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Jean Chretien, Former Prime Minister
of Canada
“For 30 years, Calgary French & International School has
played an important role in the personal and professional development
of students. It has offered invaluable educational challenges to
our nation’s young people, while at the same time providing
a stimulating social environment that has encouraged community interaction.
I know that this school’s history will serve as an inspiration
and guide to the generations still to come.”
Ralph Klein, Premier of Alberta
“In Alberta, more and more students are exploring an education
infused with language, fine arts, and cultural learning. I applaud
Calgary French & International School for your innovation and
continual pursuit of excellence. Your unique partnership with Southern
Alberta Institute of Technology is one example of your enhanced
efforts to provide new generations of students with the education
they desire, while creating new opportunities for future employment
in an increasingly global economy.
Multilingual schools like Calgary French & International School,
play an important role in extending the choices that are available
to students and their parents.”
Irene Lewis, President, SAIT
“SAIT has built its success on an 86-year tradition of partnership
– with business and industry, and with other schools –
and we are happy to be a partner of The Calgary French School.
Our relationship allows your young and enthusiastic students to
become a part of the SAIT community as they pursue studies and investigations
in multimedia, tobotics, culinary arts and avionics at our campus.
At eh same time, our partnership highlights the importance of technical
education as Alberta and Canada forge a path into the future.”
Bruce G. Waterman,
Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer Agrium
Inc.
“The advantage of exposure to other languages is not just
the enhancement in communication skills, it also enhances employees
international perspective and ability to operate effectively in
different cultural situations and therefore improves business capabilty
for Canadian based international companies…The availability
of affordable, accessible, quality bilingual or multi-bilingual
education creates a more supportive home base environment for Agrium
and other Calgary companies as they make the necessary evolution
from Canadian companies with international operations to truly international
ones.”
E.F.H. Roberts,
Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Petro-Canada
“We found Calgary French & International School to be
an institution that provided a high quality education in an affordable
way…Calgary is the head office location for many corporations
that have international operations. This globalization of our economy
is very important to Calgary and Alberta. I believe having access
to bilingual or multilingual education in Calgary is consistent
with this expansion and also enhances its reputation internationally.”
Marvin Romanow,
Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Canadian Occidental
Petroleum Ltd.
“We believe the development of schools with multilingual capability
in the Calgary area is important for several reasons, including:
- Students who are exposed to several languages develop better
cultural awareness. Language and cultural skills are important as
we recruit new employees
- People from many countries are increasingly relocating to Calgary
- Many of our Canadian employees undertake foreign language training
in advance of international assignments
- We routinely relocate employees to Calgary from international
locations. Adult English language training, as well as native language
training, is important to many of these employees.”
Marcel J. Tremblay
– CEO, Overlord Financial and former President and CEO, the
Enerplus Group
“The multi-lingual students will end up being the leaders
of their communities because of their ability to understand more
than one culture.”
Jan M. Alston,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Purcell Energy Ltd.
“I am very pleased with the quality of education provided
by Calgary French & International School. Independent French
Immersion schools provide diversity to the culture of The City of
Calgary and, at the same time, enable our children to become fluent
in both of Canada’s official languages. Calgary French &
International School deserves and receives the support of the business
and professional community in Calgary.”
Pierre-Yves Mocquais,
Ph.D, Dean, Faculty of Humanities, University of Calgary
“In a report on “Enhancing Second Language Learning”
recently prepared by the University of Calgary for the Government
of Alberta, it is written that the Language Research Centre, founded
on the experience and the significant scholarly results of the Alberta
Language Learning Environment (ALLE) project, “was created
to strengthen and coordinate research in the area of second language…with
a vision to become Canada’s foremost Research Centre for the
understanding and enhancement of second language learning.”
Collaborating with The Calgary French School aligns with this vision.
The activities of the Language Research Centre include studies and
projects with others in the Calgary area and beyond which would
be closely in line with the principles of the LRC. But we are delighted
at the idea that collaboration with The Calgary French School would
coincide with this new and exciting phase of research in second
language and associated cultural issues at the University of Calgary
and that we could be associated in a number of projects of mutual
interest.”
Ann E. Calvert,
Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Calgary
“The vision that the Calgary French & International School
holds for future educational development in Calgary is a strong
and innovative one. I am especially impressed by the strong cultural
focus of the plans, and of course I have always been very pleased
with the emphasis on the arts that the school represents.”
Peter J. Bridge,
Ph.D., FCCMG, FACMG, Director, Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory,
Associate Professor, Medical Genetics, Associate Professor, Pathology
and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary
“I am aware of the consistent track record of academic excellence
at the Calgary French & International School. There are high
expectations for discipline, and respect for self, others and the
community are firmly emphasized. These instill critical life-skills
for young citizens entering the workforce.”
R. M. Redgate,
Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Services,Talisman
Energy Inc.
“Increasingly Talisman, and other Canadian companies in various
industries, require people that have a well-rounded education including
exposure to and an understanding of other languages. Such an exposure
in our education system gives students a broader perspective on
other cultures and lifestyles. It allows these individuals to take
on broader roles in companies such as Talisman. Bilingual or multilingual
staff are extremely useful in our foreign locations, in dealing
with our foreign partners and in portraying the image of Talisman
as a truly international organization.”
Joe Moreau, Former
Chief Operating Officer, Tecskor Software Inc.
“Calgary French & International School, as an institution
that cares about a high quality, accessible French education, provides
an outstanding program through dedicated leadership, solid education
and management process, and an excellent faculty. From its roots
in delivering education prior to Official Bilingualism, to its future
of expanding the education to Grade 12 and to the adult community,
the Calgary French & International School provides our community
with well-educated, responsible students who will ultimately contribute
significantly to our Calgary and Canadian societies.”
Gail E. Graham,
MSc, MD, FRCPC, FCCMG, Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
“The promotion of bilingualism serves not only the students,
who will be better equipped to take advantage of future opportunities
in both official languages, but also the country. Children who are
immersed in a second language learn to understand and respect another
culture. Ultimately I think this contributes to Canadian unity and
benefits us all.”
Mary Graham O’Brien,
PH.D., Assistant Professor of German
“Working with the Calgary French & International School
has been a pleasure from the outset. I was initially impressed by
the initiative taken by the School in approaching us to perform
this collaborative research. The involvement of parents was commendable,
and the cooperation of the teachers was outstanding. CFIS appointed
one teacher to assist in the study. Not only did this provide me
with extra support, but it also gave her the chance to gain research
experience. In October, this teacher and I will attend an international
conference on bilingualism at which we will present the results
of the study together.
I am quite certain that our partnership will continue both in terms
of professional development opportunities for the teachers and also
in terms of future research projects investigating and disseminating
best teacher practices.”
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