Provincial Advisory Committee (PAC)

Seeking new members

Alberta Education is seeking new members for the next 2-year term of the Official Languages in Education Programs Provincial Advisory Committee (OLEP PAC) to meet quarterly during negotiations of the Protocol for Agreements for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction between Canada and the provinces and territories, and bi-annually thereafter. The committee discusses and strategizes direction and leadership to ensure the vitality of francophone education and French second-language programming in Alberta.

The committee is comprised of proportional representation of members from diverse school authorities and geographical regions across Alberta.

The members that have served 2 years are replaced each year to stagger the end dates for the members of the 2-year period, ensuring a level of continuity and experience in representation on the committee. Alberta Education is seeking the following:

• one representative from a central school authority offering French immersion programming and/or French as a Second Language courses
• one representative from an independent or public charter school offering French immersion programming and/or French as a Second Language courses

Superintendents or designates representing any of the school authorities above who wish to sit on the OLEP PAC for 2 years (2024/25 and 2025/26) are asked to submit a letter indicating their interest in becoming a member of the committee by Friday, August 30, 2024 to [email protected]. Include the following information in your letter of interest:

• name
• title
• school authority
• statement of interest
• signature
• signature of superintendent (if the representative is designated by the superintendent)

The purpose of PAC

The Official Languages in Education Programs Provincial Advisory Committee (OLEP PAC) is a committee comprised of proportional representation of members from diverse geographical regions including:

• Francophone regional authorities and second-language school authorities
• rural and urban school authorities
• public and separate school authorities, and
• representatives from Alberta Education

The committee discusses and strategizes direction and leadership related to official languages in education programs to ensure the vitality of francophone education and French second-language programming in Alberta through:

• targeted funding;
• enriched program delivery; and
• collaborative action.

It is not a decision-making body.

2023/24 OLEP PAC members

Francophone representatives:

• Anne-Marie Boucher, Executive Director, Fédération des conseils scolaires francophone de l’Alberta (FCSFA)
• Dolorèse Nolette, Superintendent of Schools, Conseil scolaire Centre-Est

French second-language representatives:

• David Keohane, Executive Director, College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS)
• Diana Boisvert, Director French Language Resource Centre, Peace Wapiti School Division
• Martin Poirier, Education Director, Area 6 and Languages, Calgary School Division
• Dr. Sarah Fedoration, Manager of English as an Additional Language and Language Programs, Edmonton Catholic School Division
• Marie-Astrid Detharet, French Immersion Coordinator of Learning Services, Chinook's Edge School Division
• Dr. Buffy Michael, Superintendent/CEO, Tempo School

Representatives from Alberta Education:

• Heather von Hauff  (Chair) – Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Services and Governance
• Regena Wiseman (Secretariat) – Director, Intergovernmental Relations
• Zoe Cooper – Executive Director, Stakeholder Relations
• Rachelle Bruneau – Director, French Language Services
• Julie Marko – Manager, Official Languages in Education Programs 

PAC Terms of Reference

OLEP – Provincial Advisory Committee: Terms of Reference

Related

• French language education in Alberta
• Student population statistics
• Francophone heritage in Alberta
• Francophone Secretariat