Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 Community Leadership Award!

On Saturday, March 14, we were pleased to announce the recipients of the Community Leadership Award during the community event of the Linguistic Security Summit, organized by the Conseil jeunesse francophone de la Colombie-Britannique, in partnership with OFFA.

This award, presented in two categories, is made possible thanks to the endowment fund of the Fondation des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique and the Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs (BAFF) at Simon Fraser University (SFU).

It recognizes and celebrates the active engagement of a student or alumnus/alumna within the community or a school district through their dedication to promoting the French language and the Francophonie in British Columbia.

This year, the jury—composed of members from both the university and the community—selected:

• Category | Regular : Max Turmel, 3^rd year student at SFU with a major in international studies and a minor in Francophone studies.
• Category | Education: Catherine Cui, student in the Professional Development Program, French Module.

Bright and inspiring, Catherine and Max embody the future of the Francophonie through their shared commitment to bringing people together in French.

They took part in a Q&A session to tell us about their backgrounds and what inspires them.

What does receiving the Community Leadership Award mean to you, and why is it important for you to be involved in your community?

Receiving this award is a meaningful acknowledgment of the efforts I put into creating a positive impact within the communities I belong to. Having been part of several extracurricular communities throughout my university journey, I was supported by people to whom I am deeply grateful for their role in my development as a leader. I now feel a responsibility to do the same and to be a role model for others.

Can you tell us about a memorable moment related to your community involvement in recent years?

While volunteering in a French immersion classroom, a student shared a connection she had made between French and Mandarin. As someone who also speaks Mandarin, I was able to validate her observation with enthusiasm. She was delighted to discover that I shared this language with her, which was quite rare among the immersion teachers at that school. Moments like these remind me of the importance of representation and authenticity, especially for young learners.

What current or future projects do you have within the Francophone community?

I am currently a student teacher in the French module of the PDP, and I hope to teach in immersion here in British Columbia. Since I am also enrolled in the dual program with the University of Tours, I hope to integrate my learning in sociolinguistics and French language pedagogy into my classroom practice, in order to highlight the linguistic and cultural diversity of my future students.

Why did you choose to pursue postsecondary studies in French?

At the beginning of my postsecondary studies, I chose to complete a French minor simply to maintain the language I had learned during childhood. However, when I decided to pursue a career in teaching, I wanted to teach in immersion so that I could offer learners a positive experience similar to the one my own teachers had given me.

What advice would you give to someone who is hesitant to get involved in their community?

It is completely normal to feel hesitant about getting involved in your community! What has always motivated me is the saying “you get what you give.” In addition to having a positive impact on others, I’ve found that my engagement has truly enriched my own experiences. Each involvement has become a deeply rewarding experience for me.