Partner Perspectives: Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens

Last Friday, the OLIP interns had the opportunity to meet with Anne Lavoie, Directrice générale et secrétaire-trésorière, and Emile Maheu, cadre – relations gouvernementales et communautaires, from our Partner, the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO).    

Over the course of our discussion, we discussed the association’s origins in 1939, where it established itself as a union that brought together various professions in French-speaking Ontario. To date, AEFO is composed of 12,000 members across 333 elementary schools, 15 middle lodges, 110 high schools, and 16 other workplaces. A few sectors that were predominantly touched upon in our meeting include the education, mental health, and youth development fields. 

As we delved into the AEFO’s social and political activism, we gained valuable insights regarding the organization’s role in advocating for Franco-Ontarian educators, supporting French-language education, and advancing equity within Ontario’s education system. Ranging from the politics of regional schools to the coordination of curriculums, the conversation detailed the many steps that assure the success of Franco-Ontarian education. 

Our discussion also offered a deeper understanding of the challenges and priorities facing Franco-Ontarian communities, as well as the importance of collaboration between educators, unions, and policymakers. Altogether, we appreciated the opportunity to learn about the many topics of AEFO’s interest, from defending French-language education facilities to women’s leadership in Francophone communities. 

We would like to share our sincere thanks to Anne and Emile for taking the time to meet with us, and engaging our queries in such a rich and timely discussion!