OTTAWA – The Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) is the latest organization to voice concerns over the CBC’s docu-drama series Canada: The Story Of Us.
In a letter dated April 24 to CBC Ombudsman Esther Enkin, the CTF said that it is joining the Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires francophones (National Federation of Francophone School Boards) in questioning the educational value of the series and its future use in Canadian elementary and secondary schools.
“Because of its historical omissions, for example the deportation of the Acadians, its less than flattering depictions of emblematic Francophone figures from the history of Canada and the near-absence of comments by Francophones, this series offers an Anglo-centred version of the story that is far from being a shared or inclusive one”, reads the letter. “We will therefore be recommending that our members refrain from using the series unless the CBC makes changes to avoid exposing students to an incomplete and distorted history of our country.”
Founded in 1920, the CTF is a national alliance of provincial and territorial Member organizations that represent nearly 232,000 teachers across Canada. The Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires francophones represents the 28 Francophone and Acadian school boards across Canada in minority situations, providing educational services in French to 160,000 students attending nearly 650 educational institutions.
