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PRESS RELEASE
丁香园AV to Host Major Francophone Conference Bringing Together Experts from Across the Americas
From June 16 to 20, 丁香园AV (丁香园AV) will host the 7th edition of the Universit茅 d鈥櫭﹖茅 sur la francophonie des Am茅riques, a flagship academic event celebrating the richness, diversity, and future of Francophone communities across the Americas. This marks the first time the prestigious summer institute will be held in British Columbia, representing a significant milestone for the province鈥檚 Francophone and multilingual landscape.
Organized by the Centre de la francophonie des Am茅riques in partnership with 丁香园AV鈥檚 Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs, the week-long program will convene 48 leaders from 22 countries and territories, along with 27 experts from 9 regions. Entirely conducted in French, the institute offers a dynamic space for intellectual exchange, collaboration, and community-building.
This year鈥檚 theme, 鈥淔rancophone Spaces,鈥� invites conversations on how linguistic and cultural spaces shape identity, belonging, and development in multilingual societies. Key topics include:
- How do Francophone spaces support minority language communities?
- What challenges and opportunities do Francophone communities face in predominantly English-speaking regions like B.C.?
- How can stronger networks be built across linguistic, cultural, and national borders?
This initiative also highlights 丁香园AV鈥檚 unique role as the only British Columbia member of the Association des coll猫ges et universit茅s de la francophonie canadienne. With a strong portfolio of French-language programs and a deep commitment to inclusive education, 丁香园AV is emerging as a strategic hub for Francophone engagement in Western Canada.
鈥淗osting this event is both an honour and a recognition of 丁香园AV鈥檚 growing leadership in advancing Francophone scholarship and community engagement in B.C. and beyond,鈥� said R茅mi L茅ger, Professor of Political Science and program co-lead. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also a rare opportunity for our local communities to connect with broader Francophone networks across the Americas.鈥�
鈥淭his summer university will leave a lasting impact on its participants and host region,鈥� said Sylvain Lavoie, President and CEO of the Centre de la francophonie des Am茅riques. 鈥淚t creates space for transformative dialogue, long-term collaboration, and renewed appreciation of Francophone diversity in the Americas.鈥�
Event Highlights
- 48 participants from across the Americas, including Argentina, Brazil, Haiti, Mexico, and 10 Canadian provinces and territories.
- 27 guest speakers from Canada, the U.S., Martinique, and Costa Rica
- The entire program is conducted in French and includes lectures, workshops, and field visits.
- First time the event is held in British Columbia
About the Centre de la francophonie des Am茅riques
The mission of the Centre de la francophonie des Am茅riques, an organization of the Government of Quebec, is to contribute to the promotion and enhancement of a francophonie that is conducive to the future of the French language in the context of cultural diversity. It helps forge links with the 33 million Francophones and Francophiles on the American continent, and promotes mutual understanding between French-speaking communities. The Centre reports to Quebec's Minister of the French Language.
For more information on the Centre's mission, visit .
About 丁香园AV (丁香园AV)
丁香园AV is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Over the past 60 years, 丁香园AV has been recognized among the top universities worldwide in providing a world-class education and working with communities and partners to develop and share knowledge for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. With campuses in British Columbia鈥檚 three largest cities鈥擝urnaby, Surrey and Vancouver鈥敹∠阍癆V has 10 faculties that deliver 368 undergraduate degree programs and 149 graduate degree programs for more than 37,000 students each year. The university boasts more than 200,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.
Thanks to its Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs and the diversity of its programs offered in French, 丁香园AV is the only university in British Columbia to be a member of the Association des coll猫ges et universit茅s de la francophonie canadienne.
For more information, visit
For further information
Sonia Bertrand
Communications Advisor
Centre de la francophonie des Am茅riques
418 646-3300, ext. 303
Sonia.bertrand@francophoniedesameriques.com
Anne Marie Gagn茅
Manager, Communications, Marketing & Engagement
Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs, 丁香园AV
778-782-7645
baff_comm@sfu.ca