History and Legacy of BFLP

The Burnaby French Language Preschool has seen many students, teachers, and parents pass through its doors since 1975.

Help continue the advocacy that started in 1975, to foster the foundation of early French language!

1975:

A meeting was held in January at the home of Allen and Deanna Cazes, to discuss the advocacy of a French preschool program in Burnaby, BC. Those who also met were: Gerald and Madeleine Owen, Eileen Psyck, Carolle Dussault, and Jack and Mavis Kent. They decided to go ahead and do all that was necessary to begin in September that year. In Spring, the Burnaby French Language Playschool Society was incorporated as a non-profit society. The playschool opened its doors to its first set of early French language learners in September 1975, located at Suncrest Elementary in Burnaby with 22 children fully registered.

1976:

The parents of the four year old preschoolers began to think ahead to Kindergarten. They were a core group of “movers and shakers”, who lobbied the Burnaby School Board consistently, over a two year period to bring French Immersion into the school district. When the School Board delayed, BFLP parents parents decided to add Kindergarten to the mandate, so that the children can move forward in their French language learning. The new Kindergarten program was created and paid for by the parents.

1977:

Finally, after seeing the commitment of parents, the Burnaby School Board mounted the first “dual track” school and French Immersion began. First at Aubrey Elementary in North Burnaby with a Grade One class and two Kindergarten classes. The rest is history… In 1989, Burnaby’s very first French Immersion Grade 12 graduates crossed the stage at Burnaby Central Secondary School.

In the same year, one of BFLP’s founding member, Deanna Cazes, became part of a group pf parents gathered from across Canada. They met in Ottawa, under the auspices of then Commissioner of Official Languages, Keith Spicer. Deanna returned and formed the Burnaby Chapter of Canadian Parents for French, leading as the first President.

The efforts of these dedicate parents have led the foundation of BFLP’s program and the broader French Immersion movement in British Columbia.

2013:

In 2013, the Board of Directors created an umbrella name specific to the preschool program, the Burnaby French Language Preschool, commonly known as BFLP.

2025:

This year, marks a milestone of 50 years to honour the commitment of countless individuals over the years - our parent volunteers, exemplary bilingual Early Childhood Educators, and young preschoolers.

Today, the Burnaby French Language Preschool continues on the remarkable history of unfolding the advocacy for the inclusion of early French Immersion learning. The foundation upon which many have built, and continues to foster in generations of life long learners of bilingualism.