Losing their language in the lottery: Immersion system frustrates French-speaking Manitoba family

A Brandon father says that the local school division'slottery-style selection process for spots at the city's onlysingle-track French immersion schoolviolates his family's minority language rights.

PaulAlexandreargues that the random selection process for the high-demand spotsputs hisFrench-speakingfamilyat risk of losing theirfirst language.

"I'm saddened and fearful for the future of our family," saidAlexandre.

He believes that his four-year-old son,Julien,deserves a guaranteed spot in the kindergarten atcoleHarrison, the city's only single-track French immersion school,and shouldn't have to compete with English-speaking families.

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Brandon School Division chairKevanSumnersaid the lottery system wasintroduced last Januaryas a result of families lining up, in some cases overnight, outside ofcoleHarrison ahead of kindergarten registration dates. Last year, 55 families applied for 40 spots at the single-track school.

"The rule is the same for everyone," saidSumner. "There was considerable debate at the board table, we did a round of community consultations to seek input."

Other school possibilities 'not an option'

Under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadians are entitled to have their children educated in their first language of the country's two official languages.

And while Alexandre's son runs the risk of not getting a spot atcoleHarrison, the Brandon School Division does offerFrench immersion programs at two other schoolscoleNew Era andcoleO'KellySchoolbutclasses are taught in both French and English.

Alexandresays neither isanoptionfor hisson because not enough French classes are offered and a number of the teachers don't speak French. He said he would consider sending his son to either school if more French was offered.

However Sumner said there is little difference between the schools.

"It's the same curriculum offered at all threeschools, [the] only difference iscoleHarrison is single-track," he said.

Alexandre said he feels discriminated against and took his concerns to the Brandon School Division.

"They're saying, that is the process," Alexandre said. "They basically stonewalled me. I was very frustrated and angered."

He said he isconsidering filing a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.

Sumner said families also have the option of enrolling in the DivisionScolaireFranco-Manitobaine(DSFM), which has a school inShilo, Man., about 30 kilometresoutside of Brandon.

ForAlexandre, the thought of sending his four-year-old that far awayevery school dayis also not an option.

"It's too far. It's just too far," he said. "We know what the roads are [like in winter]. This is just not an option."

No child turned away

The Brandon School Divisionsaid no child will be turned away.

"We haven't turned awayanybody from French immersion programming," Sumner said. "Everybody has the right and the opportunity and has been able to get into a school, the only question is if they get into their school of firstor second choice."

Sumner said class sizes are capped under provincial legislation and cole Harrison is at capacity, meaning it's not possible to addmore classes to meet demand.

Alexandre isn't sure how many other Francophone families are in his situation right now and hopes the Brandon School Division changes course and offers families like his a first pick at the spots. He said he's been invited to attend the next board of trustees meeting to voice his concerns.

His son is currently in an English-only daycare because the city has no French option.

"It makes me very sad that a huge part of my heritage ... my language in our family might disappear in the next generation," he said. "He's speaking more English than French."