Francophone students from across Canada will converge at Airdrie’s École francophone d’Airdrie school for a two-day convention meant to emphasize human rights, poverty and other social issues – and help kickstart a mindset for life, according to assistant principal Céline Tassé.
“I would like to see them to be good adults that understand when you act alone, that makes a little difference, but when we act together, we have more power and more impact in our world,” she said.
The event, being held in conjunction with International Mother Language Day – a yearly United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) event held each February to promote cultural diversity and multilingualism – will run Feb. 18 and 19. École francophone has been UNESCO accredited since 2002.
According to Tassé, staff decided to host a convention after attending similar events in Winnipeg and Quebec.
“We met people and students that then they asked me, ‘Oh, that’s got to be in your little school. We would like to see (your school).’ That was (where) the idea (came from),” she said. “It’s crazy, but we’ll do it. We have a dream.”
Though staff only anticipate approximately 30 students travelling to Airdrie from New Brunswick, Quebec and Alberta, developing training sessions, presentations and preparing discussions revolving around UNESCO values has kept them busy. The school’s student leadership council will largely co-ordinate events spread over the two days.
“They will help me to show off our school and make sure everybody will be at the right place at the right time,” Tassé said. “They will be animated, they will be in charge of the conversations. No adults will be in charge of the conversation.”
Staying in line with UNESCO values, the event will be garbage-free. Students will also develop a “common activities calendar,” which will co-ordinate humanitarian and social efforts after the convention wraps up.
“We make our actions with that calendar,” Tassé said, noting that in previous years École francophone students have participated in events while raising money for the Airdrie Food Bank. “We share our actions and we do it together.”
In an effort to gear discussion around the environment, representatives from the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Center will also bring a special guest to visit with students on Feb. 19.
“They’ll bring a real wolf,” Tassé said. “They’re from Golden (British Columbia) and they speak about our forests. Wolves are really important for the ecosystem.”
Other events scheduled for the convention include a Spanish music performance, visits with local seniors and a variety of presentations in both French and English.
“This is about education. You need to act against poverty, (for) human rights and (for) action. That begins with education,” Tassé said. “That helps them to get a reflection on their own power.”
