Cornwall Celebrates Federal Designation as a Welcoming Francophone Community
Cornwall, September 5, 2024 – Cornwall has long been recognized as a vibrant and progressive city with a strong commitment to welcoming newcomers. Today, the federal government officially designated Cornwall as a Welcoming Francophone Community (WFC), marking a significant achievement in the city’s efforts to embrace its Francophone heritage and build an inclusive environment for French-speaking newcomers.
Mayor Justin Towndale expressed pride in Cornwall’s accomplishment, stating, “Cornwall’s Francophone population is part of our past, present, and future. This designation ensures that the community’s vibrancy will continue to grow and – with it – the next chapters of a very proud story can continue to be written. We are proud to be one of only twenty-four designated communities across Canada.”
This designation reflects the ongoing collaboration between the City of Cornwall and the Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario Stormont, Dundas et Glengarry (ACFO SDG). It recognizes the city’s sizable French-speaking population and aims to create an environment where Francophone newcomers feel valued and integrated into the community. With Cornwall now one of only three communities in Ontario and ten across Canada to receive this designation, the city is further solidifying its reputation as a hub for cultural diversity and inclusion.
The Welcoming Francophone Community status brings access to an $11 million federal funding stream to support the integration of Francophone immigrants. This funding will help newcomers settle more quickly and fully, contributing to Cornwall’s social and economic growth. Speaking about this opportunity, Mathieu Fleury, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Cornwall, said, “The City of Cornwall is committed not only to official bilingualism in our operations but true inclusivity and accessibility in every aspect of our operations. As we continue to build on our Bilingual Services commitments, this designation is welcome recognition of the progress made to date and unlocks new resources to go further, faster – in partnership with the community.”
This recognition comes as Cornwall continues to call on upper-level governments for additional housing support, especially in light of the costs related to asylum claimants. City officials remain in discussions with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to address long-term solutions for housing employed asylum seekers who have been impacted by the federal government’s decision to end its contract with the DevCentre. The city remains committed to ensuring asylum seekers can continue working with local employers.
Beyond housing concerns, Cornwall’s new designation is expected to bring further benefits to the local Francophone community. Sonia A. Behilil, General Manager of ACFO SDG, emphasized the potential for socio-economic development, noting, “Cornwall’s designation as a Welcoming Francophone Community represents an important step in our collective commitment to support and strengthen the local Francophone community by opening doors to newcomers. We hope this new funding will enable us to deploy innovative initiatives that promote inclusion and socio-economic development for the benefit of the entire community.”
As Cornwall begins to leverage the new funding and resources that come with the WFC designation, it is clear that this recognition will further enhance the city’s ongoing efforts to support its French-speaking residents and newcomers. The federal designation underscores Cornwall’s leadership in fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and thriving community for all.
