Success Stories 2007-2008

GO Transit
The Second Annual Ontario Francophonie Awards
Télévision française de l’Ontario (TFO) Becomes an Independent Entity
Carrières en justice
Forum on Linguistic Duality

GO Transit

GO Transit’s timetables, showing routes, schedules, and fares have been published in bilingual format since January, 2007. On June 30^th, 2008, GO Transit’s website became available in French.

GO Transit has upgraded its existing LCD signage to a bilingual format in GO’s Concourse and Bus Terminal at Union Station. These signs display train and bus schedule status and train/platform information for customers.GO Transit has also commenced the installation of bilingual directional signage throughout Union and Port Credit stations. These are pilot projects that will inform the approach that GO Transit will adopt in deploying signage across its network within the next few years.

In addition to offering all information relating to routes, schedules, and fares in both languages, GO Transit now provides customer service in French at the Customer Contact Center (1 888 438-6646) for its Francophone clientele.

The Second Annual Ontario
Francophonie Awards

On March 19, 2008, at a ceremony in Toronto hosted by Premier Dalton McGuinty, Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, announced that Robert-Guy Despatie and Chad Gaffield were the winners of Ontario Francophonie Awards 2008.

Created by the Government of Ontario in 2006, the Ontario Francophonie Awards honour individuals who have made a contribution to the province’s Francophone community by playing a key role in its development.

These awards are handed out every two years to Francophones and Francophiles who have been active participants in the political, social, and economic vitality of Ontario’s Francophone community.

TFO becomes an independent entity

On June 9, 2008, the Ontario Government passed Bill 55 wich officialy gives independence and budget autonomy to Ontario’s French-language television network, TFO.

TFO (TVOntario’s French-language network) had had a measure of independence, with its own board of directors since April 1, 2007.

TFO started broadcasting in 1987 and has become an active participant in the development and vitality of Ontario’s Francophone community, especially through its programming for French-language schools, which airs on television and over the Internet.

Carrières en justice

Launched in September 2007, Carrières en justice was designed to introduce young bilingual Canadians to exciting careers in law and in the justice system in order to address the shortage of qualified professionals in these fields. Under the aegis of the Association des juristes d’expression française (AJEFO), carrieresjustice.ca is intended for high school students. It provides them with an opportunity to explore different careers in justice through fun video clips.

Forum on Linguistic Duality

In March 2006, as part of the events marking the 20th anniversary of the French Language Services Act, the Ministry of Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services created a forum on community development and linguistic duality. This forum brought together over 300 participants and made it possible to make a number of recommendations.

These recommendations provided the foundation for the development of an action plan by the various ministries. In 2007, they reported on progress in the area of French-language services.