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News
PDP French Module student Catherine Cui recognized with 2026 Community Leadership Award
Catherine Cui, an 天美mv天美 Professional Development Program - French Module student, has received the 2026 Community Leadership Award in Education
The award was announced on Saturday, March 14, during the community event of the Linguistic Security Summit, organized by the in partnership with the Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs (OFFA) at 天美mv天美.
Presented through the support of the endowment fund and OFFA, the Community Leadership Award recognizes and celebrates the active engagement of a student or alumnus/alumna in the community or within a school district through their dedication to promoting the French language and the Francophonie in British Columbia.
The selection committee chose Catherine as the recipient in the Education category to recognize her commitment to fostering French language and Francophone community engagement in B.C. Bright and inspiring, Catherine represents the future of the Francophonie through her dedication to bringing people together in French.
In an interview with OFFA, Catherine shared more about her background and what inspires her commitment.
Q: What does receiving the Community Leadership Award mean to you, and why is it important for you to be involved in your community?
A: Receiving this award is a meaningful acknowledgment of the efforts I put into creating a positive impact within the communities I belong to. Having been part of several extracurricular communities throughout my university journey, I was supported by people to whom I am deeply grateful for their role in my development as a leader. I now feel a responsibility to do the same and to be a role model for others.
Q: Can you tell us about a memorable moment related to your community involvement in recent years?
A: While volunteering in a French immersion classroom, a student shared a connection she had made between French and Mandarin. As someone who also speaks Mandarin, I was able to validate her observation with enthusiasm. She was delighted to discover that I shared this language with her, which was quite rare among the immersion teachers at that school. Moments like these remind me of the importance of representation and authenticity, especially for young learners.
Q: What current or future projects do you have within the Francophone community?
A: I am currently a student teacher in the French module of the PDP, and I hope to teach in immersion here in British Columbia. Since I am also enrolled in the dual program with the University of Tours, I hope to integrate my learning in sociolinguistics and French language pedagogy into my classroom practice, in order to highlight the linguistic and cultural diversity of my future students.
Q: Why did you choose to pursue postsecondary studies in French?
A: At the beginning of my postsecondary studies, I chose to complete a French minor simply to maintain the language I had learned during childhood. However, when I decided to pursue a career in teaching, I wanted to teach in immersion so that I could offer learners a positive experience similar to the one my own teachers had given me.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is hesitant to get involved in their community?
A: It is completely normal to feel hesitant about getting involved in your community! What has always motivated me is the saying 鈥測ou get what you give.鈥� In addition to having a positive impact on others, I鈥檝e found that my engagement has truly enriched my own experiences. Each involvement has become a deeply rewarding experience for me.