The Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic Minorities (CIRLM) will make a public presentation on 4 recently-published volumes that relate to the English-speaking communities in Quebec. Raymond Théberge, President, Université de Moncton, who presides over the CIRLM’s Board of Directors, will make the opening remarks at this information session. The presentation will take place Thursday, October 16th, in Room A102 at the Jeanne-de-Valois Pavilion. A few copies of some of his works will be available for free to those interested.

Constituting a minority in terms of demographics, English-speaking communities certainly constitute a minority demographic in Quebec, but what about its community vitality? Speaking the most powerful language in the world certainly provides an advantage, but what about the other aspects of its linguistic and community vitality: its institutional completeness, its status in society? Is this official-language minority able to achieve genuine cultural autonomy? In what ways does this minority distinguish itself from French-speaking communities outside of Quebec? These are a few questions that will be addressed by authors Richard Bourhis, professor at the Université du Québec in Montreal, Réal Allard, professor emeritus at the Université de Moncton and Rodrigue Landry, former director of the CIRLM, as part of a presentation on the four volumes to which they recently contributed. These works were published jointly by Canadian Heritage and the CIRLM (available in both official languages), and by the CIRLM (in English). Three of the volumes deal exclusively on the English-speaking minority communities in Quebec. The following four volumes will be presented:

1. Bourhis, R. (Ed.) (2013). Decline and Prospects of the English-Speaking Communities of Quebec. Ottawa: Canadian Heritage and Moncton: Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic Minorities.

-----. Déclin et enjeux des communautés de langue anglaise du Québec. Ottawa: Patrimoine Canadien et Moncton: Institut canadien de recherche sur les minorités linguistiques.

2. Landry, R., Allard, R. & Deveau, K. (2013). The Vitality of the English-Speaking Community of Quebec. Ottawa: Canadian Heritage and Moncton: Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic Minorities.

----- La vitalité de la communauté de langue anglaise au Québec. Ottawa: Patrimoine canadien et Moncton: Institut canadien de recherche sur les minorités linguistiques.

3. Allard, R. et Landry, R. (2014). Graduating from an English High School in Quebec: Postsecondary Education Aspirations and Career Plans. Moncton: Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic Minorities.

4. Landry, R. (Ed.) (2014). Life in an Official Minority Language in Canada. Moncton: Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic Minorities. This is the English version of the French book recently launched by the CIRLM: Landry, R. (Ed.) (2014) La vie dans une langue officielle minoritaire au Canada. Québec : Presses de l’Université Laval.