NB non-profit organization reports “great challenges” in attracting and retaining French-speaking immigrants – New Brunswick

CAFI, a non-profit organization that helps French-speaking immigrants settle in the Moncton area, presented the first multicultural festival Monde en fête on Saturday.

The festival coincided with the end of the 10th National Francophone Immigration Week.

It included a multicultural parade, dancing and music.

The federal government on Thursday opened a national center in Dieppe, New Brunswick, with the aim of increasing Francophone immigration.

CAFI chief executive Angèle Losier told Global News in French on Saturday that she was delighted with the announcement.

“We have been eagerly awaiting this announcement. For us, this allows us to have an entry point for our French-speaking clientele who want to move to the region,” she said.

“We will therefore have agents with whom we can work directly to promote the arrival of new Francophone immigrants in the region.

She said New Brunswick’s bilingual status attracts French-speaking immigrants who want to learn English.

She said that while there has been a noticeable increase in Francophone migration to the region, there are « very big challenges » to attracting and retaining Francophone immigrants in the province, such as transportation, housing and labor market for immigrants.

Mathias Mawoussi, a Togolese immigrant who works as a reception and settlement officer for CAFI, told Global News in French that he thinks there needs to be more transparency about the challenges immigrants will face when they will come to the province before they arrive.

He echoed Losier’s comments about the housing crisis and the various barriers to employment that immigrants may face.

Mawoussi first immigrated to France before coming to New Brunswick five years ago.

He said that despite the challenges, he loves the quality of life he has in New Brunswick and wants to stay here for life.

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