Culture pour tous is proud to present, in partnership with the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), the finalists and winners of the three categories of the Solange-Chalvin Award. Congratulations to the winning individuals and organizations!
The 2024 finalists and winners will be announced in the fall.
Winner in the category of Immigrants Who Learned French in Quebec
NIOVAR MARTINEZ
Niovar knew a bit of French and studied the language on his own, diligently using his dictionary to learn the vocabulary used for food and working in the kitchen, as well as for driving so that he could get his driver’s licence. He then registered for courses offered by a MIFI partner organization, the Centre du Nouvel-Envol of the Centre de services scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands. While learning French at the Centre, he received an award from the educational institution. In 2022, he completed the intermediate courses and achieved his goal of obtaining a job equal to his aspirations. The courses also helped him expand his circle of friends and become more proficient with administrative procedures.
Niovar lives in the Montérégie Region, works in a seniors’ residence and is fully integrated into Quebec, which he considers his second homeland.
Finalists in the category of Immigrants Who Learned French in Quebec
MESUT BIDEREK
In 2017, Mesut left Turkey to come to Quebec. Since he did not know French, he decided to take courses at the Centre Monseigneur Marcoux in Quebec City, then in Montreal at the Centre-Saint-Louis, a MIFI partner, where he completed intermediate-level French courses. At the same time, to achieve his career objective, he registered at the Service professionnel et gratuit d’aide aux immigrants, the Accueil Liaison pour Arrivants (ALPA) and the Centre Pauline-Julien. His objective was to become a teacher. He also did volunteer work with immigrants in social and educational projects.
Mesut now lives in the Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood in Montreal. He teaches a preparatory class for children of ages 9 to 11.
AHMED MANDOR
In 2018, Ahmed, a civil engineering professor in Egypt, emigrated to Quebec City with his spouse and their two babies. With a scholarship from Laval University, he began studying for a PhD degree in civil engineering. A very quick learner, Ahmed, who did not speak French, registered for French courses in order to integrate in Quebec and continue his education. His objective was to become an engineer. In 2022, he took courses offered by a MIFI partner, and like his spouse, achieved the advanced intermediate level in French.
Ahmed obtained his PhD degree, is now a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec and works as a bridge and bridge infrastructure engineer. He lives in Quebec City with his spouse and their four children.
Discover the 2023 finalists (French only)
Winner in the category of MIFI Employees Who Teach French to Immigrants
MARYAM MOVAFAGHI
Maryam has a career spanning more than 25 years of teaching French to her credit. A French literature teacher in Iran, she emigrated to Quebec in 1998. She then decided to pursue studies in education and the teaching of French as a second language at the Université de Montréal and at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).
Since completing her studies, she has been working at the Université de Montréal and at the MIFI. She also taught for four years in welcoming classes at the Centre de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys.
To promote the integration of immigrants, Maryam seeks to demonstrate to newcomers that a language is not just vocabulary, grammar and syntax. Language is above all a window for understanding the other community and its culture. She therefore emphasizes the relationship between language and culture in order to promote the integration of newcomers. She helps them gain confidence as well as develop a desire to participate in the social life of their new country.
Finalists in the category of MIFI Employees Who Teach French to Immigrants
FLORINA MIRELA DONCUT
In 2007, Florina-Mirela left Romania for Quebec without knowing a word of French. So, she took courses to learn the language at the Cégep Bois-de-Boulogne, a MIFI partner. She then went back to school to study in various fields and worked at the same time for a year as a marker at the Université de Montréal. Developing a passion for learning French, she decided to obtain her teaching certificate.
She began her teaching career in 2011 and has been working at the MIFI since 2019. As an avid Francophile, she shares her fondness for the French language and her immigrant experience with her students, encourages them to excel and provides guidance for their integration into Quebec society.
MARC PROVENCHER
Marc Provencher has been teaching French as a second language in Sherbrooke for 23 years. He chose a career in teaching in order to build bridges between cultures. Working at the Carrefour accès loisirs, a MIFI partner, his evening courses are a dynamic learning environment where his students are encouraged to participate.
He invites his students to do research into various aspects of Quebec history and encourages conversation to get everyone actively participating, thereby initiating open discussions in an atmosphere of goodwill. In doing so, he contributes to the linguistic, cultural and social development of the fortunate immigrants who come in contact with him.
Discover the finalists (French only)
Winner in the category of Organizations in French Language Learning Partnerships with the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration – Not-for-Profit Organizations
Carrefour accès loisirs
A longstanding MIFI partner, the Carrefour accès loisirs, located in Sherbrooke, takes in 1,600 adult students every year for French courses at all levels.
In addition to courses, the organization strives to create social links and promote the socio‑linguistic integration of immigrant families that have recently arrived in Quebec or do not speak French. It raises their awareness of healthy lifestyles, waste management, community activities and the impact they can have on their host society.
This past summer, the organization set up a welcoming day camp for children between the ages of 4 and 14 that provided them with a rudimentary French class in the morning and accompaniment in the afternoon within the regular day camp.
In doing so, the organization provides the children and their parents with support to learn French.
Finalists in the category of Organizations in French Language Learning Partnerships with the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration – Not-for-Profit Organizations
Centre d’appui aux communautés immigrantes in Bordeaux-Cartierville
A MIFI partner since 2002, the Centre d’appui aux communautés immigrantes (CACI) [immigrant and refugee assistance centre] in Bordeaux-Cartierville offers French courses every year to 5,000 students.
Since its founding in Montreal in 1993, the CACI has embraced an all-inclusive vision with its implementation of numerous innovative initiatives to promote French language learning by immigrants.
In particular, the organization set up the Écrivains publics project, which helps newcomers navigate their way through administrative procedures with government organizations. It also developed a digital game to help immigrants who are working learn vocabulary specific to their field of activity.
The CACI’s activities help to make everyone more autonomous so that they can build networks for themselves and integrate into Quebec society.
Service des Loisirs Bon-Pasteur
Established in 1951, the Service des Loisirs Bon-Pasteur has been a MIFI partner since 1989.
Located in Laval, the organization has launched numerous initiatives to support French language learning by immigrants. In particular, it organizes literacy training and discussion workshops. The organization participates in various educational programs and collaborates with the Centre de services scolaire de Laval on special projects, such as helping students in advanced courses find employment. Despite the challenges it has had to take on, the Service des Loisirs Bon-Pasteur continues to provide services for immigrants and encourages the integration of newcomers through its activites.
Discover the finalists (French only)
Winner in the category of Organizations in French Language Learning Partnerships with the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration – Educational Institutions
Université du Québec à Montréal
A MIFI partner since 1999, the Université du Québec à Montréal accepts 280 students for francization classes every semester.
Working with partners, the institution has set up three projects to help immigrants equip themselves to be successful in their integration process: (1) The La Trousse Culturelle theatre project, which enables participants to get involved in theatre, discover Montreal’s artistic scene and create the collective theatre presentation Bon voyage, which was performed before a public audience; (2) The À nous Montréal project, which encourages students to conduct interviews of prominent Montrealers, broadcast on the radio; and (3) The Ligue d’improvisation UQAM-MIFI promotes public speaking and communication culminating in a final performance before a public audience.
These initiatives help immigrants improve their language skills and integrate into the rich social and cultural life of Quebec and the Greater Montreal area.
Finalists in the category of Organizations in French Language Learning Partnerships with the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration – Educational Institutions
Centre Pauline-Julien
Established in 1998, the Centre Pauline-Julien promotes the integration of students through French language learning. The institution, located in the Côte-des-Neiges district in Montreal, takes in more than 3,200 adult students per year.
During the pandemic, the Centre set up a digital registration platform to offer hybrid courses to students. The institution is a place where students have all the educational and professional resources they need to meet their French language learning needs and discover Quebec society.
Every year, as part of the Semaine de la Francophonie, the Centre organizes activities highlighting the importance and benefits of learning French. For example, the students create advertising posters promoting the Francophonie and exhibit them in the Centre.
The team is also happy to welcome former students who come back to the Centre as teachers—a testimonial to the quality training they received.
Centre Yves-Thériault
For more than 30 years, the Centre Yves-Thériault, located in Montreal, takes in more than 3,500 immigrants every year. The institution offers French courses at several levels and organizes numerous integration activities. It sets up partnerships with organizations involved in health, culture and education, such as the linguistic twinning project where students are paired up with police technology or dental hygiene students at the Collège de Maisonneuve. This project is now an integral part of those two training programs so that the students can familiarize themselves with the needs of immigrants in order to better serve them.
One of the centre’s objectives is to provide support for immigrants in all areas of their lives so that they feel they are actively contributing to Quebec society and achieve the goals they set for themselves when they came to Quebec.
Discover the finalists (French only)