History
Founded in 1991, the Centre d'éducation et de formation pour adultes (CÉFA) is a non-profit organization that provides education and training services to adults in Sault Ste. Marie. Since the beginning, we have been offering free training to the francophone community in order to help them achieve their personal, emplyment and academic goals.
Today, we continue to provide training for Francophones and Francophiles in language development, GED preparation and various workshops. For those who want to learn French, we offer French as a second language courses. CÉFA also provides staff training to employers who are mandated, or who wish to offer services in French.
We remain the only French adult education center in Sault Ste. Marie. Our priority is to meet the needs of the community by helping them thrive. Small groups and qualified instructors provide a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
Our funding comes from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Employment Ontario for the implementation of their Literacy and Basic Skills program.
Mission
Our students and clients are our “raison d’être”. All our programs and services are designed for their benefit. We work to empower learners to take control of their training. We partner with a variety of businesses and community organizations to expand and support individual learners' education.
Vision
CÉFA adopts approaches and methods that focus on the needs and interests of learners based on learning outcomes.
CÉFA is a place for training as well as cultural, social and economic development.
Mandate
‘The Centre d'éducation et de formation pour adultes’ (CÉFA) is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to serve Francophones in Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area in the matters of communications, mathematics, computers, general interest courses and employability.
Our community partners:
COFA (Coalition Ontarienne de Formation des Adultes) - The Ontario Adult Training Coalition’s vision is to help create, with their members, the conditions that allow French-speaking adults in Ontario to acquire the essential skills to achieve their training objectives. Be recognized as a leader with all holders of interests in the field of adult education in French in Ontario.
The Mid North Network - Through strong leadership and innovation, they provide quality support and knowledge for learning communities.
Le Centre FORA (centre franco-ontarien de ressources en alphabétisme) - The FORA Center develops and distributes andragogical materials and resources in simple writing with the aim of supporting adult training providers and employers, thus contributing to the development of Francophone learners.
Francophone Centre of Sault Ste. Marie - A cultural and community centre which, through its programming, activities and partnerships, assures the vitality, the expansion, and the renewal of our cultural and linguistic heritage while strengthening a sense of belonging and francophone pride.
Le Centre Victoria pour femmes - The Victorian Centre for Women is a non-profit and charitable organization serving Francophone women who fight against all forms of violence.
Sault Community Career Centre - Is a not-for-profit support service agency serving Sault Ste. Marie and area since 1992. They provide personalized services to assist job seekers, employers, and newcomers achieve their professional goals.
Local Immigration Partnership - Is designed to encourage communities across the province to develop extensive and comprehensive local settlement strategy plans for the development and implementation of services for newcomers, to ease the transition into the workforce and social integration into the City.
Assemblé de la francophonie de l’Ontario - L’Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario (AFO) is the uniting organization and the political voice of Francophonie in Ontario. Its mandate is to consult with the francophone community of Ontario and serve as its spokesperson. It most notably strives to promote and defend the rights of Franco-Ontarians.
Réseau de soutien à l’immigration francophone du nord de l’Ontario - Northern Ontario Francophone Immigration Support Network creates links between organizations from all regions of Northern Ontario, such as: Sudbury, Timmins, North Bay, Sault-Ste-Marie and Thunder Bay, to put in place a system to facilitate the reception and integration of newcomers.
La Société économique de l’Ontario - The Economic Society of Ontario is a provincial network that, with its professional team, is innovative in economic development, entrepreneurship, employability and immigration. The SEO ensures the full participation of all players in the Francophone and bilingual economic environment in the prosperity of Ontario and Canada
Our local sister agencies
Northland Adult Learning Centre, http://northland.adsb.on.ca/
Program Read, http://www.programreadssm.com/
Academic Upgrading Sault College, https://www.saultcollege.ca/Upgrading/
Indian Friendship Centre, http://www.ssmifc.com/
Canadian Hearing Society, https://www.chs.ca/locations/sault-ste-marie
School Boards
Algoma district school board, https://www.adsb.on.ca/
Huron Superior Catholic District School Board, http://www.hscdsb.on.ca/
Conseil Scolaire Catholique, https://nouvelon.ca/