For immediate release, December 4, 2023

CANADIAN PARENTS FOR FRENCH-NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2023 PROVINCIAL AWARDS.
St. John’s, Newfoundland

Canadian Parents for French – Newfoundland and Labrador was honored to be at Government House on Thursday November 30th, in the presence of Her Honour, The Honourable Joan Marie J. Aylward, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, and His Honour, The Honourable Carl Thompson.

The organization was proud to present the 2023 Provincial Awards. The Provincial Awards were presented to the following recipients:

  • Volunteer of the Year: CPF Gander Team
    • Sara Rumley
    • Jessica Wheaton
    • Katie Thornhill
    • Joseph A.G Thorne
  • Student of the Year: Alex Fahey. Alex was away studying Aero Space Engineering at Carlton University. So, his mother received the award on his behalf, and his parents had him on a video call during the ceremony.
  • Teacher of the Year: Erin Murphy
  • Teacher Graduate of the Year: Mackenzie Keats
  • Administrator of the Year: Gillian Browne
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Valerie Pike

Each award recipient had family members and loved ones to celebrate their achievements. We were also proud to have the following stakeholders in attendance.

  • The Honourable Sarah Stoodley
    Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs,
    Attending on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • David A. Butt
    Program Specialist for French,
    Newfoundland & Labrador English School District.
  • Gillian Blackmore
    Program Specialist for French,
    Newfoundland & Labrador English School District.
  • Emanuela Mascarin
    Administrative Support – Language Programs
    Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Education

The Master of Ceremony was Walter Parsons, President of Canadian Parents for French, Newfoundland and Labrador. The following Board Members, Staff, and Supporters of CPF-NL were honoured to present the awards.

  • Lisa Brown Peters, Secretary of CPF-NL presented the Award for Volunteer of the Year to the CPF-Gander Team.
  • Paula Luby-Coughlan, Treasurer of CPF-NL presented the Award for Administrator of the Year to Gillian Browne.
  • Morgan Moakler Jessiman, Coordinator of Projects at CPF-NL, presented the Student of the Year Award to Alex Fahey’s Mother.
  • Pamela Gill, Board Member at Large, presented the Teacher Graduate of the Year Award to Mackenzie Keats
  • Laun Shoemaker, Vice President of CPF-NL presented the Teacher of the Year award to Erin Murphy.
  • David Butt, longtime volunteer with CPF and former recipient of the CPF Lifetime Achievement Award, passed the torch and presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Valerie Pike.

Canadian Parents for French is a nationwide, research-informed, volunteer organization that furthers bilingualism by promoting opportunities to learn and use French for all those who call Canada home. The recipients of the provincial awards exemplify our mission and vision of CPF. Thanks to their efforts we move closer to a Canada where French – and English – speakers live together in mutual respect with an understanding and appreciation of each other’s language and culture and where linguistic duality forms an integral part of society.

Following the Award Carmony, CPF-NL hosted the first Gala Franco Folie at the CLB Armoury. Many of the award recipients, their families, and stakeholders attending the provincial awards joined us for an evening of French music, dance, and good food. The following performers gave us a fantastic show…

  • Morgan Jessiman and Barbara Bardot hosted the Gala
  • Seraka Dance
  • Fashionista Jones
  • Liz Fagan
  • Honey Fury
  • Evan Watts Smith

Congratulations! We appreciate your hard work and inspiration to others! 

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Canadian Parents for French is a nationwide, research-informed, volunteer organization that furthers bilingualism by promoting opportunities to learn and use French for all those who call Canada home. The recipients of the provincial awards exemplify the mission and vision of CPF. Thanks to their efforts we move closer to a Canada where French – and English – speakers live together in mutual respect with an understanding and appreciation of each other’s language and culture and where linguistic duality forms an integral part of society.

Canadian Parents for French is the national network of volunteers which values French as an integral part of Canada and which is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French-second-language learning opportunities for young Canadians. There are currently more than 36,000 members across Canada.

Walter Parsons
President of Canadian Parents for French-Newfoundland and Labrador

For more information, please contact: 

William Henault, Manager of Projects and Development

Canadian Parents for French, Newfoundland & Labrador
Email: cdo@cpfnl.ca
Website: nl.cpf.ca

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