On Friday, February 26, 2026, the Maison de la francophonie hosted the inauguration of the Emploi Colombie-Britannique program, a new employment service dedicated to French-speaking people in British Columbia, located within the premises of the Société francophone de Victoria.
Emploi BC, serving francophones on Vancouver Island
Emploi BC is an employment assistance organization that offers free access to resources, personalized advice, and employment support across the province. Partially funded by the federal government, its goal is to support French-speaking communities in minority settings. After more than 10 years without French-language employment support, a new Emploi BC service office is opening in Victoria, located on Langley Street within the offices of the Société francophone de Victoria. This service draws on the expertise of Caroline Thibault, an employment specialist who has been supporting job seekers in their search since October 2025. Caroline’s support includes helping individuals clarify their professional goals, prepare their applications and job interviews, and connect them with employer networks and relevant resources for their career integration.A Successful Inauguration at the Société francophone de Victoria
The inauguration brought together around twenty participants and Emploi BC clients, as well as several expected guests. Among those present were Cécile Barbier, Provincial Delegate of Emploi BC, Diane Campeau, Vice-President of the Fédération des francophones de Colombie-Britannique (FFCB) and SFV Board Member, and Susan Kim, City of Victoria Councillor. Following the opening ceremony by Frédérique D. Bouchard and Nathalie Astruc, respectively President and Executive Director of the SFV, provincial MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head Diana Gibson, and Elizabeth Gichimu, Constituency Assistant in the House of Commons, took the floor to highlight the importance and value of an employment program that particularly supports a minority language community. As Diana Gibson emphasized, this program plays an essential role within Victoria’s francophone ecosystem. It serves as a bridge between student life and professional life for graduates of French-language schools, offering them the opportunity to continue evolving in French, at home, in Victoria. It also gives newcomers the opportunity to integrate more quickly into a new environment. Open to everyone — immigrants, refugees, and others — the program reflects an inclusive and unifying vision.
Ribbon cutting, from left to right: Diane Campeau, Nathalie Astruc, Frédérique D. Bouchard, Elizabeth Gichimu and her assistant, Susan Kim, and Diana Gibson.
