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Support for French-speaking immigrants
in the London, Ontario region (Continued)

The third observation is that the education sector is identified as having the highest percentage of aging workforce in the London region, with 30% of its workforce aged over 55 years. Meanwhile, 28% of the French-speaking members of London's ethnocultural communities have teaching experience, and 83.4% hold a university degree. Education could prove to be an interesting sector for finding employment in the coming years, especially considering a 2012 survey report by the Ontario French Language Services Commissioner, which predicts an increase in the French-speaking population in Southwestern Ontario. In the same document, the Commissioner makes a series of recommendations to increase the availability of French-language postsecondary education programs in Ontario in the coming years to meet this growth. As part of our action plan, CHFESDI will:

  • Approach French-language and French immersion educational institutions in the London region to inform them of the skill potential of French-speaking individuals from London's ethnocultural communities and explore the development of an employment integration program in education.

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  • Collaborate with education partners to develop a mentorship/twinning program between French-speaking individuals from London's ethnocultural communities and participating educational institutions.

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  • Work with school boards (French/immersion) and the Ministry of Education of Ontario to organize workshops or information sessions on educational programs offered in Ontario (French language or French immersion) to help newcomers better understand the reality of the education labor market and facilitate their potential integration into this sector.

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The fourth observation, and certainly not the least, is that there are very few Francophones involved in business in the London area. In fact, the study conducted reports that only 6% of respondents are Francophones in business. All things considered, we do not know of many business centers that are for and run by Francophones in the region. There are only school boards, non-profit organizations, and ethnocultural associations. Building a partnership with government agencies and the municipality to offer entrepreneurship training to new Francophone immigrants in the London area is the main area of intervention that CHFESDI will highlight, in order to provide them with information and support in creating and/or acquiring businesses in the region.

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Overall, the Ontario government reveals that more than a third of the Francophone population in the province lives in central and southwestern Ontario. By 2020, more than half of the Francophone population of Ontario will reside in these regions. Given that the London area is at the very heart of southwestern Ontario, CHFESDI can contribute to ensuring that Francophones in the ethnocultural communities of London have access to opportunities and the full potential of the labor market, which is undergoing a transformation.

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There are many opportunities for Francophones in the ethnocultural communities of London, but they lack the support and guidance that CHFESDI guarantees. CHFESDI will undertake its actions according to the realities and in collaboration with all stakeholders who are committed to the efficient and effective economic integration of these immigrants, through targeted funding and effective, authentic partnerships.

Now more than ever, it is timely for CHFESDI to position itself as a partner of success for Francophones in the ethnocultural communities of London in terms of labor market integration, to increase their participation in the economy and their full professional development in the region they have chosen to build their future.

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