Podcasts
To promote the development, flourishing, and vitality of the Francophone community in Kingston and the Thousand Islands we’ve organized a series of discussions titled: “One City, Two Realities: Encounters Between Anglos and Francos 50 Years After the Official Languages Act.” Speakers were invited to each session, which were held in Canada’s official languages and focused on specific themes: politics, culture, health, family, etc.
The Kingston Frontenac Public Library, located in the historic downtown, hosted this series in an exceptional setting. During the COVID-19 pandemic, podcasts were recorded while adhering to physical distancing guidelines. This series is recommended for an audience with an understanding of both official languages, English and French.
Podcast #13: Francophone Youth
Young Francophones in Canada fight to preserve and especially live in their language. Whether they’re registered in a Francophone school, organizers of French activities, or bringing awareness to causes that affect young Canadians, young francophones are engaged and united in their language. 2 young francophones from very different experiences discuss how they arrived in Kingston, their daily lives, and their fight to preserve French in Ontario.
Podcast #12 : Access to Healthcare – Quality French Language Services
In the second part of our theme HealthCare Access, our discussion continues with Jeanine Proulx from the Réseau des services de santé en français de l’Est de l’Ontario, Dr. Kim Morrison from the Ontario Health Team, and Dr. Sophie Martel, a family doctor. These 3 healthcare experts answer several questions. What is quality French health care services? How can the community help demonstrate the importance of quality services in French?
Podcast #11: Access to HealthCare
Les jeunes francophones au Canada luttent pour préserver leur langue et surtout, pour vivre en français. Qu’ils soient inscrits dans une école francophone, organisateur d’activités ludiques en français, ou qu’ils fassent avancer les causes qui les touchent, les jeunes francophones sont engagés et solidaires dans leur langue ! 2 jeunes francophones de parcours très différents discutent de comment ils sont atterris à Kingston, leur quotidien et leur combat pour le futur de la francophonie en Ontario !
Podcast #10: Immigration - from Dream to Reality
In the second part of our discussion, Natália Martins alongside Sunita Gupta and Isabelle Tardiveau continue their conversation on immigration. After sharing their journeys and the impact it had on their perspective of Ontario, now they look at the city of Kingston and how integration with the community, diversity, and culture can have an impact on a newcomer.
Podcast #9: Immigration
Since the dawn of time, migration has always been a part of human nature. Travelling from one end of the planet to the other, humans are constantly searching for new adventures. For many immigrant newcomers who strive to create a new life in an unfamiliar reality, it can feel like work because integrating into a society in a new country can seem like an impossible goal. Yet, starting this journey can also be a wonderful occasion to explore new words and create a rich exchange in culture and new traditions. In this edition of ‘One City, Two Realities’, we talk Immigration with our Kingstonian guests, Natália Martins, Sunita Gupta, and Isabelle Tardiveau, who all have had a very different experience with one thing in common: they all chose to settle in Ontario.
Podcast #8: Mental Health Tool Box
Mental and Health are not just words. They represent the health of oneself, the health of the soul. In the second part of our podcast on mental health, we continue our discussion with Chantale Blanchette, trainer with the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Sherry Lachine, owner of social enterprise Broadmind. Julie Brisson, from adult learning centre La Route du Savoir animates an in-depth discussion about a passionate subject that touches us all.
Podcast #7: Mental Health
Mental health seems to be the buzz word of today to sell the latest products or trends. But what is mental health? Is mental health really that important? Is it ok not to be ok? During these uncertain times of physical distancing, three Kingstonians whom are all passionate about mental health talk the importance of taking care of our mental health. Sherry Lachine, owner of social enterprise Broadmind, Chantale Blanchette, trainer with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and Julie Brisson, an adult education teacher with La Route du Savoir, come together to shed light on this difficult subject.
Podcast #6: The Daily Llife of Francophone, Anglophone, and Multilingual Families
What are the challenges of being a language minority family in Kingston? What services are available to Francophone and Multilingual Families? How are these services lacking and impacting the daily lives of Francophone and Multilingual Families? How do Francophone and other non-English speaking families from French engage with the community that surrounds them? How does being a Canadian Armed Forces member or military spouse compound these impacts? Our panelists , Sylvain Morel , Kassondra Walters, and Laurence Simard-Gagnon whom all work closely with diverse families in Kingston will share their insight about daily life of families in Kingston.
Podcast #5: The Realities of Francophone and Anglophone Artists
Normand Dupont, Liam Karry, and Johanne Bénard share a passion for theatre. They have been for many years both practitioners and promoters of a vibrant and multicultural theatre that continues to enrich the city of Kingston.Their varied experiences, which, despite the difference in languages, intersect, will allow us to address the creative, educational and production aspects of theatre in Kingston and elsewhere.
Podcast #4: Linguistic Duality Among Seniors - The Lives of 3 Kingstonians
What are the challenges of aging in French in Kingston? Which services are offered to francophone seniors? How do seniors from the francophone community engage in a dialogue with the anglophone community and the various allophone communities? Three seniors from the francophone community: Jean Lord, Delorès Cléroux, et Marie-Noël St-Cyr with Johanne Bénard will share their personal experience and will invite the audience, in French or in English, to join them to talk about linguistic duality among seniors.
Podcast #3: Education - The choice of a Francophone, Immersion, or an English School
In theory, choosing a school should be obvious: anglophones in an anglophone language school and Francophones in a French language school. Yet, the situation is not so simple in a language minority situation like Kingston. Many factors influence parents’ decision. Catherine Lord, Sarah Lasko, and Éric Galarneau discuss teaching French in schools of the Kingston region. They will talk about the advantages and challenges of the different choices.
Podcast #2: Literature and Poetry
UA meeting between two writers who live in Kingston and whose literary careers intersect. What impact the language of writing or of publication does have on the writer’s work? Which literary or cultural communities are the Francophone and Anglophone writers reaching out? The conversation with Bianca Côté et Eric Fulsom intends to be a dialogue between writers who could discover that, in French or in English, they share the same experience. The two writers will also read excerpts from their work.
Podcast #1: The History of the Official Languages Act and Services Available in French
In this inaugural episode of the series ”One City, Two Realities”, Stéphanie Choinard and Kevin Brushett give us a history lesson around the adoption of the Official Languages Act including steps that led to the adoption of the French Language Services Act, contemporary debates regarding proposals for amending the Official Languages Act, what the different political parties are suggesting during the present election period, and an overview of recent events in both New Brunswick and Ontario with journalist for CBC/Radio Canada Frédéric Pépin.
