Bilingualism as a reference point at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Department sent all its employees in designated bilingual regions a brochure entitled “A Practical Guide for Employees.” The brochure clearly outlines the rights and obligations in the areas of service to the public and language of work. It also includes guidelines on bilingual supervision adapted to the corporate structure.

Contact: Annick Ayotte, ayottea@agr.gc.ca  

Tools for supporting a conducive workplace at Statistics Canada 

• The monthly e-newsletter @StatCan includes a feature entitled “Bilingualism from A to Z” which provides practical tips and tricks for promoting bilingualism in the workplace.
• Dynamic and interactive workshop on language of work for all divisions in the Department to create an environment conducive to the use of both official languages.
• Employees have access via the Intranet to a bank of bilingual e-mails, which serve as models they can adapt to their needs and audience.
• Kit on bilingual meetings made available to meeting chairpersons and organizers to help them hold effective bilingual meetings. A video entitled “An unpleasant bilingual meeting - une réunion bilingue désagréable” has been created to show the pitfalls of a poorly conducted meeting. The video is shown as part of a workshop on language of work.

Contact: Gisèle Battison, gisele.battison@statcan.ca 

Bilingual work unit best practices at the Canadian Transportation Agency

Through this initiative, implemented under the Innovation Fund of the Official Languages Innovation Program, the Canadian Transportation Agency was able to develop a series of best practices used to determine whether a work unit could be considered bilingual. The following are some of the measures taken to achieve that objective: 

• Bilingual employees have signs at their work stations indicating that they can communicate in both English and French; 
• Most team and management meetings are held in both official languages; 
• A mentoring program was developed to help employees further their second language learning;
• A language teacher is available on site to help employees maintain their language skills. 

Contact: Sarah Barney, sarah.barney@cta-otc.gc.ca 

Canadian International Trade Tribunal employees happy to use both languages alternatively

One of the Tribunal’s sectors, Legal Services, has put in place a very popular practice regarding the use of official languages for work operations, staff meetings and dealings amongst employees whereby one language is used for one week and to the other language for the following week. Employees are particularly happy with this arrangement.

Contact : Julia Ginley, jginley@citt-tcce.gc.ca

Golden Rules of Chairing Bilingual Meetings Effectively at Transport Canada

Transport Canada has created a workshop on chairing meetings. The workshop gives you a strategic approach to optimize the contribution of the people attending your meeting and will make you feel in control when things run smoothly and objectives are met. As a chairperson, you will learn techniques to increase your confidence in chairing bilingual meetings, help you keep to meeting timelines, and achieve concrete results. Skilled chairpersons can play an important role in fostering teamwork; people will come to your meetings prepared to contribute in a positive and productive manner, in their preferred official language.

Transport Canada is pleased to offer you this PDF presentation for more details.

Chairing meetings (PDF)

Contact: Francine Charbonneau, charbof@tc.gc.ca

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) awareness campaign

In September 2003, the CRTC launched an official languages awareness campaign entitled Hello/Bonjour.

As a result of the creation of the Official Languages Committee, chaired by the champion, all Agency staff received posters sporting the logo, bookmarks and calendars.

What achievements have been made?

The Committee's first recommendation was to install a simultaneous translation booth in the Commission's main meeting room. Other projects are currently under consideration to promote bilingual meetings and the use of the official language of one's choice in verbal and written interactions.

Language obligations and the promotion of official languages are priorities for the Commission.

Contact: Jacques Pilote, jacques.pilote@crtc.gc.ca.

Health Canada Brochure for Employees and Managers in Unilingual Regions

Health Canada has developed, for its employees and managers in unilingual regions, a brochure detailing their official languages rights and obligations. It answers the questions that managers and employees might have on a variety of topics, including communications, supervision, staffing, training and development, and provides examples.

The brochure, entitled Official Languages in Unilingual Regions, is also available on Health Canada's human resources Intranet site.

Health Canada is proud to share its good practices with its partners.

Contact: Ginette Pelletier, ginette_pelletier@hc-sc.gc.ca

Health Canada brochure on Language-of-Work rights and obligations in designated bilingual regions

Health Canada has developed, for its employees and managers in designated bilingual regions, a brochure detailing their official languages rights and obligations. The brochure, in question and answer format, addresses various issues, including supervision, work tools, personal and central services, meetings and the role of senior management. It also explains what to do when an individual feels that his or her rights have been infringed upon.

The brochure, entitled Language of Work – It's Your Right! It's a Question of Respect! is also available on Health Canada's human resources Intranet site.

Health Canada is proud to share its good practices with its partners.

Contact: Ginette Pelletier, ginette_pelletier@hc-sc.gc.ca

At the National Research Council Canada, a research tool Like any other for bilingualism

In fulfilling its mission, the National Research Council Canada (NRC) invites citizens to come discover and innovate, two areas about which people tend to be equally passionate in French and in English. Thus, at the NRC, research and development had no difficulty overcoming the linguistic barriers. The NRC has made it one of its basic work principles. Its managers and supervisors use a guide describing specific objectives for language of work and, particularly, the means for achieving them.

Contact: Christiane Charron, christiane.charron@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Second Language: Showing our true colours at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

In this department, promoting the use of the second official language at work includes setting up a reference centre, providing brochures, books, newspapers, and posters in meeting rooms and using the intranet. The department's National Committee of Official Languages Champions is brimming with ideas: creating events for national bilingualism day, circulating word games, and handing out pins marking language training successes are just some of the ways used to promote pride in the use of official languages and to make them easier to learn.

Contact: Guylaine Durand, durandg@ainc-inac.gc.ca

Posters on language of work at Health Canada

Health Canada attaches considerable importance to creating an environment conducive to the effective use of both official languages. In the past year, the department adopted a proactive approach in putting forward a number of initiatives. Among other things, the department has installed laminated posters on language of work at strategic locations to encourage employees to speak the official language of their choice.

For more information by e-mail, please contact ginette_pelletier@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Linguistic duality: an asset for Veterans Affairs Canada

Linguistic duality is well entrenched in the life of the country and an intrinsic part of the diversity that makes up the cultural richness at Veterans Affairs Canada. A brochure on language of work, posters, and billboards on conducting meetings are all part of the arsenal used by employees to help them serve in one of the two official languages.

Contact: Hélène Hupé, hlhupe@vac-acc.gc.ca

Language of work: the legacy is alive and well at the Department of Canadian Heritage

A group of employees, in collaboration with departmental senior management, has developed an action plan on language of work. Guidelines and standards have been prepared to promote the use of official languages in verbal, written, and electronic communications. This plan contains ideas that will facilitate the lives of users, including documents, software, meetings, and even voice mail.

Learn more by visiting the site at http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/lo-ol/index-eng.cfm.

Contact: Chantal Bruyère, chantal_bruyere@pch.gc.ca