From a dingy room in the train station to a cramped office at 脡cole Desrochers, Jasper鈥檚 chapter of l鈥橝ssociation canadienne-fran莽aise de l鈥橝lberta (ACFA) spent the last few years hopping from one temporary home to the next. 聽
However, the association鈥攚hich was created to boost French resources and protect Francophone culture鈥攚as finally able to move to its permanent home in June when the Jasper Library and Cultural Centre opened. And while a move just down the road might seem like an insignificant detail to some, Jasper鈥檚 ACFA regional director Genevi猫ve Arcand said the new location has already opened up new opportunities for the association and its board.聽
鈥淲e have a big to-do list, but before this new office we weren鈥檛 ready. Now we can move forward,鈥� Arcand said at the ACFA鈥檚 annual general meeting, Oct. 18. 鈥淪ince the ACFA moved into the new office we have more families coming in looking for French resources.鈥澛�
The move is also helping foster new community partnerships, said Arcand.聽
鈥淎ll the partners of the building are really welcoming and inclusive and different organizations want more French programing and more resources,鈥� she said. 聽鈥淪ince moving we feel so a part of the community鈥攆or us, that鈥檚 amazing.鈥� 聽
As the association moves forward, Arcand is hoping it will continue to expand, moving into Edson and Hinton.聽
鈥淏efore we start developing in Hinton we want to understand the wants and needs of that community. And eventually we want to do the same thing in Edson,鈥� Arcand said. 鈥淭his was the idea from the beginning, but now we鈥檙e ready to move forward. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not something that is going to happen in a year鈥攊t鈥檚 going to be a lot of work, but we鈥檙e ready.鈥� 聽
At the provincial level, Alberta鈥檚 Culture and Tourism Minister Ricardo Miranda announced the provincial government would start holding consultations with the Francophone community to help develop a French-language services policy.
He made the announcement at the ACFA鈥檚 90th anniversary celebration in Edmonton, Oct. 15.聽
Alberta鈥檚 francophone population has increased by more than 40 per cent since 1996, according to the 2011 census. Additionally, enrollment in francophone schools has increased by almost 200 per cent in Alberta.
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
