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

Karine LeBlanc Sault, volunteer parent in Coquitlam

My name is Karine LeBlanc Sault and I come from the beautiful Memramcook Valley in New Brunswick. After high school, I studied in Montreal, where I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in education. I then set out on an adventure across Canada, finally arriving in British Columbia in 1994. Now I’m a teacher at a French immersion school in Coquitlam, and I live with my husband Eric and my son Samuel, who is in Grade 4 at l’école des Pionniers-de-Maillardville.

I’ve been an active part of the Francophone community ever since my arrival on the West Coast. In particular, I co-founded l’Association acadienne de la Colombie-Britannique (1996-2002). After Samuel was born, I got involved in the world of Francophone early childhood through the Franc Départ  centre located in our school.

Later, I had the opportunity to take advantage of programs like Y'a personne de parfait (“Nobody's Perfect”) and other worthwhile initiatives coming from the Fédération des parents and other Francophone organizations. I will always be grateful for these enormously important services as a member of a minority official language community in our bilingual country!

What I'm doing for my community:

I was a member of the Board of Directors of la prématernelle Les p’tits lutins, located in l'école des Pionniers. I’m often a volunteer at events and fundraisers, and I'm also in my second year as a member of the managing committee of les Scouts francophones de Maillardville. I'm now pleased to add my voice, my experience, and my passion for the Francophone community as a new member of the Fédération des parents francophones' board of directors.

Why I decided to get involved:

It is important to experience our language and culture by being actively involved and contributing in the Francophone community, so that we never take for granted the language rights that we have in Canada. Access to a quality Francophone education is essential, and I wish to defend, protect, and support this reality!

What I love the most about our school:

The coming together of a multicultural Francophone community, making it possible to keep our language and culture alive outside the school, thanks to friendships that are closer because of this choice that we’ve made. We support each other in our victories and our daily challenges in trying to live in French in a minority setting.

A dream that I hold for my child :

That one day he appreciates the value of his Acadian and French Canadian identity.

A proud achievement :

My commitment to Acadian culture at l’école des Pionniers-de-Maillardville. Every year since Samuel was in kindergarten, I’ve done a presentation about Acadie. My objective is to help discover and recognize the history, culture, and resilience of the Acadian people. I'm really proud that this activity (that even includes a “tintamarre”!) is now part of the yearly activities at our school, which allows our community to learn more about French-Canadian diversity.