As part of Canadian Library Month, CUPE is presenting stories from members of the National Library Workers’ Committee to highlight and celebrate the different roles CUPE library workers play in promoting literacy in their communities.
Vincent Chabot, CUPE 2057
I’m a library technician at a new public secondary school that opened in Mascouche, Quebec, in August 2023. Among our student population are many newcomers to Canada. Our school offers what are known as francization courses that have been set-up by Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration and Inclusion and the Ministry of Education. The classes help newcomers who do not speak French to learn the language to help them integrate into Quebec society. They also learn about Quebec’s culture to help them build connections in their communities. As the head of the school’s library, I’m responsible for providing francization students with adapted reading materials to support their French language learning needs. I make a point of providing each student with a dictionary that translates their first language into French. Francization teachers often tell me they can identify their students’ home countries by the dictionaries I leave on their desks.
It is important to me to offer services to the school’s teachers and students that will effectively promote student literacy. I do this by offering advice, making suggestions about helpful resources, and working to acquire new resources that support teachers and students involved in the francization program. I strive to ensure students have the tools they need so they are set-up to succeed.