asja english who we are 2006
DESCRIPTION
Le Journal the Chamber of Commerce publication for the Francophone Community. Dianna Barton and Beth Kelly are recognized for their efforts in reviving Advantage Saint John AvantageTRANSCRIPT
Enterprise Carleton Region Business Growth Forum
Dianna BartonManager, Business Support
Enterprise Carleton Region Business Growth Forum
Major Issues:
- Absenteeism
- Competitive Wages
- Finding qualified people with low unemployment rate
- HR Planning
- Turnover
- Training
- Finding seasonal workers for the agriculture and forestry sector
Our Mission Notre MissionAvantage Saint John Advantage is dedicated to promoting and supporting the financial and cultural advantages of bilingualism in Saint John.
Our objective is to serve as a model of linguistic and economic cooperation.
Avantage Saint John Advantage se consacre à promouvoir et à appuyer les avantages financiers et culturels du bilinguisme à Saint-Jean.
Notre objectif est d’offrir un modèle de coopération sur les plans linguistique et économique.
Who We Are
A partnership between:– Association Régionale de la
Communauté francophone de Saint-Jean (ARCf)
– Enterprise Saint John– Saint John Board of Trade
Our Team• Aliant• Aquila• ARCf de Saint-Jean• Atlantic Health Sciences
Corporation• Canada Revenue Agency• Canadian Parents for
French• City of Saint John• Department of Training &
Employment Development• Dialogue New Brunswick• Enterprise Saint John
•Hospitality Saint John•Irving Oil Limited•Moosehead Breweries Ltd.•NBCC – Saint John•Royal Bank •Saint John Board of Trade•School District 6•School District 8•Scotiabank•UNBSJ Saint John College•Xerox
• Attract and retain People, Ideas and Investment (Saint John’s Course of Action)
• How can ASJA help? • By increasing our bilingual workforce:• To attract new companies with bilingual needs• To offer bilingual products and services to our
bilingual population• By building bridges between the francophone
and anglophone communities (Seadogs game)
How Can We Grow?
Growth of Saint John
Foster & sustain a bilingual business environment
Growth through new business & people relocating
Growth through education of our children in French
Vibrant Bilingual Community
Avantage Saint John Advantage
Our Bilingual Population
• 17, 045 bilingual people: 14% of total population
• 12% growth in past five years
• 6000 Francophones• 6% growth in past five years
• Much faster growth than total population(Statistics Canada, 2001
Census)
Our Francophone Community
• Joie de vivre!
• ARCf de Saint-Jean:– La Série RIDO– Le Saint-Jeannois – Brise de la Baie– Festival de la Baie Française– Célébrations 1604-2004
• École Samuel-de-Champlain
Demand for Bilingual Services• 6,000 area children are in French immersion
(Districts 6 & 8)
• Approximately 20% of tourists are Québécois (Fundy Coastal Drive Consumer Profile, NB Tourism & Parks)
• Our survey of local businesses shows:
– 84% of respondents have bilingual employees
– 69% require bilingual employees to use their skills at work sometimes, often or always
– 66% anticipate a need for additional bilingual employees in the next two years.
(Employer Bilingualism Survey, ASJA)
How ASJA Can Help
• Support the training, recruitment & retention of our growing bilingual workforce
• Retain our new comers by welcoming them and introducing them to our vibrant community
• Improve availability of bilingual services• Support the City of Saint John in its
transition to a bilingual organization• Communicate bilingualism’s benefits for all citizens – building bridges to bridge
the gaps
Our Successes
• Promotion of Saint John– Le Journal– Points de Vue– Commissioner of Official
Languages for NB
• Bilingualism Workshops– Best Practices Exchange– Business Etiquette
Workshop
Source: Le Journal des Chambres de commerce de l’Atlantique
More Successes
• Connections program• Parfum de francophonie• Luncher en français
More Successes
Directory of bilingual services available in the Greater Saint John Area
Heritage Canada now has the complete documented model of ASJA to offer to other Canadian cities.
Aidez moi à vous aider, new business education tool that makes implementing bilingual services much easier
8 new sustainability strategies:• Annual recognition Gala to reward
organisations and individuals who promote bilingualism
• Annual educational and promotional insert
• Launch of new business education tool• ASJA website to regroup translating,
interpretation and speakers bureau• Partnership with immigration board
8 sustainability strategies…• E-learning modules to learn or
perfect French language skills• Workshops and seminars tailor
made to business needs covering all aspects of bilingual services
• Connections program – cd rom version and launch across Canada
ASJA Needs Your Help Now
Past & Current Funding:• 2002-06: TED Staff Funding• 2003-05: Canadian Heritage Project Funding• 2003-2004: Intergovernmental affairs• 2004-2005: ACOA for LeBottin.org• Private donations
Future Funding:• For long-term impact, we need sustainable
fundingto implement our 8 long term strategies
Ask how you can support AJSA!
For more information, please contact us:
Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez contacter:
[email protected]èle C. Brideau or Patrick Sohy
506-648-4605