Today's Cornwall is renowned as a vibrant, progressive and welcoming community. Over the last several years, Cornwall has made outsized contributions with respect to the settlement of newcomers to Canada and Ontario. And, throughout Cornwall's long and rich history, Francophone residents have contributed in myriad ways to building a better community for all residents.

The federal government's recent official designation of Cornwall as a Welcoming Francophone Community (WFC) recognizes all of these realities and will enhance Cornwall's ongoing evolution. Cornwall's efforts to achieve this designation have been done in collaboration between the City and ACFO SDG and will continue now that it is secured.

The WFC designation recognizes Cornwall's already sizable French-speaking population and "creates an environment where French-speaking newcomers to Canada feel that their identity is valued, and where they feel integrated into the host community." Cornwall is one of three Ontario communities and 10 communities across Canada most recently added to a list that now includes 24 communities total.

The designation gives Cornwall access to a new funding stream of $11 million dollars to help Francophone immigrants to Cornwall integrate more quickly and fully into our community and its socio-economic fabric. Work to secure our share now begins in earnest.

While this designation is separate and apart from ongoing discussions with IRCC regarding costs related to asylum claimants, Cornwall also continues to call on upper-level governments for additional housing programs tailored to communities of our size, and reiterates the need for the federal and provincial governments to compensate Cornwall for out-of-pocket costs related to the warm welcome our community has provided to asylum seekers from around the world over recent years. 

City officials also continue to work with the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship on long-term solutions to keep employed asylum seekers affected by the federal government's recent termination of its multi-year contract with the DevCentre housed so they can keep working with local employers.

QUOTES:

 "Cornwall's francophone population is part of our past, present, and future. This designation ensures that the community's vibrancy will continue to grow and - with it - the next chapters of a very proud story can continue to be written. We are proud to be one of only twenty four designated communities across Canada."

- Justin Towndale, Mayor, City of Cornwall  

"The City of Cornwall is committed not only to official bilingualism in our operations, but true inclusivity and accessibility in every aspect of our operations. As we continue to build on our Bilingual Services commitments, this designation is welcome recognition of the progress made to date and unlocks new resources to go further, faster - in partnership with the community."

- Mathieu Fleury, CAO, City of Cornwall 

"Cornwall's designation as a Welcoming Francophone Community represents an important step in our collective commitment to support and strengthen the local Francophone community by opening doors to newcomers. ACFO SDG is proud to continue collaborating with the City of Cornwall, the Eastern Ontario Francophone Immigration Support Network and the 32 local organizations involved in this initiative, to create together an inclusive environment where every francophone, whether newcomer or member of the host community, feels valued and integrated. We hope this new funding will enable us to deploy innovative initiatives that promote inclusion and socio-economic development for the benefit of the entire community."

- Sonia A. Behilil, General Manager, ACFO SDG