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Governance
CPF National Board of Directors 2010-11
CPF National is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Each Director serves a mandate of either one or two years, with half of the Board being elected for a single year.
Lisa Marie Perkins
President
Lisa Marie is in her second year as President of Canadian Parents for French and takes great pride in being elected as the president of such a strong member-driven organization full of dedicated individuals, families, teachers, supporters, partners and all those who came before. As someone who benefited personally from this organization’s early advocacy efforts by studying in a bilingual environment, she is thrilled to be able to give back and pay it forward—this is the stuff of sustainability.
Her home is in the beautiful city of Red Deer, Alberta where she resides with her teenage son Alexander who follows in the French immersion tradition. Lisa Marie has degrees in Political Science, History, and French from Simon Fraser University and a Master's Degree in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University. She currently works for The City of Red Deer as a Corporate Strategist in the Office of the Mayor and City Manager. Lisa Marie also works with other community organizations in facilitating strategic planning and learning sessions.
She looks forward to the next year and encourages everyone to recommit themselves to the possibility of a Canada where both language groups live together in mutual respect, and where all people can be proud of a country that is officially bilingual. It is her hope that she can stand for a new generation of CPF: one that has been here through decades of successful campaigning and is now taking its place as a national leader.
Jordan Wright
Vice-President
Jordan Wright, a self-described "CPF lifer," has been involved with the organization since his days in preschool over 25 years ago. Since then, Jordan's involvement with CPF has stayed strong despite changing over the years. Moving from camp participant to camp counsellor, and from Concours d’art oratoire winner to Regional Concours Chair, are examples of how Jordan has experienced CPF from many different perspectives.
After completing the early French immersion program and being selected for CPF Newfoundland and Labrador's Inaugural French Immersion Student of the Year (2001), Jordan continued his French studies at Memorial University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts with a major in French in 2005. From there, Jordan pursued his Master's degree in Business Administration and graduated in 2008, while also completing French courses at the graduate level from Université Laval to further hone and test his FSL skills. He has also been a contributing author to various conference presentations and textbooks, primarily in the field of marketing.
Jordan began his work life with a replacement position as a bilingual Information Officer with The Canada-Newfoundland & Labrador Business Service Centre in 2008, and then became Manager of Programs at the Gardiner Centre, Memorial University's Faculty of Business Administration's outreach unit. Recently he moved to the Department of Human Resources, Labor and Employment, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, as a Program and Policy Development Specialist. Through his considerable community involvement he has contributed greatly to the long term direction of the MUN Ballroom and Latin Dance Club, Gower Street United Church, Les Jeux de la Francophonie and Play On Canada. Sports, such as hockey, soccer and badminton remain his passion.
Jordan is also passionate about FSL learning and has seen the benefits of a bilingual education firsthand. He is committed to working with young people, where he has experience working as a French tutor, sports coach and representative with the Shad Valley International Program. Over his CPF career, at the chapter level, Jordan has held posts as Chapter Treasurer and Concours Chair, and he has helped oversee summer students and participated in fundraising activities. At the Branch level he occupied roles of Secretary and Youth Representative and was a member of the By-Laws, Nominations, Concours and Personnel Selection Committees. At the National level, he has been involved with Concours and served as a member of the Nominations Committee. In 2011 he became chair of the Nominations Committee and a member of the Executive Director Search Committee.
His varied background has made him an experienced contributor at all levels of the organization, and he is looking forward to the opportunity to continue his work on the National Board in the capacity of National Vice-President. He is certain that in this leadership position he will be able to further contribute positively to the advancement of CPF's mandate.
Carole Anctil-Michalyshyn
Board Member
Carole Anctil-Michalyshyn is from Edmonton, Alberta and has been involved with CPF for nearly 10 years. She has served her local chapter as board member and as president, in addition to having served as a provincial director. She continues to chair the annual Gala d’art oratoire, sponsored by her local chapter.
Her interest in French-language learning has been lifelong, stemming first from the influence of her francophone father. While at university, she completed an immersion course in Rimouski, Quebec. Her two children, in junior high and high school, are both enrolled in French immersion in Edmonton Catholic schools. Since her children started kindergarten, she has been involved in advocacy for quality French programs and opportunities and resources for FSL (particularly French immersion), and she truly believes in the importance of bilingualism and strong French language education.
Carole holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta and is an active member of the Law Society of Alberta. She does legal research on a part-time basis and has been a stay-at-home mom since the birth of her first child. Carole believes firmly in the importance of being involved in the community and serves in various capacities on a number of boards. She has worked extensively in board policy and program development. Her professional background has been an asset in her board work in getting to the core of the issues and in working collaboratively to find solutions to challenges.
Carole is very pleased to be nominated to the CPF National Board and welcomes the opportunity to be part of the CPF team at the national level, working to support and encourage French-language learning.
Jane Keith
Board Member and Secretary
Jane Keith lives in Picadilly, NB, just outside of Sussex with her husband, Greg. Jane has three children, all graduates of the Early French Immersion program in New Brunswick. One of her sons teaches the post-intensive French program at the middle school level in Sussex, NB, and her daughter teaches early French immersion to Grade One students at Olds Elementary School in Alberta.
Jane became a supporter of CPF when a CPF pamphlet came home with her oldest child offering support for parents and students in French-second-language programs. Jane volunteered with the Sussex Chapter for seven years, first as Membership Chair and then as Treasurer. She accepted the position of CPF NB Branch Coordinator in 1994 and worked passionately and tirelessly alongside the CPF NB Board of Directors. Then in 1999, Jane accepted the position of CPF NB Executive Director and worked in this position until 2008 when she left CPF NB as an employee to take on new challenges and experiences.
French-second-language education is more than just a passing interest for Jane, it’s her passion. Over the years, she has given many hours of her time to ensure every child has an opportunity to learn French as a second language.
During her tenure, Jane worked tirelessly to promote and help establish quality FSL programs (core French and immersion) for students in New Brunswick. Her message was loud and clear: “Every child who can learn a first language can learn other languages when given the opportunity and the support they need.”
Jane believes every person has a unique talent and ability to give back to their community. She is presently a member of the Sussex & District Chamber of Commerce, serves as a Board member for the Boy Scouts of Canada and the Sussex Vale Transition House, and donates her time and money to many other non-profit organizations. She values how much non-profit organizations contribute to Canadian society every year and is a firm believer in cooperation, communication and team work.
Jane and her husband are entrepreneurs and run their own insurance and financial planning business. Jane holds a life, health & disability license and an investment license. She possesses business expertise, financial and management skills and enjoys helping individuals, families and businesses plan for their financial future. She was awarded the 2010 New Brunswick Lieutenant Governor's Dialogue Award for promoting understanding and harmony between Francophones and Anglophones in New Brunswick.
Jane is pleased to accept this nomination to the CPF National Board and looks forward to serving the members of CPF, supporting all levels of the organization, promoting FSL education and furthering the mission and vision of Canadian Parents for French.
Claude Parent
Board Member
Claude retired from a 30-year career as an active public school teacher nine years ago. During his happy years in that profession, he worked mainly in the grade 1 to 9 area and served in the last 14 years as an administrator. Although the teaching of French (core and immersion) took up most of his career, he also taught all the subjects usually found in the elementary school curriculum.
Claude has been an advocate of French for most of his life. This persuasion surfaced after his graduation from high school when he noticed the use of his native Acadian language deteriorating in his home area of northern Maine. That, coupled with his father’s campaign to preserve his language and culture amidst the ever-encroaching English media, set the wheels into motion for a life-long commitment. As a result of his crusade, he and his wife, Julie, saw to it that their five children finished their high school years with a French Immersion Certificate. The latter have followed their parents' determination by enrolling their children in French immersion or French schools.
Having known about Canadian Parents for French since benefitting from a local chapter’s efforts as a teacher, Claude was asked to join the CPF PEI Board of Directors six years ago and has served as its Vice-President and President. He is currently serving as Past President. His knowledge of the school system and his ability to communicate in both official languages has had Claude representing CPF PEI on numerous occasions, whether speaking to teachers, principals, superintendents or even government Ministers. As well, he has moderated a number of meetings between stakeholders and the French community. A life-long volunteer, Claude has served as: Treasurer of Serena Canada's National Board of Directors; State Deputy of the PEI Knights of Columbus; National President of the Canadian Knights of Columbus; National President of the Canadian Catholic Conference of Lay Associations; and member of the St. Dunstan’s University Board of Governors. He is presently President of the Stratford (PEI) Community Choir.
During his spare time, Claude sings, keeps researching his family tree, loves to tinker around the house, and does maintenance work for others through his company, CL’ODD JOBS.
Claude’s commitment to his native language and culture is undeniable. His support and promotion of the principles that guide the work of Canadian Parents for French cannot be questioned. His primary reason for his involvement in this organization is to guarantee that his grandchildren, and others, will have the opportunity to attain an appreciation of the richness of the French culture which he inherited from his Quebec and Acadian ancestors. He hopes his nomination to the National Board will provide him with a better knowledge of how to achieve these ideals. One thing is certain; he will be working for all of Canada while on the Board!
Rita Parikh
Board Member
(Picture coming soon)
Rita is the proud mother of two children, both of whom speak French effortlessly and happily thanks in large part to CPF and its members who have worked so long and hard to create excellent FSL programs across the country.
Drawn to CPF about a decade ago, Rita was active in the Victoria chapter before joining CPF BC and Yukon branch as its executive director in 2005. As director, she supported parents’ efforts to expand immersion in their communities, recruit and retain skilled teachers, run camps and after-school programs, and secure resources for children with learning challenges. She loved every minute.
In 2008, Rita, her partner, Peter, and her two children travelled around the world for a year. They spent four months of that journey nestled in a small community in the south of France, where she registered her children in school while immersing herself in the language and culture. She and her daughter, Anjali, are writing about their year abroad in Planes, Tweens and Automobiles: Navigating the World of Family Travel, a book they hope will be published next year.
Rita’s background is varied. As a journalism school graduate, she worked as a feature writer for the London Free Press before completing a Masters in International Affairs and going on to work in the field of international development – in particular on issues of human rights, women’s health, and sustainable agriculture – for over a decade. Rita lives in Victoria, is a strategic planning and management consultant, and is the project manager for the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations. She brings considerable organizational and human resource management skills, visioning, fundraising and financial planning experience to CPF, gained in part through her role as Chair and Member of the Board of Directors of BC-based Mountain Equipment Co-op from 1995 to 2002. She is honoured to be nominated for CPF’s national board, can’t wait to dive in, and is looking forward to the next two years.
Annette Revet
Board Member
Annette Revet, who lives in Regina, Saskatchewan, is honoured to be elected to the National Board. She has been a member of CPF since 2005. She recalls personally benefiting from this organization’s commitment to second-language education as a French immersion student in Regina in the 1970’s and 80’s. Now married, Annette rejoined the organization when her son, who is now starting Grade 5, enrolled in a French Immersion program in 2005. The benefits of a second language education are core to her personal values.
Annette brings 20 years’ experience in progressively more responsible roles in management and executive leadership to her responsibilities at the University. She joined the University of Regina in 2006 in the newly created executive role of Director, Enterprise Risk Management and was appointed Executive Director, University Governance, holding the office of University Secretary, effective January 1, 2007.
Fluent in English and French, Annette is a graduate of the University of Regina with a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Chemistry. She has been certified as a Six Sigma Black Belt, a background that ideally equips her for strategic leadership roles, particularly in the areas of corporate risk management and continuous organizational improvement. In 2010 she received the designation of Chartered Director (C. Dir.) through the Directors College (a joint venture of McMaster University and The Conference Board of Canada).
Annette is an active volunteer, currently serving as a director on the College of Notre Dame Board of Regents, a director for IPAC-CO2 Board of Directors, advisor to the First Nations University of Canada Board of Governors and prior to that, she served on the Canadian Cancer Society Board as Public Education Chair, as well as vice-chair of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Regina Branch.