Offering and Requesting Services in French: A Video Series
Through 10 videos inspired by everyday situations in health and social services, Santé en français highlights two complementary approaches: actively offering services in French and requesting them.
For the public and professionals alike, the videos use a simple, humorous approach to show different ways to make French-language services more visible, express a language preference, and make better use of available resources.
This initiative is based on a clear observation: for Francophones, receiving services in French contributes to a better understanding of information, builds trust, and supports safe, high-quality services. It also encourages more active participation in decisions related to their health and well-being, as well as in following through on recommendations.
Active offer helps make French-language services more visible and accessible by enabling professionals to let people know what is available in French. At the same time, requesting services in French allows Francophones to express their language preference and helps provide a fuller picture of the community’s needs.
Active offer does not, however, depend solely on perfect fluency in French. Using a few words in French, acknowledging a person’s language preference, and directing them to a resource available in French or to an interpretation service, for example, are all meaningful actions that help create a more welcoming environment and build trust.
The videos also highlight practical resources that can facilitate access to French-language services, including interpretation services and the Guide de navigation du réseau de la santé et des services sociaux du Manitoba.
By bringing active offer and requesting services together within a single initiative, Santé en français seeks to support both people who use services and the organizations that provide them, while helping foster a culture in which access to French-language health and social services becomes more naturally embedded in organizational practices, professional reflexes, and care pathways.
Santé en français warmly thanks the Centre de santé Saint-Boniface for generously opening its doors for the filming of the videos. We also thank the Government of Manitoba for its collaboration and support for this initiative.
The initiatives of Santé en français, in collaboration with Société Santé en français, are funded by Health Canada as part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028: Protection-Promotion-Collaboration. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Health Canada.