Patrick Imbert Scholarship

To provide a scholarship to a student enrolled in a course dealing with Franco-Canadian literature or culture as part of an honours bachelor's in lettres françaises offered by the Département de français of the Faculty of Arts.

This scholarship was created in honour of Dr. Patrick Imbert, a professor in the Faculty of Arts, on the occasion of his retirement.

Canadian Francophones often speak French and English, the two official languages of the country and international languages as well. They often are familiar with at least two cultures, which is not necessarily the case for Anglophones, who make up a majority nationally and can get by living in a world of one culture. Yet, in an era of globalization, Francophones' and Francophiles' multiple areas of knowledge give them a sizable advantage: the possibility of existing other than in their own cultural group. Their roots, once seen as protective, now form worldwide networks that allow them to readily gain access to centres of power and leave their mark. Affirming one's language and culture is thus no longer a matter of protecting them locally, but also to spread them worldwide, combining them with technical, cultural, financial medical, legal, scientific and economic knowledge leading to innovation and the betterment of human ecology. 

This vision has fuelled Professor Imbert's research on issues of inclusion and exclusion in intercultural, multicultural and transcultural settings. He would like it to inspire more study and research that gives Francophone and Francophile students an opportunity to create a world that promotes cultures equitably. In our knowledge-based, connected societies of the Americas, one must not only aim for excellence, but to also welcome and acknowledge diversity — a fascinating, lifelong challenge.