Media library
Experience of care, language barriers, and the presence or absence of active offer of services in French
Testimonials on informal caregiving and the loss of the ability to express oneself in a second language
In the first part of this podcast, Sylvie Tremblay explains the steps she took to find French-language services for her mother and how she noticed the difficulties her mother, who had neurocognitive disorder and was previously bilingual, had in expressing herself in English (duration: 29 min., 49 sec., produced by OSANO, 2024).
In an emergency, my brain only worked in French
Relating a personal experience, Estelle Éthier, CEO of the Institut du Savoir Montfort, recounts her inability to speak English during an emergency, highlighting the importance of French-language services (duration: 4 min., 57 sec. for the long version, and 3 min., 26 sec. for the short version, produced by the CNFS national, 2024).
Claire’s experience – The challenges of receiving care outside the city
Claire Forcier, a caregiver, recounts the stress experienced by her French-speaking mother during her hospitalization in an English-language hospital outside her French-speaking community of Hearst: anxiety about not understanding the care she was receiving, the possibility of not detecting a possible medical error (duration: 4 min., 40 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2020).
Renée’s experience – The importance of French-language care for children
Renée Dupuis, mother of two young children, explains how reassuring it is for her daughters to receive services in French at the Community Health Centre, but also the anxiety that led to a panic attack upon awaking from a surgery at an English-language hospital (duration: 4 min., 9 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2020).
Joanne’s experience – The importance of long-term care in French
Johanne Gervais explains the communication challenges her mother and brother faced during their stay in long-term care, which were not always understood by the staff. She also describes the responsibility that fell on her to be present for her family members to ensure communication in French (duration: 4 min., 36 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2020).
Thérèse and Jocelyne’s experience – Home care in French
Thérèse Fillion must use home care services for herself and her husband. Receiving home care in French allows them to be in control of their health. Their daughter Jocelyne supports them as best she can. When French-language services are not available, her responsibilities increase. (duration: 4 min., 28 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2020).
Joanne’s experience – The importance of palliative care in French
Johanne Gervais went through difficult times when she attended to her brother and mother in palliative care in the same year. Despite the compassion and good care they received, she wished her loved ones could have spent their last moments in their native language. It can be difficult for a family member to translate in such emotionally charged times (duration: 4 min., 32 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2020).
Richard’s experience – Emergency services in French
Richard Mouangha shares her first experience in a Canadian hospital. She needed to see a doctor for pain. Despite the good intentions of the emergency room staff, she had to wait longer than expected to receive services in French (duration: 3 min., 1 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2021).
Fatima’s experience – The importance of French-language services for Francophone immigrants
Fatima El Kassimi and her husband were unable to receive services in French during their daughter’s hospitalization shortly after her birth, which added to the stress and fear they were already experiencing. As a nursing student, she has acquired a better understanding of the concept of active offer because of this experience (duration: 3 min., 27 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2021).
My health, my language -Maurice Basque’s Testimony
Maurice Basque recalls that, in an emergency situation, he was unable to explain his condition in English to the paramedics, even though he had a good command of the language (duration: 10 min., 56 sec. for the long version and 2 min., 14 sec. for the short version, produced by the CNFS-National secretariat, 2012).
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My health my language – Anne Poisson’s Testimony
Anne Poisson had to translate for her father, who had cancer, because there was no care available in French at the hospital in her area, at a time when she herself was feeling vulnerable. In addition to having to break the news to him, she had to be there almost constantly to reassure her father by explaining the care he was receiving, and lived with the insecurity of making mistakes in her interpretation (duration: 5 min., 32 sec. for the long version, and 3 min., 20 sec. for the short version, produced by the CNFS-National secretariat, 2012).
View long version with English subtitles
View short version with English subtitles
My health my language – Ronald Bisson’s Testimony
Ronald Bisson recounts how his brother, a bilingual Francophone married to a unilingual Anglophone, was now unable to understand or speak English while terminally ill with cancer (duration: 10 min., 40 sec. for the long version, and 3 min., 54 sec. for the short version, produced by the CNFS-National secretariat, 2012).
View long version with English subtitles
View short version with English subtitles
My health my language – Nicole Inamura’s Testimony
Nicole Inamura recounts how she and her daughter were served only in English during the latter’s recent hospitalization. She explains why she did not think to ask for services in French, and that since her daughter did not understand the staff, they mainly spoke to her (the mother) instead during care (duration: 10 min., 4 sec., produced by the CNFS-National secretariat, 2012).
View long version with English subtitles
My health, my language – Pierre Lebreton and Jeanne Caillaud’s Testimony
A couple explains the difficulties they experienced in communicating with English-speaking medical staff during a difficult childbirth, difficulties that were amplified by pain and anxiety (duration: 11 min., 54 sec., produced by the the CNFS-National secretariat, 2012).
My health my language –Josée Nadeau’s Testimony
Josée Nadeau explains that she agreed to have her pregnancy monitored in English because she had a very compassionate and professional doctor who made sure she understood everything he explained. However, she experienced communication difficulties during childbirth when the pain was intense and when she wanted to explain her need for psychological support. In these situations, she really felt the need for services in French (duration: 10 min., 25 sec., produced by the CNFS-National secretariat, 2012).
Active offer during internship
An intern (unnamed) notes the impact of language barriers during her internship and the importance of practising active offer (duration: 2 min., 37 sec., produced by the CNFS national, 2022).
My internship experience in a Francophone minority community
Jonathan Liberatore, an electrodiagnostics student at Collège La Cité, explains how he practised active offer on his own initiative during his internship in Edmonton (duration: 1 min., 53 sec., produced by the CNFS national, 2022).
Active offer – Why train Francophones to offer services in French?
Sacha, a nursing student, explains how active offer training improves the quality of care (duration: 2 min., 28 sec., produced by CNFS national, 2022).
Why active offer is important
Sabrina Maisonneuve, a nursing student, lists the reasons why French-language services are essential (duration: 1 min., 45 sec., produced by the CNFS national, 2022).
The importance of studying health sciences in French
Audrey Li-Chay-Chung, a neuropsychology student, explains why she decided to study in French in order to better serve Francophones in Toronto, where services are mainly offered in English (duration: 1 min., 55 sec., produced by the CNFS national, 2022).
The importance of French-language services in the mental health sector
As one of the only French-speaking psychotherapists in Thunder Bay, Sarah Spencer faces challenges. Her language allows her to serve Francophones in the Thunder Bay area, but as a client who herself needs to use mental health services, Sarah must seek French-language services outside the region (duration: 3 min., 28 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2023).
Natalie Aubin and the importance of mental health services in French
Natalie Aubin, Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services at Horizon Santé-Nord, knows how important it is to have access to services in our mother tongue in a crisis situation and explains why active offer is important (duration: 3 min., 47 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2020).
Dr. Crystal Boulianne and the importance of primary and specialized care in French
Dr. Boulianne, a family physician in Kapuskasing, recognizes the importance of French-language health services and is actively working to facilitate access to Francophone specialists outside the city (duration: 3 min., 39 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2020).
The importance of active offer for Francophones in minority communities
Dr. Amel Abdallah, a family physician in Thunder Bay, understands the reality of Francophones living in minority communities and the importance of French-language health services. That is why she has chosen to share her strategies for improving the experience of her Francophone patients (duration: 3 min., 5 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2023).
Health barriers faced by Francophone immigrants in Ontario
As a family physician and immigrant herself, Dr. Amel Abdallah is well aware of the challenges immigrants face in Ontario after they arrive. The healthcare system is difficult to navigate for everyone, but especially for newcomers. Dr. Abdallah also shares her experience as a Francophone immigrant in Ontario (duration: 2 min., 54 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2023).
Paul-André Gauthier and informed consent
Paul-André Gauthier, a clinical nurse specializing in healthcare, nursing, and palliative care, explains what informed consent is and how language barriers can have a negative impact on care. He gives examples of terms that may be misunderstood or mistranslated by someone unfamiliar with Franco-Canadian culture (duration: 4 min., 44 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2020).
Introduction – Active Offer of French Language Health Services (1/7)
This video is the introduction to a series of seven videos that demonstrate the importance of actively offering services in French (duration: 56 sec., produced by the Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l’Ontario-RMEFNO, 2013–2021).
Can I speak French when I call 911? (2/7)
René Lapierre, Program coordinator of the Primary Care Paramedic Training at Collège Boréal, explains why actively offering services in French is important right from the initial call to emergency services (duration: 2 min., 36 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2013–2021).
Can I speak French at the emergency department? (3/7)
After a short scenario involving a French-speaking mother bringing her child to the emergency room, Kim Morris, Dean of Health Sciences at Collège Boréal, Tammy Coulombe, Executive Director of the Hearst Family Health Team, and Dr. Roger Strasser, Founding Dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, explain how and why the hospital should have an active offer policy. They discuss the importance of receiving services in one’s own language, especially in crisis situations such as the emergency room, when anxiety is high (duration: 4 min., 11 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2013–2021).
Can I receive other health services in French? (4/7)
Stéphanie Middelton, a speech-language pathologist, explains that even though most Franco-Ontarians can express themselves in English, that does not mean they are comfortably proficient in the language. Using a short scenario, she discusses the neurological impairments that can limit access to one’s second language (duration: 2 minutes, 42 seconds, produced by RMEFNO, 2013–2021).
Did you know that many immigrants speak French? (5/7)
Following a short scene featuring an immigrant arriving at the emergency room and trying to speak English, speech-language pathologist Stéphanie Middelton, Northern Ontario School of Medicine student Tamara Delorme, Michel Pomerleau, Director of Financial Services at Notre-Dame Hospital in Hearst, and Tammy Coulombe, Executive Director of the Hearst Family Health Team describe various examples of people who are more comfortable expressing themselves in French than in English: predominantly French-speaking communities in Northern Ontario, young children in these communities, workers from Quebec, immigrants whose first official language spoken is French (duration: 5 min., 56 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2013–2021).
Can I receive medical advice in French? (6/7)
After a short scenario involving a French-speaking person anxious to receive explanations in English about diabetes management, France Ayotte, Hearst Aging at Home Coordinator, hopes that healthcare providers will make an effort to inform service users of the options available for obtaining information in French (duration: 2 min., 51 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2013–2021).
How can we provide an active offer of French language health services? (7/7)
Stéphanie Middelton, speech-language pathologist, Kim Morris, Dean of Health Sciences at Collège Boréal, Tammy Coulombe, Executive Director of the Hearst Family Health Team, René Lapierre, Program Coordinator of the Primary Care Paramedic Training at Collège Boréal, and Tamara Delorme, student at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, discuss various ways to offer meaningful French-language services beyond a simple “hello/bonjour” or a bilingual sign (duration: 7 min., 59 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2013–2021).
Active offer – “Getting by” in English does not mean being bilingual…
This short scenario demonstrates an example of the impact of the language barrier on the quality of care because the patient misunderstood what she was supposed to do (duration: 2 min., 13 sec., produced by Collège Éducacentre, 2015).
Active offer – “The meaning of words… Understanding or distorting a message”
This short scenario shows an example of the impact of the language barrier on the quality of care when a young patient misunderstood the proposed intervention (duration: 2 min., 13 sec., produced by Collège Éducacentre, 2015).
Active offer – “When I understand but cannot make myself understood”
This short scenario demonstrates that understanding English without being able to express different nuances limits access to appropriate healthcare (duration: 1 min., 57 sec., produced by Collège Éducacentre, 2015).
Active offer—”When English is not my strong suit”
After a short scene depicting a French speaker having difficulty confirming a medical appointment, the reasons why French speakers are reluctant to request services in their language are explained (duration: 1 min., 56 sec., produced by Collège Éducacentre, 2015).
Health capsule – The importance of language in health
Elsa St-Onge, Planning and Community Engagement Officer for the RMEFNO, discusses the importance of French when it comes to healthcare and encourages the French-speaking population to ask for services in their language (duration: 1 min., 3 sec., produced by the RMEFNO, 2015).
This is Sylvain – Active offer of French Language Health Services
This humorous video demonstrates the importance of being able to use one’s mother tongue when it comes to health (duration: 1 min., 24 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2015).
Doris’s case (no active offer)
As she prepares to see an English-speaking doctor, Doris is truly stressed out, trying to translate what she will say to him. During the consultation, her anxiety persists as the language barrier prevents her from fully understanding her medical condition and sharing her concerns freely (duration: 9 min., 8 sec., produced by CNFS-La Cité, 2018).
Doris’s case (with active offer)
Anxiously preparing to meet with an English-speaking doctor, Doris is greeted in French at the medical clinic. During the consultation, a bilingual nurse accompanies her, allowing her to fully understand her medical condition and freely share her concerns (duration: 11 min., 40 sec., produced by CNFS-La Cité, 2018).
Impact of linguistic concordance vs. discordance
Patrick Timony, researcher at Laurentian University’s Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research, explains the link between active offer and satisfaction with care received (duration: 2 min., 8 sec., produced by CNFS, 2019-2021).
Availability of services in French
Testimonials on informal caregiving and the loss of the ability to express oneself in a second language.
In the third part of this podcast, Sylvie Tremblay describes the efforts of the Hélène Tremblay Lavoie Foundation, created in memory of her mother, to ensure that Francophone seniors have access to specialized long-term care services in French in the Greater Toronto Area (duration: 29 min., 49 sec., produced by OSANO, 2024).
The positive impacts of virtual mental health and addiction services for Francophones
Dawn Morissette, Executive Director of Health Services in Chapleau, explains how the implementation of virtual mental health services paves the way to the delivery of healthcare in the care recipient’s mother tongue (duration: 4 min., 1 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2023).
Culturally appropriate care for Francophones in long-term care
Samantha Hiebert, Director of the Long-Term Care Unit at Hearst Hospital, Kim Pelkman, Manager of Therapeutic Services at Manoir des pionniers in Greater Sudbury, Jamie Fiaschetti, Director of Nursing and Clinical Services at Chapleau Health Services, and Joëlle Lacroix, Executive Director of Foyer des Pionniers in Hearst, present some of the measures their respective institutions have implemented to offer services in French: resident identification, bilingual staff, recruitment, pairing Francophone staff with Francophone residents (duration: 3 min., 54 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2021).
Culturally appropriate activities for Francophones
Joëlle Lacroix, Executive Director of Foyer des Pionniers in Hearst, Leanne Greenwood, Life Enrichment Coordinator at Pioneer Manor in Greater Sudbury, Véronique Labonté, Activities Coordinator at the Smooth Rock Falls Hospital Long-Term Care Unit, and Angèle Brunelle, Executive Director of Accueil francophone de Thunder Bay, describe the activities offered to Francophone residents at their respective facilities. (Duration: 8 min., 22 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2021).
Francophone community partnerships in long-term care
Angèle Brunelle, Executive Director of Accueil francophone de Thunder Bay, Véronique Labonté, Activities Coordinator at the Smooth Rock Falls Hospital Long-Term Care Unit, Kim Pelkman, Therapeutic Services Manager at Pioneer Manor in Greater Sudbury, and Joëlle Lacroix, Executive Director of Foyer des Pionniers in Hearst, explain how, in a context of limited resources, partnerships between various Francophone organizations make it possible to increase the availability of French-language services in long-term care facilities (duration: 6 min., 3 sec., produced by RMEFNO, 2021).
Different edits of these three videos are available at:
− Culturally appropriate care for Francophones at the Foyer des Pionniers in Hearst (duration: 4 min., 28 sec.).
− Culturally Appropriate Care for Francophones at the Pioneer Manor in Greater Sudbury (duration: 6 min., 9 sec.).
− Culturally Appropriate Care for Francophones at the Smooth Rock Falls Hospital (duration: Fr version: 5 min.; En version: 4 min., 19 sec.).
Education for future health and social services professionals, including active offer training
Impact of linguistic concordance vs. discordance
Patrick Timony, researcher at Laurentian University’s Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research, explains the link between active offer and satisfaction with care received (duration: 2 min., 8 sec., produced by CNFS, 2019-2021).
Lack of Francophone health professionals in NL
Christopher Doyle, a teacher at St. Kevin’s High School in Goulds, Newfoundland, explains the clear need to raise awareness among high school students about the shortage of professionals trained to provide health services in French and the importance of these services (duration: 1 min., 51 sec., produced by the CNFS national, 2022).
Receiving health services in our French language… It’s not a whim
Estelle Éthier, CEO of the Institut du Savoir Montfort, emphasizes that receiving care in one’s mother tongue is essential to the quality of such a service and explains the importance of training health professionals in this regard (duration: 3 min., 30 sec., produced by the CNFS national, 2024).
Improving access to healthcare in French
Jacinthe Savard, professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa and recipient of the 2024 Acfas Gilles Paquet Award, explains why it is important to train future healthcare professionals in the active offer of services in French and describes some of the measures taken to implement this training (duration: 5 minutes, 30 seconds, produced by ACFAS, in collaboration with Savoir-média, 2024)
Offre active et interprofessionnalité
Danielle de Moissac, Professor at the Université de Saint-Boniface, describes a training program on active offer and interprofessional collaboration (duration: 3 min., 45 sec., produced by the CNFS, 2019-2021).
Outils d’évaluation des compétences en offre active de services en français par la simulation
Isabelle Giroux and Jacinthe Savard, faculty members at the University of Ottawa, describe a toolkit for training in active offer (duration: 4 minutes 3 sec., produced by the CNFS, 2022).
Research and knowledge mobilisation on Health in Francophone minority contexts
Health care for Francophones in Ontario begins with research
In this Podcast, Louise Bouchard and Jacinthe Savard, co-holders of the University of Ottawa and Institut du Savoir Montfort Research Chair on the Health of Francophones in Ontario from 2019 to 2024, describe their research program (duration: 27 min., 30 sec., produced by the Collège des chaires de recherche du monde francophone, 2023).
Round table on the special issue of Linguistic Minorities and Society: 20 years of research (duration: 1 hour, 30 min., produced by the Centre de recherche sur les francophonies canadiennes, 2024)
Partenariat SSF-CNFS : Comité de travail conjoint permanent sur la mobilisation des connaissances [SSF-CNFS Partnership : Permanent Joint Working Committee on Knowledge Mobilization]
Announcement of the establishment of the Joint Permanent Working Committee on Knowledge Mobilization – SSF/CNFS. In this interview, Manon Tremblay, Director of Health at the ACUFC’s CNFS, and Gabrielle Lepage, Director of Programming at the SSF, explain what led to this collaboration and the activities that will be implemented this year (duration : 11 minutes 38 sec., production Santé Société en français, 2021).