TORONTO, May 28, 2018 − The Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario held a press conference this morning, with bilingual/francophone universities and colleges, to speak in support of bilingual and francophone funding (see media release).

Donald Ipperciel, principal of Glendon, was not able to be at the press conference but is available for interviews in Toronto today. He can comment on the following:

• The need to expand programs offered by current bilingual and French language post-secondary institutions, and the number of spaces, as they do not currently meet demand
• Support for a new French language university, provided that the funding for such a university is new funding, and does not reduce funding to existing institutions

• The decrease in funding that has occurred over a number of years due to a freeze in the per student amount transferred by the provincial government to bilingual universities
• How this unstable funding is putting in jeopardy programs offered by Glendon
• The importance of investing in the francophonie, as an investment in our economy and culture
• Demand for bilingual graduates in the Toronto-area job market

York University champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. York students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. York U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

York U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Janice Walls, York University Media Relations, 416 455 4710, wallsj@yorku.ca