie outside Quebec is one of Canada’s little-known gems. I’ve rarely met more dynamic people than francophones in minority communities from coast to coast to coast.

Although I’m not a francophone, I’d like to think that I’m part of the Canadian Francophonie too, as are all parents of kids who attend a francophone school. I thus have a role to play in its development, and I’m doing as much as I can — whether in French or in English!