History
1995
- John Ralston Saul and Lisa Balfour Bowen found French for the Future
1997
- First Local Annual Forum held in Toronto: 200 students from 8 high schools in the Toronto area
1999
- Second Local Annual Forum in Toronto: 215 students from 20 Toronto high schools
2000
- Local Annual Forums held in Toronto, Halifax, Vancouver, and Calgary: a total of 597 students from 60 high schools attend the forums
- Introduction of satellite broadcasting technology to link the forums
2001
- Local Annual Forums added in Fredericton and Winnipeg: a total of 1,040 students from 90 high schools attend the forums
- National Office is established in Toronto
2002
- 3 more Local Annual Forum cities are added: Whitehorse, Saskatoon, and St. John’s : more than 1,500 students from 141 schools attend the forums
- 500 additional students in more than 25 remotes sites are able to watch the live satellite broadcast of the local forums
2003
- The Horizon Project is introduced: students come to Montreal for several days of cultural events and excursions
- The Franco-Nord Youth Project is introduced: students from across the north gather in Whitehorse
- 3 more Local Annual Forums are added: Charlottetown, Montreal, and Sudbury : a total of 2,700 students from 184 schools in 12 cities participate in the forums (including live satellite feed participants)
2004
- 3 more Local Annual Forum sites are added: Edmonton, Kelowna, and Yellowknife
- Yellowknife hosts the second annual Franco-Nord Youth Forum
- The Horizon Project develops into the National Ambassador Youth Forum, held in Calgary and moderated by John Ralston Saul
2005
- 3 more Local Annual Forum sites are added: Iqaluit, Ottawa, and Regina
- Ottawa hosts the National Ambassador Youth Forum, broadcast live from Rideau Hall
- Iqaluit hosts the Franco-Nord Youth Forum
- The First National Essay Contest is launched. Theme: The advantages of being bilingual
2006
- Kelowna and London are added to the list of cities hosting Local Forums
- The National Ambassador Youth Forum is held in Fredericton
- The National Essay Contest theme : The responsibilities of living in a country with two official languages
2007
- Local Forums are held in Calgary, Fredericton, Halifax, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Regina, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg
- The National Ambassador Youth Forum is held in Toronto, on the Glendon campus of York University
- The National Essay Contest theme : Youth voter apathy
2008
- Local Annual Forums are held in 14 cities
- The National Ambassador Youth Forum is held in Toronto, on the Glendon campus
- The National Essay Contest theme : Ta Cause... Ta Chance!
2009
- Local Annual Forums are held in 14 cities.
- The National Ambassador Youth Forum takes place in St-Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- The National Essay Contest question is: In your opinion, is competition useful?
2010
- Local Annual Forums are held in 14 cities.
- The National Ambassador Youth Forum takes place in Halifax, Nova Scotia
John Ralston Saul and Lisa Balfour Bowen, 2001
Helen Coltrinari, John Ralston Saul and Lisa Balfour Bowen, 2009.
Photo credit: Annik Chalifour, L'Express de Toronto.