At VIA Rail, we’re pretty serious about promoting and supporting the country’s two official languages. We were recently given a rating of “exemplary” for our On Train Entertainment system (available in both English and French, of course) from the Commissioner of Official Languages. Aside from the On Train system, we’ve got several other projects on the go.
In January, our internal survey about the use of the two official languages at VIA Rail was completed. Within our offices, big strides have been made to make sure every person can work comfortably in the language of their choice. As a corporation, every official document we create, internally and externally, is available in both English and French, including our advertisements, videos, press releases and reports. We are proud that since 2008, when our first official language survey was conducted, our performance has been steadily improving.
As part of our mandate to promote both official languages, we support many organizations and events that work with communities in linguistic minority – both French communities in English environments and vice versa. Some of the French communities we work with include the Fondation Franco-Ontarienne and the Association des francophones et francophiles du Nord-Ouest and the Théâtre du Cercle de Molière in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
This March, VIA Rail will be attending and supporting the Québec Community Groups Network’s (QCGN) Young Quebecers Leading the Way campaign. The QCGN is a non-profit organization linking over 40 English-language community organizations in Quebec. VIA will be the official transporter for travelling youth, and as the keynote speaker, I am thrilled to be launching the 2015 event.
The event itself is taking place at the Morrin Centre, whom we also support. The Morrin Centre is an English-speaking cultural center in the historical quarter of Québec City that provides rich, engaging programming to both the (minority) Anglophone and the Francophone communities. The most recent event, their “Literary Feast” had as its theme the Fathers of Confederation. Supporting the Morrin Centre and having an opportunity to talk about the 150th anniversary of Canada coming up in 2017… it was win-win for us.
But that’s not all! We’re taking this opportunity to “Become a Portal Ambassador”! The Government of Canada recently launched their Language Portal of Canada, a great website where you can take fun quizzes, check terminology and translations and gain access to a host of very useful writing tools. Check it out and spread the word: http://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/index-eng.php
Have your say through our Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as my personal Twitter account @VIARailPrez – in the language of your choice!
