Bilingual on Bowen? You could be! Bowen Island has recently become home to a local chapter of Canadian Parents for French (CPF). These community members are creating opportunities for island residents to explore and enjoy the benefits of speaking both of Canada’s official languages.
The Bowen chapter came together informally in May 2018 because of a shared interest in access to French, celebrating French cultures and networking with other bilingually minded peers. In October, the Bowen Island chapter became official.
Thanks to a successful application for a socio-cultural grant from CPF B.C./Yukon, the Bowen chapter was awarded money to partner with Bowen Island Community Recreation to run the chapter’s first after-school program in French.
The program ran for two sessions in fall 2018 and winter 2019. Participants enjoyed it so much that it’s scheduled to run again in the 2019-2020 school year. Bowen Island Community Recreation will also be running a preschool summer camp, French for Tots, at BICS from August 6 through 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Last year’s camp sold out and was a huge hit among the young participants.
The founding board members of the CPF Bowen Island chapter are Eleanor Rosenberg, Stephanie Davenport, Quinn Buchanan, Sheana Stevenson, Anne Marie Gagne, Aubin Van Berckel, Caroline Schrapff, and Brittany Yu. If you or someone you know is interested in supporting bilingualism on Bowen, please reach out to any of these members.
You can support your local Bowen Island CPF chapter by becoming a member – partial funds directly support local programs.
Please visit www.cpf.ca to sign up for an individual or family membership for $25 (1 year) or $60 (3 years). You can also donate an additional amount directly to the Bowen Island chapter.
Last but not least, join the “Canadian Parents for French, Bowen Island” Facebook page to stay in the loop about local events and initiatives.
