The benefits of bilingualism

French immersion and francophone high-school students from across southern Ontario will be at York University’s Glendon College today to explore the benefits of communicating in both official languages as part of the sixth annual “French for the Future” conference.

“French for the Future” will bring together more than 3,000 students in 12 cities across Canada through a satellite broadcast, to discuss the importance of bilingualism and biculturalism.

Program highlights include remarks by Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman; a keynote address by Richard Pound, Canadian International Olympic Committee representative and Chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency; and a one-hour national satellite broadcast bringing all 12 locations together.

Bilingual professionals from the fields of international relations, media, business, science, technology, the arts, education and sports will present workshops to the student participants.

For more details about the event, check the Media Relations Web site at http://www.yorku.ca/ycom/release/archive/040703-2.htm and for the full conference program visit http://www.french-future.org/e/toronto2003.html.