Growing up in Belgium, I experienced the immense benefits of being immersed in multiple languages from a young age. About the size of Vancouver Island, Belgium embraces 3 official languages and a rich multicultural identity. Bilingualism was not just part of my education, it was part of my daily life, shaping the way I think and learn.

Now living in Canada, a proudly bilingual country, I see a crucial opportunity for our children, especially here in the Columbia Valley (SD6 – Rocky Mountain), to enjoy the same advantages through Early French Immersion (EFI) beginning in Kindergarten.

In the Columbia Valley (Rocky Mountain School District No. 6), many families want their children to have access to Early French Immersion, but no such program currently exists. Our district offers Late French Immersion in Golden starting in Grade 4, while students in the Columbia Valley have no equivalent pathway.

Yet the demand for French programs is already proven:

The Grade 6 Intensive French program at J.A. Laird Elementary  is so popular it uses a lottery system for only 28 spots each year.
Population growth in Invermere and surrounding communities shows increasing numbers of young children, highlighted by the new 148-space childcare centre freshly built at Eileen Madson Elementary.
Local initiatives such as Les Francofolies, a community-based French language program for children, show that many families are eager to introduce French at a young age.
Many new families relocating from Canmore and Calgary already have children in French Immersion and are seeking continuity here.
Introducing Early French Immersion beginning in Kindergarten or Grade 1 would provide equal access to high-quality language education, help retain families, and ensure our children benefit from the proven cognitive and cultural advantages of bilingual learning.

We are not asking for immediate large-scale funding, only that the SD6 Board of Education take the first step of conducting a feasibility study on creating an Early French Immersion hub in the Columbia Valley, following successful rural models such as SD20 (Kootenay-Columbia).

By introducing Early French Immersion in the Columbia Valley, SD6 would:

Build on the success of existing French programs like J.A. Laird’s Intensive French
Capture strong local demand for bilingual education
Strengthen academic and cultural opportunities for students
Align with SD6’s vision of inclusive, innovative, and future-ready learning
We respectfully call on the SD6 Board of Education, Trustees, and leadership team to explore the creation of an Early French Immersion hub in the Columbia Valley, beginning with Kindergarten or Grade 1 entry.

Please sign and share this petition to show your support for expanding French education opportunities in our community, so every child in the Columbia Valley can grow, learn, and thrive in both of Canada’s official languages.