Regina, November 18, 2003
Presentation of the Léon Leadership Award
Notes for a speech to Forum 4-2-1
Dr. Dyane Adam - Commissioner of Official Languages
Check against delivery
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Today you explored the topic of leadership and its importance in creating a change in organizational culture with respect to official languages. As you have seen, the task of initiating changes in customs, suggesting new ways of doing things, conveying values and mobilizing employees falls squarely on the shoulders of managers. They must show exemplary leadership to convey the changes and values they endorse at all levels of the organization.
I am delighted to pay tribute today to John Ryan, President and CEO of Farm Credit Canada (FCC), and his entire team. Here is a fine example of such exemplary leadership. I am presenting the 2002-2003 Léon Leadership Award to Mr. Ryan in recognition of his outstanding leadership in making official languages part of his organization's culture and daily activities, significantly exceeding the basic requirements of the Official Languages Program.
This award is represented by the mascot, Léon, the engineer steering the official languages train. The Atlantic federal councils gave me this mascot in 2001 at the Atlantic Symposium on Official Languages. Léon reminds us that we cannot reach our destination - equality between our two national partner languages - without the help of conductors, dedicated and talented leaders such as Mr. Ryan. The fact that an official from an organization in western Canada is receiving this award shows that the official languages train can reach all parts of the country.
Mr. Ryan, with his entire team, has led FCC toward the full implementation of the Official Languages Act, with respect to services, language of work and institutional culture, as well as generous participation in promoting official-language communities in Canada.
First, FCC has made the offer of services in both official languages more than a legal obligation. It is a matter of respect and a good business practice. Also, to ensure the excellence of services in both official languages, FCC conducts regular monitoring by telephone, visits offices that are designated bilingual and evaluates written communications and publications. The active offer of bilingual services and respect for policies pertaining to communication between officials and citizens is monitored at all levels.
We also noted that bilingualism is part of the way of life in FCC offices and part of the organization's institutional culture. French is spoken as a matter of course in meetings and in hallways, during teleconferences and over the lunch hour, whether at the service centre in Moncton, the risk management centre in Kanata or at headquarters in Regina. Throughout the country, Francophones, Francophiles and employees in language training speak French on a regular basis, because they are actively encouraged to converse in the language of their choice.
This change in culture is in large part due to the efforts of the FCC management team. It decided to help create a workplace conducive to the use of both official languages, in particular by designating all senior positions bilingual, even though the key managers work in Regina, a region not designated bilingual for language of work.
FCC also launched "French Fridays" across the country, one day a week when employees are invited to improve their knowledge of French by discussing selected terms and expressions or simply by talking to each other. Employees on language training therefore have an opportunity every week to practice French and increase their skills.
Finally, to enhance the vitality of official-language minority communities, FCC actively promotes Francophone community events. It also sponsors numerous official-language minority community projects and has set up a national committee comprised of an employee from each region to provide ongoing liaison with language groups. This committee identifies potential partnerships and sponsorships, provided in the form of contributions or in-kind donations, which could assist these communities.
So I congratulate Mr. Ryan and all FCC employees for their exemplary leadership in promoting linguistic duality, both in their organization and to the public. Above all, I encourage them to continue to inspire us and to instil in us, by their example, the will to launch similar initiatives elsewhere in Canada.
They deserve a very warm round of applause.
