During a trade mission to Italy undertaken by various members of Languages Canada, an agreement was signed by representatives of both associations at the Canadian embassy in Rome.

Languages Canada Executive Director, Gonzalo Peralta, said that the agreement was a natural fit given that both associations were pro-active within umbrella sector organisations, GAELA (Languages Canada) and FELCA (IALCA). “Languages Canada and IALCA are both trailblazers in their respective fields, so this agreement was natural for us.”

The two groups will exchange information on best practices from both countries and both sectors, collaborate in the advocacy of advantageous policies, foster promotional activities, and uphold rigorous standards.

A spokesperson for Languages Canada commented that these measures “are a concrete example of how each association recognises the importance of maintaining the highest standards of quality in their work in order to protect students, promote education, and create stronger ties between Canada and Italy”.

Canadian Ambassador, James Fox, who hosted the signing ceremony, said, “It is encouraging to see sector leaders in [these] respective countries take a proactive stance and collaborate so successfully with the embassy.”

Pina Foti, President of IALCA, added, “This agreement is only a beginning. It has provisions that state that our two associations must now put together a working group to reach specific objectives, ensuring that our agreement leads to a strong and vibrant partnership.”