Université Sainte-Anne

A provincial forum on Francophone immigration is being held today at Université Sainte-Anne.

It marks the start of National Francophone Immigration Week.

Amy Paradis is with the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative and says with Nova Scotia’s aging population, immigration is more important than ever.

“Francophone immigration is equally important to ensure that our Francophone and Acadian communities in Nova Scotia continue to thrive as we progress in future years with smaller families and with the possibility of some folks moving away.”

The forum is being put on by the Francophone Immigration Network of Nova Scotia and the Municipality of Clare.

The event is celebrating newcomers to the region, taking stock of the Francophone community’s successes and the challenges ahead to welcoming more people.

Paradis says the federal government has set high expectations for immigration in the coming years.

“Francophone immigration plays a very big role in that,” says Paradis. “We see a very strong need for immigration within Nova Scotia and we want to show that you can immigrate here and live in French in the province.”

The forum kicks off with a welcome from the President of the Acadian Federation of Nova Scotia, followed by conferences and training to help better communities.

There’s also going to be speeches from MLA’s Jill Balser and Colton LeBlanc, as well as panels and lectures with many others.