La Cité collégiale welcomes the provincial government’s initiative to facilitate access to education for Francophones
The Honourable Kathleen Wynne and Ms. Lise Bourgeois, President of La Cité collégiale
Ottawa, Monday May 13, 2013 – La Cité collégiale welcomes the announcement made by Ontario Premier, The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, assuring that Ontario students will qualify for the Ontario Distance Grant if they have to travel a distance of at least 80 kilometers to pursue full-time postsecondary studies in French.
During her visit to Ottawa earlier today, Premier Wynne made this important announcement that will help facilitate access to postsecondary education for students from remote communities wishing to study in French, no matter where they live in the province.
Ms. Lise Bourgeois, President of La Cité collégiale, salutes this decision. “For many years, La Cité collégiale has established access to postsecondary education as one of its priorities. It goes without saying that the introduction of such financial incentives eliminates some barriers and facilitates access to postsecondary studies,” said Ms. Lise Bourgeois.
“La Cité collégiale also believes that this announcement will help increase the number of students who are enrolling in French postsecondary institutions in Ontario. Sometimes the distance, combined with many other factors, can lead French-speaking students to enroll in an English institution located closer to home. Training more students in French will help build a stronger and more dynamic Francophone community,” Ms. Bourgeois added.
For today’s announcement, Premier Wynne was joined by Mr. Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Energy, Ms. Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, Mr. Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Labour, and Mr. Phil McNeely, MPP for Ottawa-Orleans.
La Cité collégiale is Ontario’s largest French-language college of applied arts and technology. In 2012-2013, more than 90 postsecondary programs are offered at La Cité collégiale, of which 60 are not offered in French anywhere else in Ontario.
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Contact :
Mona Fortier, MBA
Chief Director, Communications and Market Development
Acting President, Fondation de La Cité collégiale
La Cité collégiale
Telephone: 613 742-2493, ext. 2381
Cell: 613 818-9899
mforti@lacitec.on.ca
