COMMISSION SCOLAIRE DE LANGUE FRANÇAISE
The CSLF hires first Director of communications and community and cultural affairs

The Commission scolaire de langue française (PEI's French-language school board) is pleased to announce the establishment of a Director of communications and community and cultural affairs, as well as the hiring of Daniel Bourgeois to that position effective January 29.

The Board established the new position to ensure its communications to the public, promote French-language education, collaborate with volunteer groups in the Acadian and Francophone community, and draft and assess its upcoming strategic plan. The Board's Chair, Émile Gallant, is proud of the initiative: The CSLF wants to be more present.' The CSLF appears to be the first minority-language school board in Canada to establish a senior management position to assume the community and cultural mandate awarded by the Supreme Court of Canada by virtue of Charter rights as specified in the landmark Arsenault-Cameron v. Prince Edward Islandcase in 2000. The CSLF and its six schools are the pillars of the Acadian and Francophone communities of PEI. We contribute to the personal and intellectual development of tomorrow's leaders, but we also contribute to their identity construction. Without schools, our communities will disappear.'

The Chair is also pleased with the hiring of Daniel Bourgeois as Director. "Mr. Bourgeois is well known in the Acadian and Francophone community. His dynamism, devotion, training and experience in communications, strategic planning and community development on PEI will contribute enormously and immediately to the success of the CSLF and its six schools."

Daniel Bourgeois is a former Executive Director of the Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin and La Belle-Alliance and worked for a number of years at the provincial Acadian and Francophone Affairs Secretariat. He was a member of the Boards of Jeunesse Acadienne, La Voix acadienne and the Carrefour de l'Isle-Saint-Jean. He has also contributed to the local Acadian theatre scene. Mr. Bourgeois holds a PhD in political science and a Master's in public administration.