QCGN concerned about vitality of English-speaking communities and Quebec as a whole

USA - English

• USA - English

MONTREAL, June 14, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) wrapped up its annual meeting Saturday after three days of discussing community vitality as well as how it can be measured and it can be improved.

"Those of us who gathered here in Montreal represent a Community of Communities in different regions and different sectors. Vitality can look very different from one of these to another," said QCGN President Dan Lamoureux, noting the QCGN members are concerned about the vitality of Quebec as a whole.

During today's Annual General Meeting members approved a new Statement of Principles that clearly spells out our support for the French-speaking majority and our respect for the French language. During debates and discussions it was noted that in order to ensure the vitality of Quebec's English-speaking communities, mutual respect is needed between the French-language majority and the English-language minority.

"Our respect for the French language is now a cornerstone of the QCGN's tenets," said Lamoureux, who was re-elected for a second two-year term. "While QCGN accepts French as the official language of Quebec, we remain adamant that coercive measures will neither promote nor protect the French language," he added.

"Clearly there is a marked concern with the erosion that has taken place over time of our institutions which include community groups, hospitals, schools, and places of worships, and anxiety for the future of remaining institutions serving our community," said QCGN Secretary Walter Duszara, who is the Chair of QCGN's Priority Setting Steering Committee (PSSC).  Duszara, who was also re-elected to a second term, said institutional vitality is one of six priorities set by the community in the Community Development Plan and that members and partners unanimously supported a plan to convene community partners to address a number of vitality issues – particularly those that affect the economic well-being of English-speaking Quebecers.

"Coming out of the work of the past year and the discussions of this convention, I believe the trio of tools that will determine our success are the Community Development Plan and the six priorities from our Community Priority Setting Conference in 2012; the Vitality Framework developed by the department of Canadian Heritage, as well as the QCGN Network's Strategic Plan," said QCGN Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge.  "This is the toolbox we need to collectively lead our Community of Communities to greater prosperity and vitality. "

During the Annual General Meeting on Saturday the Network bid adieu to Brian Garneau, who stepped aside after three years on QCGN's Board of Directors. The rest of our directors remain on board for another year. They include Vice-President Jim Shea, Treasurer Joe Rabinovitch and Directors Matthew Rosenberg, Anne McCracken Fitzpatrick, Cheryl Gosselin, Richard Tardif, Juan-Carlos Quintana, Clara Ann Labadie, and Lisa Montgomery.

The Quebec Community Groups Network (www.qcgn.ca) is a not-for-profit organization bringing together 41 English-language community organizations across Quebec. As a centre of evidence-based expertise and collective action it identifies, explores and addresses strategic issues affecting the development and vitality of the English-speaking community of Quebec and encourages dialogue and collaboration among its member organizations, individuals, community groups, institutions and leaders.

SOURCE: Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN)

Rita Legault, Director of Communications | [email protected], Telephone: [phone], ext. 223 | Cellular: 514-912-6555