The "Expression of the Week" challenge invites PSC employees to provide the meaning of an expression in both official languages, rather than a word-for-word translation, each week. This fun, interactive activity allows PSC employees to test their knowledge of their second official language and learn new, sometimes comical, expressions.
The goal of the Linguistic Duality 2023 meme contest was to encourage employees to have a little fun with the ups and downs of learning, maintaining and using their second language at work by submitting memes and then voting for their colleagues' best memes. The Official Languages meme contest was a great opportunity to brighten up our employees' day!
This document brings together the legislative framework (and its hyperlinks!) surrounding ESDC’s official Languages activities in one single place. Furthermore, it demystifies the source, scope and precedence of the laws, policies and directives issued by the various authorities.
Members in our official languages teams use it to have a holistic view of the legislative information they need in order to, for example:
• make recommendations and give advices
• develop decks
• support ministerial accountability
This is an evolving tool, which means it can be tailored to the needs of users (e.g., development, modification of policies and directives). This is why the version presented here is not exhaustive, but rather meets a need focused on Part IV. Nevertheless, it is easily adaptable to illustrate any department’s legislative framework and meet everyone’s needs.
This official languages booklet is a one-stop shop to support management in encouraging and strengthening the use of both official languages in the workplace in order to foster and contribute to an inclusive environment for English-speaking and French-speaking employees. It is an interactive booklet that is comprised of a various tools including a pledge for senior management, a checklist for leaders, a fact sheet on supervision in unilingual regions and bilingual regions, and tips for holding inclusive bilingual meetings. It also contains quick links to the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages’ study on linguistic insecurity and a flip ready email that makes it easy to share some tools with employees.
As understanding the other official language contributes to creating and maintaining an inclusive and respectful workplace, Public Services and Procurement Canada has created a pronunciation toolkit to help employees discover some of the distinctive sounds of the English and French languages.
The Language Training Hub was created to promote tools on language training which are part of the work undertaken to establish a new Second Official Language Training Framework.
Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
Fostering linguistic security in the workplace can present challenges and opportunities. FINTRAC is sharing their journey and successes as a small separate agency in the high security organisation to promote a bilingual and inclusive workplace. The document outlines impactful policy elements that set the foundation for change, the key milestones for developing the internal FINTRAC Language School that drives bilingual capacity and various successful employee engagement initiatives.
Interpreting is a demanding and complex task that requires very precise technical conditions to be accomplished safely and efficiently. Use this helpful cheat sheet to keep in mind what you must do to help and protect interpreters when participating virtually in an interpreted meeting.
Today’s machine translation tools are fast and easy to use and can sometimes produce impressive results. However, they have drawbacks that should be kept in mind. The Translation Bureau offers some tips to help you determine when machine translation should be avoided.
This checklist summarizes the main principles and procedures of inclusive writing and presents various resources on the subject. Don't miss the corresponding workshop on Inclusive Writing Guidelines and Resources for the English Language taking place on February 9th.
The Official Languages Lens is part of Employment and Social Development Canada’s efforts to support the implementation of the Official Languages Act (OLA). It was developed to raise awareness about Part VII of the OLA’s specific requirements and to provide employees responsible for policies and programs with a tool to take its specific requirements into account in order for the Department to meet its legal obligations.
Clicking the link above will download all of the material that was developed for the PPSCs Official Languages Learning Bootcamp!
The PPSC greatly values language learning for their employees. In speaking with employees, supervisors and managers alike, we have heard the desire for more language training resources. With this in mind, we are hoping this boot camp will instill in you a passion for learning your second language and, equip you to succeed in your language learning endeavors while enabling you to take your learning into your own hands.
You will learn:
What every employee should know about their language learning journey
Practical tips for applying your language training to your own work
Tools, resources and methods for practicing your second language in your role at the PPSC and within the government as a whole
Facilitates decisions on staffing executive positions (EX-02 to EX-05 or equivalents) by considering the language requirements of the positions to be staffed.
Video Gallery
Take the lead and make official languages shine!
Canadian Heritage
Setting the Tone for Official Languages
Council of the Network of Official Languages Champions
Language training options for newcomers to Canada
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Language training in support of the Francophone integration pathway
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Rural Manitoba restaurant gets help re-inventing its business during the pandemic
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
Under section 41 of the Official Languages Act (OLA), the Government of Canada is committed to enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and supporting and assisting their development; and fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society. The OLA gives Canadian Heritage (PCH) the mandate to coordinate the implementation of these commitments in all federal institutions. To fulfill that mandate, PCH develops tools to help federal institutions optimize their contribution. The main objective of this tool is to provide examples of best practices that help foster the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society. These examples are meant to give institutions suggestions on linguistic duality best practices that could be incorporated in their respective mandates.
Official languages: a fun challenge! ESDC launched a friendly competition for senior managers to encourage linguistic duality and linguistic security in the workplace. The Bilingo Challenge was a two-month period of fun activities to promote the use and practice of both official languages. Branches and regions were invited to complete a single Bilingo card on which each of the nine boxes contained a theme related to official languages. At the end of the Bilingo challenge, branches and regions were asked to submit their participation report card with a brief description of the activities organized for each of the themes on the Bilingo card. A selection committee then reviewed the entries and named the winning branch/region that stood out the most for its creativity in implementing its activities and its participation rate. Bonus points were also awarded for promotional efforts, notably through the use of Bilingo Challenge backgrounds.
As part of the “Inclusion of official languages at the CRA, a benefit to all!” campaign, the Agency published an infographic on linguistic insecurity. This easy-to-understand infographic shares key findings for the CRA from the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages survey on linguistic security. In addition, it lists and provides examples of behaviours to ensure language security and summarizes how managers can leverage linguistic security as part of their character leadership.
To enhance the vitality of the Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs) in Canada and to support their development under Part VII of the Official Languages Act, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has adopted a global approach based on three pillars. An internal committee, chaired by the Official Languages Champion, supports the implementation of this integrated vision.
The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) has developed a Linguistic Profile Tool to help managers objectively determine the language requirements of positions to meet OL obligations. The tool aims to ensure that the linguistic identification of positions effectively reflects the duties of the position and meets the OL requirements related to the linguistic identification of a position, the staffing of bilingual positions, and the equal participation of English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians in federal institutions. The tool is designed to comply with official languages legislative requirements and the Treasury Board Secretariat policy and directives. The IRB Linguistic Profile Tool has been in practice at IRB since June 2021 and has proven to be practical and effective.
Every year, on Linguistic Duality Day, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat awards the Official Languages Award of Excellence to two of its employees, one whose first official language is French and one whose first official language is English, who have actively promoted the continued use of both official languages in their workplace.
This initiative aims to recognize employees at any level who actively promote the continued use of both official languages in their work environment.
As Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan’s) signature accelerated development program, PARDP provides a unique opportunity to develop the skills necessary to become a strong policy analyst. As future policy leaders, second official language training is a critical part of development for PARDP participants. Participants begin the program by establishing a Language Evaluation and Training Plan and are entitled to attend up to 192 hours of second language official training through the NRCan Language School (or external service providers). By the end of the second year of the program, participants are expected to achieve at least a BBB/BBB second official language profile. Beyond the (virtual) classroom, the PARDP Network, run by current PARDP participants and some alumni, regularly hosts fun and inclusive learning and social events, which offer additional opportunities to practice both official languages. These initiatives help participants become comfortable using both official languages throughout their workday - during meetings, in email correspondence, and when delivering presentations. Francophone representation is strong within PARDP cohorts, due in large part to concerted recruitment efforts. PARDP is committed to making a concrete contribution to fostering a strong bilingual public service.
The active offer of service at Public Services and Procurement Canada
Hello! Bonjour! Since April 2021, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has launched a course on the active offer of service. In this kit, you will find turn-key tools including their Intranet content on active offer of service, a video, a PowerPoint presentation, a background and key messages used to promote the course on active offer at PSPC.
This resource from the Canada Revenue Agency aims to provide a better understanding of official language rights and obligations, particularly in a virtual work environment.
Video Gallery
Watch videos on official languages.
Mauril - Free digital plateform to learn French and English
CBC/Radio-Canada
Official languages: are you the next Section 41 leader?, Improtéine
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