Saint Paul University supports the creation of a francophone university in Toronto

Ottawa, August 28, 2017 – Saint Paul University (SPU) supports the creation of a francophone university, as proposed in the report of the Conseil de planification sur la création d’une université franco-ontarienne dans la région de Toronto (Planning board on the creation of a Franco-Ontarian university in the Toronto region).

“SPU wishes to actively participate in this forward-looking project that is so important for the Ontario francophone community. Since the start of the consultations, the University has demonstrated its interest in being part of the plan to create a French-language university in Ontario because it is a unique opportunity to establish, at the provincial level, a network of universities for francophones that is managed by francophones. The University would like to pursue these discussions with bilingual and francophone universities to explore the possibility of creating a provincial network,” said Chantal Beauvais, rector of Saint Paul University.

With the aim of encouraging French-language education, which is an important part of the University’s mission, SPU contributed to the establishment of transfer agreements with a number of partners, such as La Cité, Boréal college and other universities (Université de Hearst, Université de Sudbury and Université d’Ottawa). Among other things, these agreements allow students to obtain a college diploma and a bachelor’s degree in only four years. Also, the plan for a French-language university seems to be an innovative model, especially in terms of the transdisciplinary aspect, which is also present in SPU programs.

In short, a French-language university makes it possible to offer more services to the francophone population of Ontario. That is why Saint Paul University is open to all forms of collaboration to ensure the success of this project.

Saint Paul University (1848) is the founding college of the University of Ottawa, with which it has been federated since 1965. Bilingual and on a human scale, it offers programs in canon law, conflict studies, counselling and psychotherapy, human relations, philosophy, public ethics, social communication, social innovation, and theology.

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