About CFA

About CFA

Who we are

‘Welcome to London’ is the slogan of La Communauté francophone accueillante (CFA) de London, an initiative that aims to promote the inclusion, welcoming, and integration of French-speaking immigrants in the region.

Launched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at the end of 2024 and coordinated by the Réseau en immigration francophone du Centre-Sud-Ouest de l’Ontario (RIFCSO), CFA London aims to be a collaborative space that brings together Francophone and community organizations, as well as various local partners.

In collaboration with our local partners, we organize activities, services, and projects tailored to the needs of French speakers who are new to London. Our goal is clear: to work together to build a more inclusive, connected, and welcoming city.

Initiatives / Projects CFA London

The CFA London action plan was developed through a participatory and transparent process. Following IRCC's announcement, a Community Advisory Council (CAC) was created in October 2024 to guide our actions in collaboration with RIFCSO. In November 2024, a community consultation was held to gather and validate the priorities expressed by newcomers and partner organizations. These discussions served as the basis for the development of the 2024-2028 community plan, which reflects the local needs and aspirations of London's Francophone community.

This plan, validated by and for the community, now guides all our initiatives and is gradually being implemented through activities launched in 2025.

Our vision

In a dynamic and welcoming community, French-speaking newcomers to London feel valued and integrated, benefiting from French-language services tailored to their needs, while enriching the city's cultural diversity.

Community Advisory Board

The Community Advisory Council (CCC) is the mechanism for participation and engagement that brings together representatives from different sectors. Its role is to define and update activities and projects based on the needs identified in the community, then to oversee their implementation, in accordance with the CFA's 2024-2028 community action plan, in collaboration with the RIFCSO.

The CCC coordinates the efforts of partners to create an environment where French-speaking newcomers feel truly welcome. It also supports innovative strategies and solutions that promote the integration, retention, and lasting settlement of newcomers within London's Francophone community.

Abdoulaye Sako

President

Representative of the settlement sector

Paulette Desjardins

Co-Chair

Representative of community services and ethnocultural associations

Rita Giroux Patience

Member

Education sector representative

Franck Tshunza

Member

Healthcare representative

Fairouze Touni

Member

Representative of the private sector/French-speaking entrepreneurs in London

Eliza Bennette

Member

Representative of the City of London

Reymond Kouamé

Member

Community representative Newcomers

Nadine De Moras

Member

Representative of French-speaking students in London

Deguene Diop

Member

Education sector representative

Coordination team

Alain Dobi

Director

RIFCSO

Nabila Sissaoui

Coordinator

RIFCSO

Rosa Atmani

Project Officer

RIFCSO

Loan Nguyen

Promotion and Awareness Officer

RIFCSO

Partners

In addition to the member organizations of our Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that are directly involved in implementing our community plan, several institutional, community, and municipal partners are helping to strengthen the welcome and inclusion of Francophones and Francophiles in the London area.

CFA London is also open to new collaborations. If your organization would like to partner with us on our initiatives and promote French-language services, please contact us.

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