The British Columbia parents’ movement continues its momentum and redoubles its efforts year after year to keep the flame alive, demonstrating that when collective strength is used, the impact is clear! It was in this spirit that delegates from parents’ associations met for the 46th conference of the Fédération des parents de C.-B.
With community partners and members of the Francophone community in attendance, the opening evening was an opportunity to meet in person, to exchange ideas in a friendly setting, and to create new connections with some of the new board members of parents’ associations.
The annual conference is also the occasion where the Fédération des parents honours and celebrates the commitment and accomplishments of parent volunteers, awarding the Martine Galibois-Barss Award to the parents’ association that has particularly distinguished itself by its achievements over the past 12 months.
This year, l’Association de parents de l’école La Grande-ourse in Smithers received prestigious awards highlighting the remarkable leadership of its board, a visionary team that played a central role in the creation of its school. Guided by a collaborative spirit, these parent volunteers were able to mobilize the community around a unifying initiative and realize a long-standing project: to offer children in their region a modern Francophone learning environment that meets their needs. Through their vision, creativity, and inclusive spirit, the board members have created a true sense of pride! Their openness and tireless involvement have encouraged the commitment of other parent volunteers, ensuring a smooth transition with the newly elected team.
For several years, the Fédération des parents has emphasized the importance of supporting the continuum in education by developing projects aimed at providing Francophone child care services to families in British Columbia. This highlights the importance of supporting professionals in this field through various services and resources offered by le Phare C.-B. and the Francophone Child Care Resource and Referral (FCCRR) teams. With that in mind, each year during the conference, the Fédération des parents celebrates Francophone educators in BC by presenting the Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education in British Columbia to recognize their innovative teaching approaches, their commitment to families, and their contributions in the field of early childhood education.
This year, an exceptional educator, Jeny Radjou from la Prématernelle et garderie La Coccinelle, received the 2024-2025 Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education in British Columbia! She stands out because of her ability to create a warm and inclusive environment, her rich and varied programming that meets the needs of each child, and her child-centered educational approach that encourages autonomy, curiosity, and self-confidence.
