Connecting Manitoba’s health-care community en français

By Danica Hidalgo Cherewyk

Bilingual health professionals, faculty and students gathered at the University of Manitoba’s Bannatyne campus on March 11, 2026, for the inaugural French bilingual community of practice.  

The initiative is facilitated by the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Shared Health – Soins Communs and Santé en Français.  

“The bilingual community of practice is for those who are interested in coming together and exploring how French can be integrated more into the health-care system in Manitoba,” said Dr. Reg Urbanowski, dean of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences. 

A need to connect

Urbanowski said the initiative stemmed from a College Council meeting where members of the French bilingual community highlighted the importance of creating space for bilingual health-care learning.

“I'm hoping that the bilingual community of practice will offer students the opportunity to learn in a bilingual environment—for those students that wish to—and that patients or clients who want to receive bilingual services will be able to.”

Natalie Gagné, programs and operations manager at Santé en Français, said the community of practice helps create a supportive space for bilingual learners and professionals.

“When you're a bilingual student in an English program, it can be very isolating,” Gagné said. “If you are working as a professional in the big, complex health field where most everything around you is in English, that can also be isolating. The community of practice gives this sense of community to bilingual people.” 

Key takeaways

Joel Lafond, provincial lead, Francophone health at Shared Health – Soins Communs said there is a strong desire to develop a more inclusive bilingual network in Manitoba.

“What we heard today was that there is a need, and that there are some concrete actions we have to undertake to support and maintain the momentum we built today,” Lafond said.  

Dominique Leclerc, bilingual recruiter for the health care retention and recruitment office at Shared Health – Soins Communs said it was valuable to hear the community’s input.

“Today was really amazing—to see the students and professionals in the health system being so passionate about providing services in French to our underserved francophone communities,” Leclerc said.  

For Manitoba’s bilingual community and beyond

Lafond emphasized that the community of practice is not exclusive to French speakers.

“If someone has an interest in providing services in French and is curious to know more about how to, they can definitely tap into this community of practice,” Lafond said.  “Ask those questions, get informed and get in touch with us.”