Delegates of member associations, as well as several community partners, gathered in a friendly atmosphere for the opening reception of the 37th Annual Conference, with the theme of youth as a focus.

Right after being greeted by the Fédération des parents team, participants had the opportunity to meet several young members of the Conseil jeunesse francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CJFCB). These young people were present throughout the conference, as part of a partnership with the CJFCB arising from this year's theme.

To warm things up, the representatives of the Conseil jeunesse masterfully led two icebreaker activities, which sparked some fun and stimulating exchanges!

In addition to networking amongst themselves, the delegates from 22 communities throughout BC also benefited from the exhibitors' area that had been set up for the evening. This allowed them to meet with the representatives of the 15 participating organizations and partners, who came to inform them about their programs and services.

Following that, the President of the Fédération des parents, Marie-Pierre Lavoie, officially welcomed all, before announcing the presentation of two annual awards: the Parents’ Association of the Year Award and the Award of Excellence in Early Childhood Education (see our articles on these topics).

As well, certificates of recognition were presented to highlight the commitment and achievements of parents who were named "Volunteer of the Year" in their communities.

The evening was the kickoff to a most pleasant conference that offered a wealth of information sharing!