Mayor launches petition for historic language program's return to small Quebec town

In just over a week, more than 700 people have signed a petition asking for the return of Western University's French Immersion School to Trois-Pistoles, Que.

The remote town, located 250 kilometres from Quebec City, has been an ideal setting for anglophones wanting to learn French in an immersive setting for over 90 years.

But faced with a dwindling number of host families, the school announced last fall it was suspending the 2024 session and had put the program "under review" to assess the way forward.

The move was a surprise to people like Suzanne Lavoie, a resident of Trois-Pistoles who had hosted students for the past 20 years.

Lavoie's is one of the signatures on the petition, which hopes to help signal a sense of urgency to bring back the language program for the 2025 session.

"This school is very important for the community," she said. "I think that's very exceptional what we have here."

Lavoie, who has also worked as a teacher at the language school, says this program gave opportunities to people in town and also allowed her to share her culture.

She says the program's suspension is a "very big economic issue" and has had an impact on locals' jobs and even businesses like grocery stores, restaurants and bars in town.

Downtown Trois-Pistoles, Que., pictured last year. Locals say the immersion program had a positive effect on the town of 3,200. (François Gagnon/Radio-Canada)

Immersion program is 'in our blood,' says mayor

Mayor Philippe Guilbert formed a committee of residents and, at the end of February, launched the petition to mobilize support in the town of 3,200.

"We are worried," said Guilbert. "I hope we will be able to convince Western to keep that program alive in 2025."

"We really want to show how much [the] French immersion school in Trois-Pistoles is important … It's kind of in our blood."

Outside of the cancelled summer session in 2024, Guilbert says the only other time the school was forced to suspend activity was during the pandemic in 2020.

He's hoping the pause is temporary and not an indication that the program might be phased out completely.

"Any scenario can happen right now," said Guilbert. "We have to adapt."

Last year, only about 20 families raised their hands to become hosts. As a result, the number of students dropped from upward of 200 per summer session to just 160 students for the two immersion sessions.

Trois-Pistoles, Que., is located 250 kilometres northeast of Quebec City and is almost entirely French, making it an ideal place for anglophones to learn the language. (Samuel Ranger/Radio-Canada)

Demographic changes play a role, says mayor

Guilbert says that the shortage of host families started to become dire after the pandemic.

"The demographic changed a lot. A lot of families were aging," said Guilbert. "We are in a region that is one of the most aging in Quebec."

He says the pandemic brought with it health issues and concerns for some residents. Instead of hosting five to six students at a time, many residents can now only commit to two or three.

"[When] older families stop and retire, we have to find two, three or four families to fill that," said Guilbert. "It's a multi-factor situation."

Marie-France Santerre was a host for 23 years but decided that 2023 would be her last season. She says she tried to scale back last year because she found it was "too much work."

"I have nothing but good memories … But I'm starting to not be so young," said Santerre.

"I no longer had the desire to do it."

Marie-France Santerre, centre, pictured in a print photo from 2000 with some of the students she welcomed into her home. (Submitted by Marie-France Santerre)

The combination of demographic changes and inflation made it difficult to attract host families, said Kathy Asari, the director of the language program. The amount Ottawa kicks in for each student — just over $3,000 — is used by the university to compensate families and to cover all other expenses for the program. But it's not always enough.

Western says report will be submitted in spring

Since launching the petition, Mayor Guilbert says multiple residents have shown interest in becoming hosts. He says there will be a meeting between the town's families, committee members and Western at the end of March where they hope to get more answers from the university.

In an emailed statement, Western University did not comment on the petition in Trois-Pistoles, but said it is working with the residents to ensure an in-depth assessment of the program.

"We appreciate the impact this may have on prospective students, personnel, and the Trois-Pistoles community," read the statement.

The university says a report will be submitted to Western's provost for consideration in the spring.