Justice in Official Languages - Newsletter
(No05 | June 2012)

Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund

With the help of the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund, Department of Justice Canada partners are developing activities specifically targeted at young people. Here are some examples:

Conte et justice

This project by the Association des juristes d’expression française de la Saskatchewan (AJEFS) is designed to inspire and nurture youth interest in justice-related careers. The first component consists of preparing a book and designing activities for Saskatchewan teachers, parents and Centres d’appui à la famille et à l’enfance, for children from preschool age to Grade 4. The second component of the project, aimed at teens, uses social media to provide information on careers in justice, on areas of law that are of special interest to youth, and access to justice in both official languages. The Conte et justice project follows in the wake of Michette visite le palais de justice, a book for preschool and primary school children. The book was favourably received by parents, teachers and the Fransaskois community, as well as in other provinces and territories, including Ontario.

Mentoring program for justice in French

This project is the result of an initiative by Fondation Acacia, an organization whose mandate is to promote access to opportunities for young Francophones in racial and ethnocultural minorities. The project includes activities for youths to raise awareness of careers in the area of justice, as well as a mentoring program. What makes this project innovative is the use of cybermentoring to educate Francophone immigrant students about the workings of the Canadian justice system and to stimulate their interest in justice-related careers.

Training initiative to improve access to justice in Alberta

Developed by Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta, this project encompasses several activities, including developing and organizing summer camps on bilingualism for bilingual high school students, and developing a three-credit university course on Canada’s justice system and justice-related careers. The purpose of the summer camps, developed in cooperation with the Association des juristes d’expression française de l'Alberta (AJEFA), is to raise awareness among young people about the importance of offering justice services in both official languages. The Newsletter will be publishing more on this project in an upcoming issue on career training.