TALQ of the town: Anglo-rights group QCGN rebrands

By
The Quebec Community Groups Network is becoming TALQ, a new name for an anglophone advocacy group that has grown more assertive in recent years and now wants to reach out to francophone Quebecers.
The old name 'doesn't reflect what we are today and where the community wants to go,' president Eva Ludvig told The Gazette last week as the organization prepared to announce its rebrand on Wednesday.
'We also realize how difficult it is for us to reach the majority here in Quebec — the francophone, monsieur et madame Tout-le-Monde.'
The new name 'dispels the 'us vs. them' perception,' she said. 'We celebrate the vibrancy of the English-speaking community in a profoundly French Quebec.'
TALQ (pronounced 'talk') is a standalone name and not an abbreviation, the organization says, though a tagline will also be used: 'Talking. Advocating. Living in Québec.'
The 'Q' at the end of TALQ is a nod to Quebec. The accent in the province's name — often omitted by English speakers — acknowledges Quebec's French identity.
The organization, which did not disclose the cost of the rebranding, is also replacing its orange logo with blue, a colour historically associated with Quebec.
The new name is 'English in origin, anchored in Quebec and proud of its bilingual spirit.'
Ludvig said the group will remain a strong voice for anglophones while seeking deeper engagement with the francophone majority. 'Talking is as much about being heard as it is about listening,' Ludvig said.
Trevor Ham, a consultant on the rebranding project, said the new name will help 'rejuvenate' the brand.
'QCGN is a mouthful, as is Quebec Community Groups Network,' he said.
TALQ is a 'conversation starter, it's bridging the gap, an outstretched hand,' Ham said.
'Conversation is something we all share. There's humanity behind conversation. You don't need to take up arms if you can sit down at a table and talk about things and have rational conversations.'
A federally funded nonprofit, the QCGN is celebrating its 30th anniversary. It was born in the wake of the October 1995 Quebec referendum.
Alliance Quebec, a prominent anglophone rights group, had fallen apart amid internal divisions. To fill the vacuum, several anglophone groups formed the QCGN.
It has long been a defender of anglophone rights. In 2014, for example, the organization warned that the Quebec Liberal government's health reform threatened access to English health services.
But its advocacy became more assertive after Premier François Legault came to power.
Before the 2018 election, Legault, a former Parti Québécois minister who promised not to hold a sovereignty referendum, wooed the anglophone community. Once he took power, many of his Coalition Avenir Québec's laws didn't sit well with English speakers.
From banning hijabs and other religious symbols among government employees (Bill 21), to abolishing school boards (Bill 40) and tightening language laws (Bill 96), anglophones felt ignored by the CAQ, Ludvig said.
That spurred the QCGN to take a harder line, aggressively denouncing CAQ government policies and defending anglophones' rights, school system and access to health and social services.
The more confrontational stance sparked internal turmoil, leading some groups and board members to quit the QCGN in 2019, complaining it was too Montreal-centric.
Ludvig, who became president in 2022, said before the CAQ came to power, Quebec was experiencing a period of 'linguistic peace.'. Since then, the Legault government has 'certainly made it more fragile.'
She said the organization has a duty to react to CAQ policies. At the same time, it 'tries to demonstrate that we are Quebecers who belong here, and that we are a community that is not apart.'
'We have our values, our history, but we share our history with the rest of Quebecers,' Ludvig said. 'It's often forgotten that together with other Quebecers, we've built this province, not only economically but culturally and in other ways.'
She said the anglo community has changed dramatically over 50 years, but myths remain entrenched, including tired clichés that portray the community as 'unilingual rich Westmounters.'
She wants to build bridges with francophones by emphasizing areas of agreement.
For example, on the CAQ government's new immigrant integration law, Ludvig said the QCGN shares concerns raised by former Parti Québécois ministers Louise Beaudoin and Louise Harel.
When the bill was introduced, the two ardent nationalists joined others arguing the law promotes an assimilationist approach by requiring immigrants to adhere to a 'common culture' and placing disproportionate responsibilities on them.
'We have common issues,' Ludvig said, 'but the focus seems to always be on how the community is different — that we're not part of Quebec, we're not real Quebecers — and that's not true.'
'That's where we want to go — (emphasizing) that we have a lot in common with all Quebecers. We need to focus on that rather than on differences or the divisions artificially created by politicians.'
The organization is also trying to engage individual Quebecers by opening membership to the general public.
About 150 individuals signed up, joining 48 organizational members, a list that includes Catholic Action Montreal, Gay and Grey Montreal, the Morrin Cultural Centre and YES Employment Services.
The Department of Canadian Heritage provides the QCGN's core funding — about $1.5 million annually. The federal support stems from the government's obligations under the Official Languages Act to language minority communities. Ottawa funds francophone groups in the rest of Canada.
About 1.3 million Quebecers — roughly 15 per cent of the population — speak English as their first official language, Statistics Canada says.
48 groups belong to QCGN
Forty-eight organizations are members of the QCGN:
Association of English Language Publishers of Quebec
Atwater Library
Avenues Montreal
Black Community Resource Centre
Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival
Canadian Parents for French
Catholic Action Montreal
Chez Doris
Coasters Association
La Fondation Place Coco
Contactivity Centre
DESTA Black Youth Network
English Parents' Committee Association of Quebec
English-Speaking Catholic Council
Family Resource Centre
Fondation Toldos Yakov Yosef
Gay and Grey Montreal
Hear Entendre Québec
Heritage Lower Saint Lawrence
Kabir Cultural Centre
LEARN Quebec
Literacy Quebec
Loyola High School
Morrin Cultural Centre
Phelps Helps
Project 10
Quebec 4-H Association
Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network
Quebec Association of Independent Schools
Quebec Board of Black Educators
Quebec Community Newspaper Association
Quebec Counselling Association
Quebec English-language Production Council
Quebec Farmers' Association
Quebec Federation of Home and School AssociationS
Quebec Music Educators Association
Queen Elizabeth Health Complex
Regional Association of West Quebecers
Repercussion Theatre
Saint Columba House
SEIZE
Seniors Action Quebec
South Shore Community Partners Network
The Concordian
Cote des Neiges Black Community Association
Townshippers Association
Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre
YES Employment Services

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Ottawa Citizen

2 hours ago

• Ottawa Citizen

Mault: New Ottawa French-language high school still faces challenges

The grass is freshly cut on the soccer fields, but nobody plays. No students are performing in the auditorium. The gym could play host to school tournaments, but alas, it sits empty. Article content This is the case of the Adult High School at 300 Rochester St., a purpose-built high school in Little Italy, with a capacity of 1,300 students. In fact, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is sitting on three similar school assets, all within a 5-km radius, with a combined enrollment of 56 per cent. Article content Article content Article content Last year, I wrote in the Ottawa Citizen about the urgent need for a French-language high school in central Ottawa. Since then, there's been encouraging news: the government of Ontario has committed $40.8 million to build a new French-language public high school, which is currently expected to be located at LeBreton Flats. Article content But that school is very unlikely to open this decade, and is certainly many years away because of site complexity and a myriad of decision-makers. For francophone families in Ottawa Centre, the need is immediate. Students within the system have been living with this crisis for years. Students entering public high school this fall cannot wait all these years. For them, the need is urgent. Article content Last year, when a grassroot coalition of parents ( proposed the Adult High School as a temporary location — because of the physical attributes and the under-utilization of this asset, we were basically told 'hands off' by an OCDSB school trustee. Article content Article content Article content Much has changed since our 2024 proposal. First, provincial funding has now been secured for a new French-language public high school in Ottawa Centre. Second, the OCDSB recently revealed that it has 17,000 empty seats in its schools and is facing a $20-million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 school year. To close the gap, the board considered major cuts: selling off surplus buildings, eliminating programs like gifted education and outdoor learning, and even charging families for busing to specialized programs. In fact, several reports confirmed that the Adult High School was being studied as a potential cost-saving measure. Article content The timing is serendipitous. The Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO), which delivers public French language education in Ottawa, is seeking a temporary solution to house students in Ottawa Centre while the long-awaited new school is being built. Leasing part of the Adult High School facility to CEPEO would allow today's francophone public high school students to stay in French-language education while generating valuable revenue for the OCDSB.

Japan Forward

8 hours ago

• Japan Forward

Immigration in Japan: So, You Want to Live Here?

このページを 日本語 で読む In Chitose, Hokkaido, Taki Kensetsu Kogyo is quietly reshaping what immigration can look like in Japan. Led by Yuichi Taki, the small construction firm employs workers from over ten countries and supports them with multilingual manuals and a practical, empathetic work culture. Taki believes that if Japan needs foreign labor, it must also create an environment where people can thrive. His company shows what's possible when both sides commit. Yet such examples remain rare. As Japan struggles to attract and retain foreign residents, the question remains: what's holding it back? This is exactly the question author and expert Fusako Yanase explores in part five of her series on immigration. In this installment, she examines the practical and social barriers facing immigrants in Japan, from language and licensing to education and long-term integration. Fifth in the series. Read the series Immigration in Japan Language remains one of the most significant barriers. In Japan, it's nearly impossible to find employment without Japanese proficiency, and most certification exams require it as well. Yet even after investing time and effort into learning the language, its utility beyond Japan can be minimal. A foreign friend of mine once joked, "I married a Japanese partner and learned the language to live with their family, but outside Japan, it's useless. Talk about a poor return on investment!" For someone who works entirely in English, it's natural to want to get started quickly using English rather than learn a local language from scratch. And even for non-native English speakers, if they're already used to the alphabet, countries that use it may feel more accessible and easier to adapt to. Is this barrier inevitable just because Japanese is the dominant language? Aspiring for jobs in Japan, Vietnamese students learn Japanese ( © Sankei) Not necessarily. Language barriers exist all over the world, but creative solutions can lower them. There are two main ways to lower Japan's language barrier: Increase support for Japanese language education for incoming foreigners and their families. Expand the number of workplaces in Japan where people can work in English (or other languages). Japan lacks both options. That is why it remains a less attractive destination for foreign workers. This isn't unique to Japan, but whether someone can utilize their career or qualifications from their home country can be a critical factor. Even those with advanced professional expertise often find that Japan is not a country where it's easy to qualify for their prior careers. For example, someone who is a doctor or nurse in their home country must pass Japan's national medical or nursing exam to practice. This is a common international challenge. However, a few countries have mutual recognition agreements for medical qualifications. Japan, though, has very few such agreements. Even experienced teachers with years in the classroom must obtain a Japanese teaching license to work in schools. Former business owners face similar hurdles. Without proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking Japanese, starting a business or securing financing can be a major challenge. Skilled professionals in fields like beauty or hairstyling also run into obstacles, as many national certification exams are conducted entirely in Japanese. For those who have fled their homeland to Japan, finding employment and achieving financial independence is an immediate priority. And for those planning to stay even temporarily, ensuring a supportive educational environment for their children becomes equally important. Japan provides free compulsory education. Children of refugee applicants working under a "Designated Activities – Work Permitted" visa are eligible to attend public kindergartens, nurseries, and elementary or junior high schools. In many cases, even those without legal status can enroll their children by applying directly to the educational institution. These services are funded by Japanese taxpayers. However, it's important to remember that foreign residents also contribute through taxes once they begin working. In recent years, despite problems in some areas, the idea of multicultural coexistence has gained broader acceptance. It has become increasingly rare for Japanese parents or students to view Japanese language instruction or supplemental support for foreign children as discriminatory. Many, in fact, now actively support and cooperate with these efforts. Foreign technical intern trainees have been working in caregiving in Japan. Hikone, Shiga Prefecture (©Sankei by Sarasa Shimizu) In urban daycare centers and schools, it is now entirely normal to see children from diverse backgrounds learning in Japanese, side by side with their Japanese peers. When people claim that "Japan accepts very few refugees," the focus is often limited to the small number of applicants who meet the officially recognized definition of refugee. This narrow view fuels the perception that "Japan rejects foreigners." And from there, the debate quickly turns to calls for reforming the immigration and refugee recognition system. While legal reforms are certainly worth discussing, a broader perspective reveals a deeper issue: Japan is increasingly not being chosen as a destination by refugees or by other would-be immigrants. Asking "Why isn't Japan being chosen?" prompts a closer look at the structural and social challenges that make life in Japan difficult for non-Japanese residents and those with foreign roots. What aspects of Japanese society are unwelcoming or inconvenient? What makes long-term settlement so difficult? Addressing these questions is essential — not only for supporting those who genuinely need protection, but also for helping Japan evolve into a more inclusive and multicultural society. A December 2, 2023, feature in Weekly Toyo Keizai titled "Foreign Workers Aren't Coming! Companies That Get Chosen, Companies That Are Abandoned" made the point starkly. Japan is no longer a "chosen country," and the day may soon come when foreign workers stop coming altogether. The next installment dives into this very topic. Japan was once a top destination for workers from emerging Asian nations, known for offering strong earning potential. But as of December 2023, South Korea had taken the lead, with Japan in second place and Taiwan rapidly closing in. Saddled with a weakened yen, Japan no longer held the same appeal it once did. Foreign residents serve as a mirror reflecting the strengths and weaknesses of Japanese society. Many of the challenges they face, whether in language education, skills training, or access to housing that accommodates religious and cultural needs, require more than policy tweaks. Real progress depends on sufficient government investment and broad support from the private sector. These are not issues that immigration reform alone can fix. So, how do you see it? Continues in Part Six: What Brings Refugees to a New Land? Author: Fusako Yanase In addition to being an expert on immigration, Yanase is a best-selling author and former Honorary Chair of the Certified NPO Association for Aid and Relief, Japan. このページを 日本語 で読む

Canada News.Net

14 hours ago

• Canada News.Net

AI-171 plane crash: 245 bodies handed over to families, 251 identified

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 22 (ANI): The DNA samples of 251 victims in the Air India plane crash have been identified, and the mortal remains of 245 victims have been handed over to the concerned families as of Sunday evening. Speaking to mediapersons, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Superintendent Rakesh Joshi said, 'DNA samples of 251 dead bodies of the plane crash have been matched. So far, a total of 245 bodies have been handed over to the families, while six families, who are from the UK, will receive the bodies of their relatives in the near future.' 'The 245 dead include 176 Indian citizens, 7 Portuguese, 49 British citizens, one Canadian and 12 non-passengers. Dr Rakesh Joshi gave details of the bodies handed over,' he added. On June 12, a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area of Gujarat's Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the passengers who died in the plane crash Two days ago, Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson reassured the public and employees that the airline's fleet--particularly its Boeing 787 aircraft--remains safe to operate following comprehensive checks and that the carrier is exercising maximum caution in the wake of the AI171 tragedy. In an official communication, Campbell said, 'Have our aircraft been deemed safe? Yes. We have completed the additional precautionary checks on our operating Boeing 787 fleet as requested by the DGCA, who have publicly declared that they meet required standards.' 'We have also, as a matter of abundant precaution, voluntarily decided to continue additional pre-flight checks for the time being. Where there is any doubt, we will not release aircraft - of any type - for service,' said the CEO. (ANI)