Parents struggle to find French-language summer recreation spots for kids

Ottawa parents Vronic BezaireandStephen Cannwant their children tomaster French before learningEnglish, but it's not proving easy.

That desire means their kids, aged four and six,need chances toswim and play while speaking French, along with using the language at home and school.

But for the past three years, the family has struggled to find spots in swimming and other city-run recreational activities.

"We don't have as much choice in Frenchas people in English have," said Cann.

"The guide of activities in French is much more limited," addedBezaire, a Franco-Ontarianoriginally from Prescott-Russell, Ont."It's shorter, [with] fewer pages, fewer activities, longer distances to travel [and]fewer time slots."

As a result, they've had to drive up to 30minutes each wayto Orlans or Gatineau, Que., to findFrench-language activities for their children.

They've also had to make special requests for abilingual instructor and constantly adjust their schedules.

A persistent imbalance

As registration gets underway for summer recreation programs in Ottawa, French-language recreation opportunities are more limited than normal because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city will only offer outdoor swimming programs beginning the week of June 14. Indoor swimming can't resume until step three of the province's reopening plan, which is projected to begin in late July.

The only French program is at Bearbrook Pool in the Blackburn Hamlet neighborhood in Ottawa's east end, whileEnglish programs will be offered at seven pools in locations spread across the city.

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The imbalance extends to summer camps, with 73 summer camps being offered in English and nine in French.

Bezaireand Cann wonderwhether thisis attributable to a low enrolment rate or a lack of bilingual employees.

At a meeting of French-speaking citycouncillors last January, general manager for recreationDan Chenier said recruiting bilingual staff was a challenge.

In a statement, Chenier said the city needs a certain percentage of itssummer hires to have an "advanced level of French," and that so far, they were exceeding that target.

"The City of Ottawa recognizes that the two official languages have the same rights, statutes and privileges," Chenier said.

"The City is determined to provide services to residents in the official language of their choice and ensure that an appropriate number of bilingual employees work in each unit, particularly within recreation programs and services."

Lack of access a common complaint, advocate says

A lack of access to French recreational programs comes up often incomplaints tothe city's French-language services directorate, said Aj Besler, executive director of the Association of Francophone Communities of Ottawa.

"For the Francophone culture to continue to thrive, Francophiles need moments where they can live their 'francophonie,'" said Besler.

"Not just at workor doing homework or school things, but moments that are fun."

Besler said having to drive long distances is a barrier that could influence some families to choose English activities, and thatcould contribute to the loss of bothlanguage and culture.

The problem is exacerbatedby amajor demographic shiftin recent yearsthat's led French speakers to increasingly move to historically English-speaking neighbourhoods like Barrhaven, Stittsville and Kanata.

Stittsville Coun. Glen Gowersaid he sees thischange every day in his conversations with constituents.At the January meeting, he raised the issue of recruiting for recreational services, especially for communities in the west.

"I know the city does have some steps in place to hire more Francophone instructors and coaches and teachers and so on," said Gower."It's a shift we're going to continueto require as more and more Francophone families move into our communities."