THE LINGUISTIC DUALITY NETWORK
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Two languages = Twice as strong
Founded by French for the Future, Canadian Parents for French and the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue, the Linguistic Duality Network (LDN) brings together organizations that have linguistic duality at their core. It represents a strong and united voice that highlights the importance of learning and appreciating the culture of the other official language group in Canada. The Network is also focused on promoting the opportunities and connections between anglophone and francophone Canadians.
Background
While each of the LDN’s founding partners are mostly successful in working with the Federal Government to advance their individual mandates, a general lack of collaboration and support sometimes prevents them from achieving their larger goals and having a stronger impact on the lives of Canadians. This observation led the three organizations to agree to pool resources and create a unified voice for linguistic majority speakers who want to learn and fully appreciate the linguistic minority language and cultures in their respective regions, supporting opportunities to create stronger ties between English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians, and as a result, positively influence the increase of the number of bilingual Canadians in the next five years.
Shared ideals
The LDN’s founding partners share the following ideals:
- Linguistic duality is the foundation for social and cultural diversity in Canada.
- Linguistic duality a source of pride for Canadians and allows the implementation of meaningful initiatives within communities.
- The federal government has the responsibility of promoting linguistic duality across the country and granting financial support.
- Partner organizations have the responsibility of working with the federal government to promote Linguistic Duality.
Common goals
The LDN’s founding partners have the following goals in common:
- Broadened knowledge and deepened understanding of the value of official bilingualism
- Increased engagement and improved decision making in support of quality French language learning and cultural programs
- Better access to services in French for second language learners
- Deeper awareness, understanding and appreciation between the majority language and minority language communities
Flagship initiatives: Official Language Day
On September 8, 2022, on Official Languages Day, the Council of the Network of Official Languages Champions and the Canada School of Public Service, in partnership with the Linguistic Duality Network, of which French for the Future is a founding member, celebrated Canada's rich linguistic heritage. The event focused on the modernization of the Official Languages Act and the current linguistic dynamics in the country.
Watch the following video to see what our 2022 ambassadors have to say about the importance of official languages and bilingualism!
Founding partners
French for the Future, Canadian Parents for French, and the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue are the founding partners of the Linguistic Duality Network (LDN).
French for the Future is a non-profit organization that supports and motivates high school students toward bilingualism. French for the Future promotes Canada’s official bilingualism and the immediate and lifelong benefits of learning and communicating in French to students in grades 7 to 12 across Canada. French for the Future envisions a Canada in which all young people value our French heritage, appreciate Francophone cultures and endeavour to excel in the French language.
Canadian Parents for French
Canadian Parents for French is a nationwide, research-informed, volunteer organization that furthers bilingualism by promoting and creating opportunities to learn and use French for all those who call Canada home. CPF strives for a Canada where French- and English-speakers live together in mutual respect with an understanding and appreciation of each other’s language and culture and where linguistic duality forms an integral part of society.
The Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue
The Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue aims to support and promote dialogue between the different components of Canadian society. The Foundation was created in 2004 as a result of the need to promote dialogue between different communities following the publication of the report “Parlons-nous” in 2001 and the pan-Canadian tour of the Dialogue working group. Since its beginnings, the Dialogue Foundation has lead numerous projects that have as an objective to promote dialogue between communities across the country such as its annual project: “Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie”.