For Fran莽ois Afane, Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie SA国际影视传媒� known in English as Francophonie Month SA国际影视传媒� is an opportunity to celebrate the French speakers of the NWT, and across Canada.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have francophone communities living with us in most of Canada,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e are a minority living with a majority, and we are included within the community.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 good to remember that and to celebrate that beautiful language and that culture as well. That culture comes with diversity, because you have [people] from Europe, from South America, from Africa, from Asia. You have people from all over Canada. That diversity within the same language is something that I strongly support.SA国际影视传媒�

Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie runs throughout March every year, but for Afane, improving the lives of francophones in the NWT and strengthening the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 French culture is a year-round activity.

Afane is the executive director of Conseil de d茅veloppement 茅conomique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (CDETNO), a Yellowknife-based organization that works with French speakers in the NWT in areas like employment, immigration, entrepreneurship, investment and tourism.

He has been with the organization since 2018.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think on a personal note, what gets me up and going, and what makes me show up for work every day is just the difference that we make in peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 lives, both within our communities and outside our communities,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e have an [impact] both territorially and nationally. CDETNO is the representative of the NWT at the national level, and we also have an impact supporting people who want to enter the labour force as employees, people who want to launch a business, and newcomers who are settling here with their families.

SA国际影视传媒淲e touch so many points. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 the difference we make in peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 life. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what gets me going SA国际影视传媒� me and my team.SA国际影视传媒�

The topic of Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie was broached during the Feb. 28 session of the legislative assembly by Caitlin Cleveland, the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 minister of Education, Culture and Employment, as well as Industry, Tourism and Investment.

SA国际影视传媒淭he difference in GNWT French language communications and services from 10 years ago to today is immense,SA国际影视传媒� Cleveland said, pointing to the creation of a Francophone Affairs Secretariat and the translation of 2.7 million words of government correspondence to French between 2022-2023 as examples of this progress.

Afane agrees that things are SA国际影视传媒渢rending positivelySA国际影视传媒� for French speakers in the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淚 would tend to agree with that, that things have improved SA国际影视传媒� although sometimes we have to fight for itSA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hings are, on a positive note, becoming more inclusive and more welcoming. The francophone community [in the NWT] is also growing, and we are very, very happy with that.

SA国际影视传媒淭o see that language grow within the community and to see the support that we receive as a community growing, itSA国际影视传媒檚 something that is always positive.SA国际影视传媒�

Still, Afane sees lots of room for improvement.

SA国际影视传媒淥f course, as a francophone, as a minority, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 always that struggle to make sure that we continue to grow and we donSA国际影视传媒檛 just disappear,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he nature of being a minority is that youSA国际影视传媒檙e always afraid that you can disappear, because what if the younger generation doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 follow through? What if they donSA国际影视传媒檛 pick up the language?SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淎m I optimistic? Yes. But am I also concerned? Yes. ISA国际影视传媒檓 a little concerned that it has to remain a constant fight to make sure that we maintain that francophone culture, and that it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 disappear in the coming years.SA国际影视传媒�

The number of NWT residents who are capable of having conversation in French, or who use French most often at work, recently reached an all-time high of nearly 4,400 people, according to the 2021 census.

In terms of the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 schools, there are more than 2,700 students enrolled in French second language programs this year.