Want to have a fun day… entirely in French? Come participate in the Local Forum at the Glendon Campus of York University! The event will take place in person on campus on October 16, 2025 and will offer Francophone and Francophile students from grades 9 to 12 from schools in the Greater Toronto Area the opportunity to connect, move and LIVE in French within a highly welcoming environment! Students can participate in a wide variety of workshops in French, which will allow them to interact with other young Francophones and Francophiles from their area!
Event Details
Date: October 16, 2025
Location: Glendon Campus of York University, 2275 Bayview Avenue, North York, ON, M4N 3M6
By attending the Local Forum, participants recognize that photography, video, and audio recording may occur during this event. York University’s Glendon Campus may use these recordings for promotional, educational, research and administrative purposes. All materials remain the property of Glendon Campus. Schools and teachers bringing minors are responsible for obtaining all necessary parental or guardian consent prior to participation.
Workshops for Students
A minimum number of students is required for each workshop. Workshops that do not have sufficient students may be cancelled.
The purpose of this workshop is to teach participants in grades 9 to 12 the fundamentals/basics of theatre concepts and techniques studied at the university level. Throughout the workshop, participants will explore and expand on new theatrical concepts such as object work, character development, and improvisation. Through discussion and guided exercises, they are challenged creatively and cognitively, individually and in groups.
This workshop has been created for 11th and 12th grade students who are in a mathematics course. It is a fun way to challenge participants and have them apply the knowledge they’ve gained through their mathematics class in the context of a game. The workshop focuses primarily on the trigonometry unit. Throughout the workshop, participants will review the process of solving for angles or side lengths of a variety of triangles using diverse techniques. The workshop takes the form of an escape room, which means that participants will work in groups to solve a sequence of puzzles before being able to “escape”.
Important Note Regarding Pre-Requisites: Students will need to have already completed the units on special triangles and the laws of sine and cosine.
Join us at our Salon francophone, hosted by current Glendon students, where you will have the opportunity to participate in a series of fun activities in French. Board games, karaoke sessions, foosball and basketball games will come together in a welcoming space where everyone can show their pride in speaking French!
“Tell me about yourself”: this is the most frequently asked question at events and business meetings. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to master answering this key question and build your confidence when networking. Join us to hone your professional communication skills!
The FrancoFUN workshop will allow students to participate in a variety of interactive activities that will help them develop their oral skills in French and use their creativity to participate in various games.
Important Note: it is recommended that students have their mobile device with them for this workshop.
Come learn more about York University's Glendon Campus, where you can discover your potential and truly make your mark as an integral part of our university community. Discover the wide range of professional and academic programs, services and opportunities that await you and that can support you in your academic journey and make you stand out in the job market! This workshop includes an interactive guided tour of the campus, which will allow you not only to see where Glendon students study, but also to discover the most sought-after spots on campus.
Take part in a campfire adventure filled with scary stories and terrifying creatures—without even leaving the classroom!
During this interactive and hands-on workshop, students will dive into the dynamic world of public relations by simulating a real-time media crisis based on a current pop culture event. Using a real-life pop culture scenario, participants will be divided into teams representing different PR roles, such as media relations, crisis management, social media strategy, and branding. Throughout the workshop, each team will receive tasks designed to simulate real-world challenges in managing public perception, creating narratives, and responding to the media in real time. Students will be tasked with writing press releases, drafting social media responses, developing crisis management strategies, and more. As the simulation progresses, students will not only manage the current situation, but will also have the opportunity to influence and create their own version of the story’s ending, showcasing creativity and critical thinking while learning key public relations skills.
During this workshop, students will go through a series of stations (such as a Jeopardy, a Kahoot game, a quiz card) designed to deepen their knowledge of Francophone culture around the world, express their interest in continuing to learn the language, understand the importance of Francophone culture in Canada, and broaden their understanding of the Francophonie.
Note: this workshop is designed primarily for students studying in a French as a second language program (French Immersion, Core French or Extended French).
This workshop in French aims to introduce high school students to the field of cognitive health and dementia. Students will learn about the differences between “dementia” and “neurodegenerative diseases,” as well as the roles of various brain structures involved. They will then become familiar with different research methods used in cognitive health research. Students will have the opportunity to discuss the importance of language and social context in cognitive health research, particularly for Francophone communities in minority settings. Finally, they will explore the various modifiable risk factors for dementia and develop a plan to protect their cognitive health.
The development of this workshop is the result of a collaboration between Glendon Continuing Education and the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS), Glendon College branch.
Note: this workshop is designed primarily for French Immersion or Francophone students.
Adventurous at heart? Take part in an exciting treasure hunt as you explore the Fr+ platform and the room you're in. Can you decipher the clues and discover the hidden treasure before time runs out? Get ready for a dynamic team experience full of surprises.
Honourary Speaker
Hughie Batherson
An award-winning speaker and comedian, Hughie has been a motivational speaker for 20 years, addressing bilingualism in his presentations. A former teacher with a master’s degree in education, his research focuses on humour in the classroom. He has received numerous awards, including the Prix Camille-Antoine Richard and the Prix du Lieutenant-Gouverneur in 2022 for his contribution to the French-speaking world. Originally from Cape Breton, he learned French at the age of 19 and draws inspiration from his experiences as an anglophone in a francophone environment. Whether making audiences laugh or inspiring them to reflect on their own lives, Hughie continues to leave a lasting impact through his unique blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling.
Cultural Performance
Mateo Delahaye-Brown
Mateo is an artist based in Toronto, Ontario. Having been singing for as long as he can remember, every opportunity to share his love of live music with others is a fulfilling experience that fuels his passion for performance. Blending smooth vocals with an R&B sound, he looks forward to collaborating with and learning from other local Toronto artists while continuing to grow and evolve in his artistry.
Aaron Diaz
Born in Toronto, Canada, Aaron Diaz is a producer, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, and music instructor with over 20 years of experience. He plays piano, saxophone, trumpet, MPC drums, Talkbox, and keytar, blending classic musicianship with modern sound.
As co-founder of bitter&broke, Aaron produces genre-fusing music rooted in hip-hop, R&B, neo-soul, and city-pop. When he’s not creating, he teaches piano, trumpet, saxophone, and DJing, inspiring the next generation of artists.
Stay tuned for bitter&broke’s upcoming single, “Ikiru Rendezvous,” dropping this November.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the Local Forum at the Glendon Campus, contact us by email at destination@glendon.yorku.ca.
Vanessa Paquette,
Coordinator
Vanessa Paquette, a proud Franco-Ontarian, holds a Master's degree in French Studies from Glendon College of York University. With a background in teaching French as both a first and second language, she also has nearly 15 years of experience coordinating university events. Whether it be through organizing a French-language event for young people or by reading a grammatically correct text (yes, she is aware that her passion for grammar may come as a surprise, but she embraces it with pride!), Vanessa, as Glendon's Continuing Education Coordinator, is a proud advocate for bilingualism and finds great satisfaction in creating enriching opportunities that showcase students' bilingualism and potential.
Amanda Merheb,
Co-Coordinator & Master of Ceremony
We are pleased to introduce Amanda Merheb as Co-Coordinator and Master of ceremonies for the 2025 Local Forum. Amanda is a full-time curriculum developer and designer working at Glendon Continuing Education. Amanda plays a key role in several flagship projects at Glendon, aimed at promoting bilingualism to teens, including, among others, the Local Forum, Destination réussite, and Destination Clic. She is also responsible for managing and developing Continuing Education’s Brain Boosting Workshops, developed in English and French by Glendon students to complement the Ontario secondary school curriculum. As a recent Glendon graduate now pursuing her bachelor’s degree in education, Amanda future aspirations are to teach math and social sciences in French to secondary school students.
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