COFA LAUNCHES THE SECOND PHASE OF ITS PILOT PROJECT FONCE.ca

(OTTAWA, April 20, 2021) – The Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes (COFA) is launching the second phase of its pilot project FONCE.ca, a virtual information, assessment and referral portal for French-language adult education and training in Northern Ontario.

“We’re thrilled to be extending our pilot project in Northern Ontario for one more year. Thanks to the support of the provincial and federal governments, we’re able to improve the infrastructure that has been developed and to stretch its pilot period to March 2022,” says Gabrielle Lopez, Executive Director of the COFA.

The FONCE.ca portal facilitates learners’ multiservice access and refers them to the training programs that can meet their needs, no matter where they live in Northern Ontario. It namely features an online diagnostic assessment tool, which brings significant added value to the services offered by regional partners.

Through the portal, French-speaking adults living in Northern Ontario receive quick and efficient guidance in their French-language learning pathways. This model of service efficacy and efficiency is valuable both for the client and for service providers, such as Employment Ontario and Ontario at Work, as well as for organizations serving newcomers.

FONCE.ca is unique in that it rests on a partnership between Northern Ontario community training centres, regional school boards and Collège Boréal. This partnership led to a collaboration agreement between all partners from Northern Ontario during the first phase of the pilot project in 2018-2019.

The initiative is being implemented as part of the province’s post-pandemic economic recovery efforts, one of whose chief aims is to stimulate employment opportunities. The project responds to the need for online services, which was identified as an essential need during the pandemic.

The implementation of the FONCE.ca pilot project is made possible by the financial contribution of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities of Ontario and the Government of Canada, through the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority-Language Education and Second Official-Language Instruction.

Quotes

“FONCE.ca is meeting a range of needs that can vary from one partner to the other. This initiative is making it possible for Northern Ontario community training centres to boost their visibility. By using this virtual platform and working with several partners, we’ll be able to reach a client base that is otherwise left aside. Through this wonderful initiative, the vitality of our centres will make itself known and heard!”
– Guylaine Pagé-Hammond, Director, Le centre de formation du Nipissing

“We’re proud to be contributing to the FONCE.ca initiative for a second phase. We’ve greatly benefited from the online diagnostic assessment tool for our adult French learners—it’s a tool that’s all the more relevant in the context of the pandemic and in light of the growing needs for training.”
– Sylvie Petrosky, Conseil scolaire catholique du district des Grandes Rivières

“For Collège Boréal, FONCE.ca contributes to the successful transition efforts of the French-speaking adult learners we serve. The portal’s main advantage lies in its neutral approach to learner referrals—an approach based on learners’ geographic location and training needs, whether their transition pathway be geared towards employment, post-secondary education, vocational training or increased autonomy.”
– Lyne Michaud, Vice-President, Academic, Collège Boréal

About COFA

With its 27 members and 42 points of service, the COFA promotes the continuous supply of high-quality basic and essential skills training services for all French-speaking Ontarians.

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Source:
Gabrielle Lopez
Executive Director, COFA
glopez@coalition.ca
Mobile : 819-968-3426