Video – Take the lead and make official languages shine!
The dialogue alternates between English and French throughout the video. For a translation when the dialogue switches languages, the transcription is available below the video or select the cc (closed captioning) button on the video player.
Canadian Heritage is pleased to present this short video produced in collaboration with the Council of the Network of Official Languages Champions.
The bilingual video created by Improtéine, a Franco-Ontarian comedy group, uses their unique brand of humour to encourage federal institutions to provide leadership in taking positive measures to implement the Government of Canada's commitment to the promotion of official languages. The video also presents some courses of action for fostering appreciation and cooperation between English speakers and French speakers in Canada.
With the ongoing work on the modernization of the Official Languages Act, the official languages environment in Canada is more favourable than ever to better frame the actions of leaders responsible for official languages in federal government institutions across the country. It is vital that we take advantage of this opportunity to innovate in taking positive measures to promote both official languages, which will foster a spirit of partnership in Canadian society.
Canada’s rich linguistic heritage demonstrates that inclusiveness and diversity are fundamental values in this country. While the Government of Canada fully recognizes the importance of Indigenous languages, the first languages used in Canada, and of all other languages spoken by Canadians, English and French, by being the primary means of communication used by Canadians, contribute to the integration and full participation of all in our society and our public service. As federal public servants, we carry on this rich heritage, by fostering the full recognition and use of both official languages in Canadian society. Are you ready to take the lead in making our official languages shine?
Transcript of Take the lead and make official languages shine!
Video length: 04:32
This video was produced in accordance with public health guidelines
Scene 1 – Main Hallway, While Walking
Host 1: [Translated from French] “Fostering the full recognition and use of official languages in Canadian society” is something we hear pretty often!
Host 2: [Translated from French] Uh… no one says that!
Host 1: [Translated from French] (In collusion with the audience) Except if you’re a federal employee!
Host 2: (to the audience) Hi there, we’re Improtéine and this is a corporate video.
(Text on screen) Take the lead and Make official languages shine!
Scene 2 – Small Conference Room
Host 2: So “fostering the full recognition and use of official languages in Canadian society” means taking every opportunity to highlight the fact that Canada has two major linguistic groups, English- and French-speakers, coexisting.
Host 1: Wow! What he just said right there, that’s Canada… in 21 words! And we’re not even talking about bilingualism.
Host 2: True. Recognizing official languages means accepting official languages. Even if you don’t speak both official languages.
Host 1: It’s like… I accept… and I am even a little proud… that Canada has more lakes than any other country… And I’m not even a fish!
Host 2: You’re not a lake either!
Host 1: [Translated from French] As for federal employees, it’s their job, among other things, to promote official languages when performing their duties.
Host 2: [Translated from French] That, and not forgetting to turn off the cat filter with the little ears and whiskers when you’re videoconferencing!
Scene 3 – Main Hall
Host 2: There are tons… like metric tons… of advantages to having two official languages.
Host 1: Twice the culture, twice the pride! As an anglophone, you can love seeing French-Canadian movies make it to the Cannes Film Festival.
Host 2: And as a francophone, you can find it dope to see Drake or Walter Ostanek win Grammy awards!
Host 1: Yeah! (super confused) Wait… what? Who’s Drake?
(Cut to video of Walter Ostnanek playing the accordion, then cut back to hosts)
Host 2: Having two official languages is definitely a selling point. It shows open-mindedness, a desire to cooperate across differences, empathy, and… common sense.
Host 1: Yeah.
Scene 4 – Main Hall
Host 1: [Translated from French] And you, your job as public servants and representatives of federal institutions, is to influence all Canadians to value official languages.
Host 2: [Translated from French] You are influencers! All you need now is 500 000 followers and pictures of you in a sunflower field.
Host 1: [Translated from French] No! But, there are a bunch of initiatives that can be undertaken to foster a feeling of connection with the other official language!
Host 2: [Translated from French] (challenging him) Oh yeah? Name three!
Host 1: Uh…
Host 2: [Translated from French] (as if addressing the director behind the camera) Would it be possible to work with an actual professional, please?
Scene 5 – Library
Host 3: [Translated from French] You have to start-off by exposing yourself.
Host 2: (Confused) Huh?
Host 3: [Translated from French] … to others…
Host 2: Ah… (confused) Huh?!
Host 3: [Translated from French] You have to give Canadians the opportunity just to get to know the other linguistic group. For example?
Host 2: [Translated from French] (takes out a novel) THIS!!!
Librarian: [Translated from French] (Turns around and interrupts their conversation) As a matter of fact, Canadian Heritage offers grants for Canadian publishers to translate books by Canadian authors into the other official language.
Host 3: [Translated from French] And it’s a great way for one linguistic group to discover the other group’s culture.
Host 2: [Translated from French] Like when we discovered Handmaid’s Tale!
Host 3: [Translated from French] (thinking he's smart) Yeah, except that it isn’t actually a book.
(The librairian looks at the two hosts as if they are out of their minds, while pointing to the book "The Handmaids Tale” in her hands).
Scene 6 – Inside A Travel Trailer
Host 2: Appreciating the other official language is also about creating a safe space to interact as equals.
Host 3: Let’s call our good friend Laura Lussier! (Initiates a video call)
Host 3: Hi Laura!
Laura: Who is this?
Host 2: (Slightly embarrassed) Ha, good one! We were hoping you could talk to us about that trip you took that was organized in partnership with the federal government to… you know… spark discussion about official languages.
Laura: Oh you mean the Bonjour My Friend tour! Yeah, that was great. I got to cross the country in this awesome camper van. I got to meet Canadians from all walks of life with all sorts of opinions and insights. We even made a documentary about the whole thing.
Host 3: Nice!
Laura: But seriously: who is this? How did you get my number?!
(They hang up.)
Host 3: Nice!
Scene 7 – Inside A Dairy Factory
HOST 3: [Translated from French] After having been exposed, then brought together, it’s now time for cooperation between linguistic groups.
Farmer: [Translated from French] (Overly excited) Is that my cue to talk about the “Foire Gourmande of Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Northeastern Ontario”?!
Host 3 And Host 2: [Translated from French] (confused) Uh… sure…
Farmer: [Translated from French] (with pride) Thanks to federal funding, growers and food producers in Northeastern Ontario and the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region in Quebec got to share tons of new local products to the public, people would cross over from one province to the other…
Host 2: [Translated from French] (with excitement) Were there bouncy castles?!?!
Farmer: [Translated from French] (with excitement) YES!!!!The level of cooperation between French and English-speakers was amazing! That’s what I call an economic advantage and it’s perfect for networking.
Host 2: [Translated from French] (proud of his joke, speaks quietly) Bouncy castles have nets.
Scene 8 – Main Hall
Host 1: [Translated from French] And after all this, if you also happen to be someone who understands both languages, well that can’t hurt when time comes to cooperate.
Host 2: [Translated from French] (trying to be philosophical about the final sentence) Because cooperate is the same word in English and in French!
Host 1: No. it’s not!
Host 2: Co-pirate?
Host 1: That’s not even a word! (moving on) [Translated from French] Making Canada into a common endeavour for both linguistic groups is a huge responsibility for public servants, but if it can also lead to greater cooperation, then …
Host 2: (With realization, cutting him off) Coopération!!!! Cooperation! Same word! Let’s end on that!
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