The federal government is investing nearly $1.9 million to support bilingual business services and youth employment in Western Canada, with a focus on tourism and economic development.
Taleeb Noormohamed, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced the funding in Vancouver on behalf of Minister Rachel Bendayan. The investment includes $131,400 for the Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique (SDÉCB) to help 40 tourism businesses in Kelowna, Victoria, and Prince George expand their capacity to offer services in both English and French.
The funding will support awareness workshops on bilingualism, customized consulting to improve communication strategies, language training for employees, and recruitment initiatives for French-speaking and bilingual staff. It also includes a promotional campaign to encourage bilingual tourism services and the distribution of 30,000 bilingual tourism brochures across the province.
“French is an integral part of Canada’s identity, and supporting Franco-British Columbian organizations ensures that our linguistic and cultural diversity continues to thrive,” said Noormohamed.
The government is also providing $1.75 million to Collège Éducacentre through the Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages program. The funding, spanning 2025 to 2028, will support 213 new youth jobs in British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon. The program aims to help young people develop professional skills, improve their second-language proficiency, and contribute to the vitality of minority-language communities.
“Our two official languages are an economic and cultural asset for our country,” said Bendayan. “This investment strengthens bilingual services in British Columbia while creating new opportunities for young Canadians.”
The SDÉCB, a non-profit organization founded in 1998, represents the economic interests of Francophone and Francophile communities in British Columbia. Collège Éducacentre is the province’s only French-language college, specializing in adult education and workforce training.
The funding is part of the federal Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028, which aims to enhance bilingual services and support minority-language communities across Canada.
