GENERATION provincial youth forum

The GENERATION provincial youth forum brought together 100 youth from across the province. Read more about the forum here.

Where we are now

CBC and the Québec Community Groups Network (QCGN) partnered to create this web-portal for you in anticipation of the QCGN-hosted September 27th, 2008 GENERATION Provincial Youth Forum.

The portal contains stories about your regions and your communities, profiles of interesting young Quebecers, and most importantly, information on getting a job, starting your own business, maintaining your health and well-being, and getting an education – it`s all here. And much more.

The QCGN has been asking questions of young English-speakers all over Quebec this summer and have been hearing that 16 to 29 year olds feel disconnected and out of the loop. They have trouble accessing the information that they need, when they need it; they get the feeling they aren`t aware of all the opportunities out there. And they want to participate, and to connect – with each other, and with the rest of Quebec society.

Welcome to your web-portal.

The Big Picture: What it means to be an ‘Anglo’

By Stephanie Maynard & Margo McCaffrey

The face of Anglo Quebec is changing at an unprecedented rate and English-speaking youth find themselves at an exciting crossroads full of possibilities for the future of the English-speaking community: English-speaking youth today are more bilingual, from more ethno-cultural backgrounds and more ‘in tune’ with Quebec society than ever before.

Still, the term “Anglophone” can be problematic, because it brings to mind the notion of an English-speaking, Christian population of European descent. The increase in immigration from around the world in the last few decades has drastically changed the demographics of the English-speaking community, particularly in the urban centres of the province. Who, then, is an Anglo, and what does it mean to be an English-speaker in Quebec in the early part of the 21st Century?

Determining who is an Anglo is not as easy as in the past. Not only are there those who speak mostly English, there are bilingual families that speak both English and French, as well as those that speak a third language along with Canada’s two official languages, and these last two groups are on the rise. From the 2006 Census, Statistics Canada has compiled language data to present a portrait of English, French and bilingualism across the province: 7,435, 905 people were recorded in the survey and 744,430 people said that they spoke English most often at home, 6,027,735 spoke French and 52,325 spoke both official languages. So, about 10 per cent of Quebecers speak English most often at home.

English-speaking youth are currently facing a number of challenges that previous generations didn’t have to deal with to the same extent. The English-speaking communities of Quebec have amongst the highest proportion of seniors in North America, the result of so many English-speakers having left the province since the 1970’s. Although the trend has slowed, many youth still head to Ontario or out west to seek employment once they have finished school. And those who stay have a harder time finding a job than their Francophone counterparts, coupled with fewer resources to help them sort all these issues out.

The good news is that the politics of language, which have been a major concern for English-speakers, is now less of an issue. Although these concerns are by no means gone, they have taken a back seat to other issues such as access to health services, equal employment opportunities, and a falling birth rate. The language debate is still present, but the parameters have changed and for youth the issue of language is viewed through a new, more tolerant lens, with a focus on bilingualism and equal access to jobs and services.

Regional differences are also an important consideration for the English-speaking communities across the province. The changing demographics are a big issue for English-speakers living in Montreal, for example, while social isolation, youth migration for higher education and employment opportunities are major concerns for the rural areas of the province, such as the Gaspé and Eastern Townships.

Today, English-speaking youth are looking past language barriers and want to find solutions to become a community based not just on language but on what everyone has in common; a just, open and prosperous Quebec. Recent reports and sessions discussing these issues have yielded solutions for youth by youth. Work already carried out in various communities indicate the need and desire for youth to network and hash out problems and come up with solutions with other Quebec youth, both English- and French-speaking. As with the many other issues that have marked the history of Quebec, they will not be easy to resolve but the presence of dialogue is positive and proof that change is afoot.

It’s not only about being an Anglophone; it’s about being a part of the new Quebec, as English-speakers who have the desire to live in a dynamic province equipped with the knowledge that comes from new ideas and people, while valuing traditions and history. At this crossroad, we, as English-speaking youth, have a path before us where we can take charge of our futures to create opportunities, growth, collaboration, and exciting changes.

Stephanie Maynard is is 26 years old and previously worked as the Executive Director for Quebec 4H, a provincial youth organization. She still volunteers her time with Quebec 4H. She is now the office manager at Qu'Anglo Communications and Consulting

Margo McCaffrey is 22 years old and studies journalism at Concordia University. She is also involved with the Journalism Students Association and likes to contribute to her school newspaper. She is currently the communications coordinator at Qu'Anglo Communication and Consulting.

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