Toulouse: Engaging with French Youth
On February 12, 2025, the Languages Canada team, accompanied by five consortium member schools —ATPAL, Centre of English Studies, International House Vancouver, ILSC Education Group, and Oxford International—participated in the "Salon : Étudier, s'installer, travailler, vivre au Canada," an event organized in Toulouse by Air Canada, Info Jeunes Occitanie, and Eurodesk.
Languages Canada extends its gratitude to Jean-François Raudin, General Manager of Air Canada in France, for hosting the delegation and welcoming hundreds of French youth eager to explore study and work opportunities in Canada.
Paris: Strengthening Canada-France Educational Ties
On February 13, the delegation moved to Paris for an exclusive event at the Embassy of Canada to France, attended by IRCC representatives and the Trade Commissioner Service. The event fostered deeper collaboration between the two nations, particularly in relation to youth exchange initiatives and the promotion of Canada’s Official Languages.
Mr. Jean-Philippe Tachdjian, Minister-Counsellor for Commercial Affairs at the Embassy, welcomed an audience of over 50 French youth seeking work and study opportunities in Canada. A dedicated IRCC presentation provided a comprehensive overview of the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, available to French youth aged 18 to 35.
The event also featured Julie Meunier, co-founder of PVTISTES.NET, a key partner in promoting IEC across the Francophone world. Desjardins, a sponsor of the event, introduced its advantageous newcomer banking offers, while Banff Lodging Company highlighted employment opportunities for youth in Alberta. Attendees had the unique opportunity to interact directly with Canadian institutions, with many signing up for programs on the spot.
Destination Canada Mobility Forum: Expanding Outreach
Still in Paris, consortium members participated in the Destination Canada Mobility Forum, a premier event organized by IRCC. With over a thousand visitors, the forum provided an exceptional platform to showcase Canada’s diverse immigration programs. Languages Canada members engaged with enthusiastic attendees, promoting their programs and securing enrollments. The federal government’s mandate to promote the Francophonie outside of Quebec goes hand in hand with Languages Canada’s mandate to promote Official Languages. Offering English programs to French-speaking nationals who are planning to move to anglophone Canada will help them better integrate into their chosen communities.
Chantilly: High-Impact B2B Engagements
The Trade Mission officially launched on February 16, when consortium members were joined by a broader Canadian delegation, including additional Languages Canada and CAPS-I member institutions. Nearly 30 agency representatives from France, Belgium, and Germany gathered at the InterContinental Hotel in Chantilly, just outside Paris, for two days of intensive B2B meetings on February 17 and 18.
With over 500 meetings conducted, the event provided a vital networking opportunity. Agencies in attendance collectively send over 6,000 students abroad each year, reinforcing the growing interest in Canada as an education destination. While the UK remains the dominant market, Canada’s appeal continues to rise, with families increasingly seeking North American study programs.
‘’A huge thank you to Languages Canada for inviting Freepackers to the Trade Mission to France. It was a pleasure to connect with so many passionate professionals, engage in insightful discussions, and explore new collaborations. These exchanges will be invaluable in advancing our shared goal: making education more inclusive and sustainable,’’ said Justine Trembicki, owner of Freepackers.com.
Dorothee Lamy, Sales and Recruitment Director Europe at ILAC Education Group, commented: ‘’Grateful for inspiring conversations, meaningful connections, and unforgettable moments during a fantastic Trade Mission to France with Languages Canada! This event was filled with opportunities, partnerships, new perspectives, and a shared desire to grow together. From building impactful projects to strengthening friendships, each interaction reinforced the power of collaboration and shared values.’’
‘’This experience has reaffirmed my belief in the importance of these missions. We need to invest in more opportunities to engage with agents and students globally. The Languages Canada team’s professionalism and ability to connect with agents, students and government officials is remarkable and as a board member I’ll make sure to support LC in generating more resources to achieve the goals which benefit all members,’’ remarked Robin Adams, President of CES North America.
Nicoletta Pinto, Global Partnerships Strategist at GuardMe, supported Languages Canada and CAPS-I members, while Fevronia Novac, Trade Commissioner for Education at the Embassy of Canada to France, lent her expertise to the discussions.
Nicoletta commented: ‘’I had a fantastic time attending the Languages Canada trade mission in France, in the beautiful Intercontinental Château Mont Royal Chantilly, just outside Paris. GuardMe Canada has proudly partnered with Languages Canada from the very beginning, and it was great to support Canadian institutions while catching up with French, Belgian, and German agents. A special thank you to Diego Sanchez for being such a great host and organizing such a well-run and pleasant event.’’
Languages Canada was also pleased to host representatives from L’Office, an organization that certifies and monitors over 50 education agencies in France specializing in language stays and study tours. Giovanna Mininni, déléguée générale of L’Office, played a key role in disseminating information about the Trade Mission among the organization's network.
‘’We were delighted to represent L'Office alongside our partners at Languages Canada and the Embassy of Canada | Ambassade du Canada, represented by Fevronia Novac. It was indeed a great occasion to discuss with key industry players about opportunities and challenges in the market as well as the importance of international mobility programs for young people. These programs offer experiences that foster the development of intercultural skills, improve language proficiency, create educational and professional opportunities for young people, contributing to the formation of tomorrow’s citizens, who are more conscious and open to the world,’’ said Giovanna.
Concluding the Mission
As the meetings wrapped up on February 18, participants received firsthand insights from IRCC officials on the IEC program, reaffirming its popularity among European youth—particularly French nationals.
Acknowledgments
Languages Canada extends its sincere appreciation to Air Canada's Toronto and Paris teams for their invaluable support. Special thanks also go to GuardMe International Insurance and Desjardins for their generous sponsorship.
The think-tank Bonard was LC’s partner, leading the recruitment of European partners, which also had the support of the Embassy of Canada, L’Office and Unosel.
This initiative was made possible through the Global Affairs Canada CanExport – Associations program and the dedicated efforts of Trade Commissioners at the Embassy of Canada to France.
Looking Ahead: Brazil 2025
Building on the success of the France mission, Languages Canada’s next Trade Mission will take place in June 2025, focusing on agency partnerships in Brazil.
Stay tuned for more updates as Languages Canada continues to expand its global footprint!
