Celebrate
Official Languages
Day ...
everyday!
What is Official Languages Day?
In 2009, the former Clerk of the Privy Council, Wayne G. Wouters, declared the second Thursday in September “Linguistic Duality Day” across the Public Service of Canada. In 2022, it was renamed “Official Languages Day” by the Clerk of the Privy Council, Janice Charette. This day is an opportunity to promote our official languages and celebrate our rich linguistic heritage across the country.
The Council of the Network of Official Languages Champions has partnered with the Linguistic Duality Network to organize this event so that it can be celebrated beyond the public service throughout Canadian society.
Join us September 14 2023 at 1:30 p.m. ET
Official Languages Day: Our languages, a window to the world
Official Languages Day is a time to celebrate Canada’s linguistic diversity and cultural heritage, and serves to reflect the rich cultures prevalent across the country.
This event, in recognition of Official Languages Day, highlights the importance of Canada’s official languages in helping shape our national identity and building relationships with the wider world. The event will explore how languages serve as windows to different realities and opportunities for people to discover and share knowledge.
In a spirit of sharing and respect, participants will learn about little-known Canadian realities aimed at developing their sense of belonging and commitment. Cultural and musical performances by Canadian artists will be included as part of this event.
This event is organized jointly with the Council of the Network of Official Languages Champions, in collaboration with the Linguistic Duality Network and other partners.
Speakers:
Isabelle Mondou
Deputy Minister, Canadian Heritage, and Champion of the Official Languages Community
Daniel Quan Watson
Deputy Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Raymond Théberge
Official Languages Commissioner of Canada
Moderator:
Sabine Daniel
TV Producer and Host
Celebrate Official Languages Day in schools!
The Linguistic Duality Network has prepared a few different tools for you to print and use in your classrooms*.
*These were created with grades 4 – 8 in mind, but could be adapted for a wider age range.
Schools who registered in advance also received special Official Languages Day kits in the mail! Missed your chance this year? Make sure to sign up for our mailing list to be the first to know for 2024!
Official Languages Day contest for schools
Classes from grades 4 to 8 across Canada are invited to enter this year’s Official Languages Day contest! You could win a $200 gift card to the bookstore of your choice.
All you have to do is complete the Meet our Mascot Madlibs and send us your class’ results and drawings. Your students can combine funny words with their artistic talents to create a zany masterpiece. Share your submissions online before September 30, and don’t forget to tag the Linguistic Duality Network in your posts!
Design Your Mascot Contest – Official Rules
- Design Your Mascot is a virtual contest organized for Official Languages Day, aimed at grades 4 to 8.
- All Canadian schools are invited to enter the contest, at no cost, which runs from September 14 at 10 a.m. EST to September 30 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
- To enter the virtual contest, each participating class must share with us the biographies and drawings of the LDN mascot, created in the “Textodingo: Meet our mascots” activity. The activity guide can be downloaded from our website.
- Each entry must contain photos of the students’ creations, the name of their school and their class.
- Entries from participating classes can be submitted as follows:
- On Facebook, by tagging our page @Linguistic Duality Network / Réseau de la dualité linguistique in the post.
- On Instagram or Threads, by identifying our @LDN_RDL page in the post.
- By e-mail, to gnamaka@fondationdialogue.ca.
- All photos must be sent no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on September 30, 2023.
- Each class participating in the contest will be considered as a single ticket for the draw. Entries will be considered to have been submitted by authorized social network account holders.
- Social network submissions will not be considered eligible if the LDN page identification is missing.
- The winning class will receive a $200 gift card to the bookstore of their choice (Les libraires, Indigo or Scholastic).
- The draw from all eligible entries received will take place on October 2, 2023.
- Following the draw of the winning class, contest organizers will attempt to contact the school representative of the winning class within (4) business days. If the contest organizers do not receive a response from the school within seven (7) days of this initial contact, the school will be deemed to have forfeited the prize and a new winning school will be selected.