September was the month of truth and reconciliation!

At Carrefour francophone, we are a big team, made up of different cultures, but we have a lot in common, not least our French language. During the month of September, 10 members of our educational staff began their Nature School training with the Canadian Nature and Children’s Alliance.

This was the first 100% francophone cohort in Ontario!

Collège Boréal’s Centre Louis Riel participated in the organization, offering their time and knowledge to educate and sensitize the team to Métis and First Nations culture and history.

September was the month of truth and reconciliation. The Carrefour francophone recognizes that the lands on which we live, play and explore with our children every day are the traditional lands of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek Nation and the Robinson Huron Treaty Territory. We honor the richness of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit people by raising their voices, for example, during this training, by inviting them to play music and introduce themselves to the children at the center, by encouraging our staff to be curious and ask questions, by setting up moments of sharing and exchange with the children, for example, using talking sticks or feathers.

Our warmest thanks go to Sharon Gauthier and Denis Lefebvre, Marc Hébert, Richard Meilleur “Rick” and Éric Dupuis, who spent the weekend with the team in training and shared their culture.

They deserve special praise for sharing with the team, in an open and authentic way, some of the breadth of teachings, values and history that make up aboriginal culture, and which are a treasure for all the territory’s inhabitants.

This training gives students the chance to discover and strengthen their connection to the land and native culture. It’s an outdoor apprenticeship designed to develop outdoor skills and pass them on to children.

J’ai eu tellement de plaisir à participer à la première session en forêt. J’aimais beaucoup l’expérience pratique (hands on). Écouter les histoires m’a vraiment ouvert les yeux, les oreilles et les pensées, non seulement sur la nature, mais aussi sur la vie des autochtones aussi. J’ai une nouvelle perception sur la nature et les explorations. J’ai hâte de continuer mon voyage dans cette formation.

– Lynda Jones EPEI du centre de la petite enfance de Boréal des tout-petits.

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I had so much fun taking part in the first session in the forest. I loved the hands-on experience. Listening to the stories really opened my eyes, ears and thoughts, not only about nature, but about native life too. I have a new perception of nature and exploration. I ca not wait to continue my journey in this training.

– Lynda Jones EPEI du centre de la petite enfance de Boréal des tout-petits.

The outdoor play team heads to Ottawa!

Céline Kerampran, CPE forêt project coordinator and outdoor education consultant, and Mathieu Lambert, outdoor education project officer, spent three days in Ottawa, attending conferences and workshops on the theme of outdoor play.

Over 200 delegates from across Canada attended. Among them, our team met with playground design professionals, directors of nature-based early childhood centers, and non-profit associations working in the field of accessibility. In short, it was an opportunity for members of the outdoor education team to share the CPE en forêt project and draw inspiration from our Canadian colleagues.

On the program: territory recognitions, a purification ceremony, keynote speeches, a film premiere, round tables, research presentations, hands-on workshops, storytelling sessions, interactive exhibits, awards ceremonies, and campfire discussions.

One of the highlights of the experience was the unveiling of the new Forest Explorers building, home to the Canadian Outdoor Play Centre, located in Wesley Clover Park.

The theme of the 2023 Summit was “Research, policy and practice – their intersections for the promotion of outdoor play”.

Participants discussed how research, policy and practice can promote and shape the future of outdoor play in Canada and abroad.

Conference and workshop topics enabled the team to enrich their knowledge and network. The outdoor play sector is a dynamic environment, with numerous projects providing children and families with access to nature-based programs.

The Carrefour francophone also had the opportunity to present the research project on early childhood centers in the forest.

Thanks to our partner Outdoor Play Canada for the invitation to participate!

 

Coming soon!

Keep your eyes peeled for family engagement matinees returning with fall surprises on Saturday, October 28 at Boréal des tout-petits and Saturday, November 4 at Scène des tout-petits.

We’ve got the perfect program for you!

The Carrefour francophone would like to say thank you

Our project partners: PLAYLearnThink, Collège Boréal, Centre Louis Riel; our research partners: Centre d’innovation sociale pour l’enfant et la famille and our funder: Employment and Social Development Canada.