FAMILIES LEARNING TOGETHER
CPF ON Family Weekend is literally a weekend of fun and educational activities for families whose children are learning French in school in Ontario. Usually, all day Saturday, Children and Youth will participate in activities in French, while adults attend insightful and helpful presentations and workshops. In previous years, we have also held out Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the Sunday morning of the event. That may change.
See Highlights here from our 2023 Event in Google Photos:
Thank you to our SPONSORS | Merci à nos SPONSORS
MAIN PAGE | ALL PROGRAMMING (Online Format) | PRESENTER BIOS | AMERICANA RESORT FLOOR PLAN/MAP (PDF)
Schedule Change:
Workshop #3 Leadership Matters Cancelled. Replaced by Youth Leadership Orientation Session | Niagara East
Facilitated by CPF ON Virtual Program Leaders Rachel Nazareth & Lena Xu, and young leader Siena Mazzotta
LEARNING TOGETHER in NIAGARA FALLS!
What a superb family fun destination! We look forward to seeing you there!
Our CPF ON Family French Weekend & AGM, is being held at the Americana Conference Resort Spa & Waterpark @ 8444 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls
Saturday, October 14th and Sunday, October 15th.
All day Saturday Children will participate in activities in French, while adults attend insightful and helpful presentations and workshops.
All the activities for the children will be en français!
Together, families can enjoy indoor and outdoor activities, an amazing magic show at 11am!
We hope you will be inspired by this year’s award-winning volunteers at the Saturday AWARDS Luncheon.
Sunday, October 15 – Following breakfast, members will attend the CPF ON Annual General Meeting at 9:15 a.m., while the children participate in more enriching and supervised activities.
Your registration includes all programming, entertainment and meals (Saturday: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sunday: Breakfast.)
THANK YOU FOR BOOKING YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS; We look forward to seeing you there!
Bonus: This also includes up to 4 passes for the Waves Indoor Waterpark! There is no cost for children under 16 years of age to stay at the Resort and Onsite Parking is $15+HST per night.
Here are some FAQs about Americana Conference Resort Spa & Waterpark, for your convenience. To ask further questions about your hotel accommodations, please contact:
Americana Conference Resort Spa & Waterpark directly at: 905-356-8444 or if calling from outside Niagara Falls region, here is the toll-free number: 1-866-707-0030
Any questions during your stay, please contact Stéphanie Filippi, Project Manager: projects@on.cpf.ca 905.366.1012 ext. 415, or ask any of our staff onsite.
AWARDS LUNCHEON (Ballroom South)
Saturday, October 14th, 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
It’s all about our amazing volunteers! Join us in celebrating the winners of: the Mlacak Award for the outstanding contribution to CPF, the McGillivray Award for outstanding contribution to FSL education, and the Youth Leadership Award.
CPF Ontario’s 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) (Niagara East) Sunday, October 15th 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
In person or virtually, the AGM is open to all CPF Ontario voting members. The AGM is the organization’s business meeting. You can expect to hear the committee reports, learn about our annual activities, review the financial statements and exercise your right to vote in the new slate of directors!
Saturday, October 14th
MORNING WORKSHOPS
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Choice of 2 workshops)
Workshop #1: #FSL4All – The State of French Second Language (FSL) Education in Ontario | Niagara East Room
(See workshop descriptions further down)
Workshop #2: The Power of Volunteering: Be Inspired by Stories of Our Volunteers and Join the Club! | Niagara West Room
10:30 a.m. | MEET & GREET: Visit with Exhibitors & Meet other parents! | Grande Ballroom South
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Performance for Everyone: Mikael Taieb (Vimeo video) le “MATHEMAGICIEN” Pixel Art & Rubik’s Cube Magic Show (Bilingual) | Grande Ballroom South
12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. | AWARDS LUNCHEON | Grande Ballroom South
It’s all about our amazing volunteers, volunteers, volunteers! Join us in celebrating the winners of the Mlacak Award for the outstanding contribution to CPF and the winner of the McGillivray Award for outstanding contribution to FSL education.
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Choice of 2 workshops)
Workshop #1: Leadership Matters | Niagara East Room
Workshop #2: Learning Your Second Language | Niagara West Room
2:30 p.m. | MEET & GREET: Visit with Exhibitors & Meet other parents! | Grande Ballroom South
3:00 p.m. | FREE TIME FOR FAMILIES! Until Dinner at 6:00 p.m. | Grande Ballroom South
Learn about the State of French Second Language (FSL) education in Ontario, including strategies for teacher recruitment and retention and what CPF is doing to support access to quality FSL programs.
Presented by Mary Cruden, Chair, CPF Ontario Advocacy Committee
There are many benefits to volunteering. Find out about different volunteer roles and how you can support students learning French in your school community. Join in this open discussion and be inspired to positively impact youth on their bilingual journey with CPF Ontario!
Presented by Rosemary Sutherland, Manager, Chapter Development and Outreach Officer, CPF Ontario.
Leadership Matters and it takes all forms, including parents finding their “voice” to advocate for their own child, their school community and French Language Learning for all. Presenter: Elizabeth Hoerath
Come discover fun and effective ways to support children of all abilities with reading and writing in French. French teacher and author, Tara Natter, will share tips and techniques she has learned and developed in her over 20 years of teaching experience in French Immersion and Core French classrooms.
Presented by Tara Natter, Primary School Teacher at the Waterloo Region District School Board
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. | EXPLORATORY WORKSHOP – Atelier Nature et bien-être | Outdoor guided activity for children, youth and adults (while a parent attends the Annual General Meeting – below) facilitated by Nancy Larivière from Backyard Universe.
Games and Activities: The living camera, exploring and observing micro-organisms, comparing soils, down-to-earth exercises, textures and nature, the magic of sowing, the music of plants!
9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. | Annual General Meeting, Sunday, October 15th | Grande Ballroom South
In person or virtually, the AGM is open to all CPF Ontario voting members. The AGM is the organization’s business meeting. You can expect to hear the committee reports, learn about our annual activities, review the financial statements and exercise your right to vote in the new slate of directors!
10:30 a.m. | Everyone Together for the 2023 Family Weekend Group Photo!
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. | WELCOME & EXPRESSIVE FRENCH ACTIVITIES – Create your own book with Mary Clements from Les Petites Pommes | Promenade Suites
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Performance for Everyone: Mikael Taieb (Vimeo video) le “MATHEMAGICIEN” Pixel Art & Rubik’s Cube Magic Show (Bilingual) | Grande Ballroom South
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. | LUNCH Outdoors, weather permitting, | SING-A-LONG of traditional French-Canadian songs (Children, Youth), Storytelling with Author, Tara Natter
1:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Pixel Art & Rubik’s Cube STEAM Workshop (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) Children have fun learning techniques to manipulate Rubik’s cubes and creating art with the artist “Mathemagician,” Mikael Taieb and special invited guest. Taieb is the Official Rubik’s Cube Ambassador.
3:00 p.m. | FREE TIME FOR FAMILIES! Until Dinner at 6:00 p.m. | Grande Ballroom South
Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Mary Clements from Les Petites Pommes will be our Camp leader throughout the day.
During morning, children will experience a range of creative activities such as singing, learn about the process of making a book and then create their own French book, and storytelling with FSL educator, author, Tara Natter.
In the afternoon, children will engage in a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) Pixel Art & Rubik’s cube workshop with “Mathmagician” Mikael Taieb.
Samedi, de 9 h à 15 h
Mary Clements de Les Petites Pommes sera notre animatrice tout au long de la journée.
Au cours de la matinée, les enfants feront l’expérience d’une série d’activités créatives telles que le chant, l’apprentissage du processus de fabrication d’un livre, puis la création de leur propre livre en français, et la narration d’histoires avec Tara Natter, éducatrice en FLS et auteure.
L’après-midi, les enfants participeront à des ateliers STEAM (science, technologie, ingénierie, arts et mathématiques) Pixel Art et Rubik’s cube avec le “Mathmagicien” Mikael Taieb.
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. | EXPLORATORY WORKSHOP – Atelier Nature et bien-être | Outdoor guided activity for children, youth and adults (while a parent attends the Annual General Meeting – below) facilitated by Nancy Larivière from Backyard Universe.
Games and Activities: The living camera, exploring and observing micro-organisms, comparing soils, down-to-earth exercises, textures and nature, the magic of sowing, the music of plants!
10:30 a.m. | Everyone Together for the 2023 Family Weekend Group Photo!
Participating youth can follow the schedule below or can volunteer all day in support of the Children’s French Expressive Activities. You are also welcome to join the Pixel Art, Rubik’s Cube Workshop 1-3 p.m.
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. | Youth Discussion Panel | (Room-TBC)
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Performance for Everyone: Mikael Taieb (Vimeo video) le “MATHEMAGICIEN” Pixel Art & Rubik’s Cube Magic Show (Bilingual)
12:00 p.m. LUNCH
Youth are also welcome to join the Pixel Art, Rubik’s Cube Workshop 1-3 p.m.
1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. | Youth Leadership Orientation Session | Facilitated by CPF ON Virtual Programs Leaders: Rachel Nazareth & Lena Xu, and
“French for the Future” Youth Ambassador Siena Mazzotta Grande Ballroom South
2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Meet & Greet, with Michael Taieb, actor, Mathmagician, Rubik’s Cube Official Ambassador, Inspirational Speaker. Learn more about Mikael Taieb’s personal journey to success…
3:00 p.m. | FREE TIME FOR FAMILIES! Until Dinner at 6:00 p.m. | Grande Ballroom South
CPF Ontario’s Youth Leadership Program engages high school students in Grades 10 to 12 to volunteer with us as Youth Leaders. These roles (lasting for 7 or 9 weeks) are with our VIRTUAL:
- Homework Help (Wednesdays) or
- Reading Buddies Programs (Mondays).
A key requirement is to attend the Youth Leadership Orientation Session first.
CPF Ontario is pleased to offer this session at our 2023 Family French Weekend.
REGISTER TODAY
Youth Leadership Orientation Session Saturday, October 14, from 1:15p.m. to 2:15p.m. Grande Ballroom South
French Homework Help is a 30-minute session whereby Grades 4-6 students in Core French, Extended French, and French Immersion can bring and work on their homework with a high school student.
French Reading Buddies is a 30-minute session whereby Grades 1-3 students in Core French, Extended French, and French Immersion can read books and practice their reading skills with a high school student. Please
note that there will be between 2 to 3 students in each reading group.
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. | EXPLORATORY WORKSHOP – Atelier Nature et bien-être | Outdoor guided activity for children, youth and adults (while a parent attends the Annual General Meeting – below) facilitated by Nancy Larivière from Backyard Universe.
Games and Activities: The living camera, exploring and observing micro-organisms, comparing soils, down-to-earth exercises, textures and nature, the magic of sowing, the music of plants!
10:30 a.m. | Everyone Together for the 2023 Family Weekend Group Photo!