To show Parenthèse readers how parents from across the province contribute to their school community, we’re publishing “portraits” of parents who engage in the community in various ways.

My name is Heather Kerr and I’m the mother of Clara, age 8, who is in Grade 4 at l'école Sophie-Morigeau in Fernie.

I spent my youth in North Bay, Ontario, where I attended a Francophone school. I then moved to British Columbia to study at UBC. I have lived in BC since 1996 (with a two-year gap in the Yukon) -- so, I’ve lived here for more than half my life. I am a physiotherapist and owner of the Ahead of the Curve Physiotherapy clinic in Fernie.

My spouse is a Francophile and he understands the importance and need to get involved and pass on our language and culture to the next generation, and I am very grateful to him for that. I am left-handed, I like my coffee with milk, and I prefer red wine to white wine. I like to joke a bit that the authorities should have adopted the term “Francobien” to identify us!

How I get involved at the community level as a parent :
At first, I joined other Francophones living in Fernie to set up l'Association francophone des Rocheuses du Sud (AFROS), with the goal of offering children, families, and adults programming that celebrates French and its cultures in our community. AFROS actively supported Fernie's Francophone parents in their efforts to obtain a Francophone school, which led to the opening of l'école Sophie-Morigeau in 2013. I’ve been the president of the parents' association of this school since 2016.

Why I decided to get involved:
When I lived in North Bay, I grew up with an annual Francophone carnival that brought us together, unforgettable experiences with groups of young Francophones, and the stories told by adults who had campaigned to obtain Francophone schools.

Given this background, and the fact that it was important for me to experience Francophone culture and to transmit that culture to those around me, I started by speaking French with the Francophones that I met everywhere -- at work, outdoors, on the field with the ultimate frisbee team, during social evenings, etc. Ideas for projects and collaboration emerged soon after.

A dream that I hold for my child:
...that Clara feels that French resonates with her deeply, both now and when she’s an adult.

An achievement that I take great pride in:
The opening of l'école Sophie-Morigeau.