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Maison de la francophonie d’Ottawa: "Nothing for them without them"
SERVICES OFFERED
The initial project was to bring together various services for the population, such as a doctor, a food bank, a daycare centre, a bookstore and a bank. Along the way, the need to offer a recreational and cultural environment, as well as personal and family support, became apparent. In addition to the services currently available, which include a bookstore, a daycare, a café bistro and an entertainment centre, the cooperative is working to invite existing community organizations (e.g., AFO, ACFO, Cité collégiale, School Boards, CÉSOC) to join the facility in order to offer a range of Francophone events and services. For example, community organizations such as Ami Jeunesse and the Club Centre Soleil, which did not previously have permanent premises, now work in the building and offer various services to the community.
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Within this array of services, the focus is on supporting the individual and the family in general with wellness, literacy and education, guidance and empowerment through the employability centre, among other things. To realize these objectives, the educational centres of the CEPEO, La Cité Collégiale, the University of Ottawa and the Université de l’Ontario Français are on site, as well as social services offered by the CÉSOC, Action interculturelle, Grandir Ensemble and OnYva.
There is also a training center for newcomers that supports their social integration. This learning center operates in collaboration with the Adult Education School Le Carrefour. French language instruction promotes better integration, but courses leading to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma are also offered.
Subject to the uncertainties of grants, the CMFO sometimes struggles to achieve its objectives. Hence its project of financial autonomy since the return of its staff and clientele to the office in February 2022.
An interview with Ronald Bisson
Ronald Bisson is the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Maison de la francophonie d'Ottawa. Originally from La Broquerie, Manitoba, he has lived in Ottawa since 1982. His entire career has been dedicated to community development, a cause that is close to his heart as he also devotes time to it as a volunteer, particularly in welcoming refugees.
For Ronald Bisson, if the Maison de la francophonie is a cooperative according to the Ontario Co-operative Corporations Act, because it was created as such and intended as such, so that each of its members embraces its goals and mission, whether they are corporate members or individual members. He reminds us that its guiding principle is: "Nothing for them without them": the Maison de la francophonie engages with the communities, it works with them so that a solution to their needs can be found collectively. The mission of this social enterprise is dedicated to the advancement of the francophone community in the west end of the city of Ottawa and more broadly throughout its territory. The particularity of this cooperative is that it has only one employee, Marcel Morin, as general manager. All other employees are attached to specific projects, mainly community projects.
But what distinguishes the Maison de la francophonie is the way it operates. Whenever a need of the Francophone community is identified, the question is: who could deliver this service in the community? La Maison, for example, is frequented by many retirees. Rather than create a new program for them, Retraite en Action was approached. They now offer a range of activities and services on site.
This operating model, by utilizing organizations that can provide quality services within its walls, allows it to provide a wide range of services as well as strengthening existing Francophone organizations, increasing their client base and avoiding splitting existing funds to provide similar services. The Conseil Économique et Social d'Ottawa Carleton (CÉSOC) is another example of a partner offering services in the Maison de la Francophonie: Francophone newcomers can be accompanied to ensure the success of their immigration project.
According to Ronald, La Maison strives to find a partner who can deliver services to the community on site and in French. If that's not possible, then La Maison positions itself to provide them. He explains that "donor resources are scarce, so you don't want to split them up. We don't set up a program that could compete with an existing program. We want to avoid weakening the Francophone movement at all costs."
Ronald Bisson, on the left, accompanied by candidates and community leaders’ at the event "Foire de rencontre des candidats et candidates", held by la Maison de la Francophonie.
A PLURAL FRANCOPHONIE
"At our house, it's the United Nations: the people who come to the Maison come from 72 different countries. It brings together the plural Francophonie in all its expressions. What brings us together is the Francophonie, and the interest we have in working together to make it stronger." This is also what leads the Maison to innovate. In early September 2022, instead of holding a traditional debate with the candidates of the City Hall of Ottawa, City Councillors, and Catholic and Public School Boards, the Maison de la francophonie organized a "meet and greet" event. Candidates were invited to sit at a table and talk one-on-one or in small groups with members of the public attending the event. They were also invited to come and share with others. What was heard that evening was not the classic political speeches, but rather exchanges on topics of particular interest to the participants. This in turn allowed the candidates to discover the Francophonie in all its diversity, an approach greatly appreciated by all.
For Ronald Bisson, partisanship has no place in the House, but he considers it essential to make the candidates aware of the Francophone issues expressed by those who live them and at the same time, to make them realize that their constituents are also Francophones. The fact that seventeen of them are participating in this event, including six at city hall, makes Ronald Bisson say that there is a consensus to recognize that "francophonie, is important".
