French for the Future

History

1995
- John Ralston Saul and Lisa Balfour Bowen found French for the Future

1997
- First Local Annual Forum held in Toronto: 200 students from 8 high schools in the Toronto area

1999
- Second Local Annual Forum in Toronto: 215 students from 20 Toronto high schools

2000
- Local Annual Forums held in Toronto, Halifax, Vancouver, and Calgary: a total of 597 students from 60 high schools attend the forums
- Introduction of satellite broadcasting technology to link the forums

2001
- Local Annual Forums added in Fredericton and Winnipeg: a total of 1,040 students from 90 high schools attend the forums
- National Office is established in Toronto

2002
- 3 more Local Annual Forum cities are added: Whitehorse, Saskatoon, and St. John’s : more than 1,500 students from 141 schools attend the forums
- 500 additional students in more than 25 remotes sites are able to watch the live satellite broadcast of the local forums

2003
- The Horizon Project is introduced: students come to Montreal for several days of cultural events and excursions
- The Franco-Nord Youth Project is introduced: students from across the north gather in Whitehorse
- 3 more Local Annual Forums are added: Charlottetown, Montreal, and Sudbury : a total of 2,700 students from 184 schools in 12 cities participate in the forums (including live satellite feed participants)

2004
- 3 more Local Annual Forum sites are added: Edmonton, Kelowna, and Yellowknife
- Yellowknife hosts the second annual Franco-Nord Youth Forum
- The Horizon Project develops into the National Ambassador Youth Forum, held in Calgary and moderated by John Ralston Saul

2005
- 3 more Local Annual Forum sites are added: Iqaluit, Ottawa, and Regina
- Ottawa hosts the National Ambassador Youth Forum, broadcast live from Rideau Hall
- Iqaluit hosts the Franco-Nord Youth Forum
- The First National Essay Contest is launched. Theme: The advantages of being bilingual

2006
- Kelowna and London are added to the list of cities hosting Local Forums
- The National Ambassador Youth Forum is held in Fredericton
- The National Essay Contest theme : The responsibilities of living in a country with two official languages

2007
- Local Forums are held in Calgary, Fredericton, Halifax, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Regina, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg
- The National Ambassador Youth Forum is held in Toronto, on the Glendon campus of York University
- The National Essay Contest theme : Youth voter apathy

2008
- Local Annual Forums are held in 14 cities
- The National Ambassador Youth Forum is held in Toronto, on the Glendon campus
- The National Essay Contest theme : Ta Cause... Ta Chance!

2009
- Local Annual Forums are held in 14 cities.
- The National Ambassador Youth Forum takes place in St-Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- The National Essay Contest question is: In your opinion, is competition useful?