Sudbury school uses language to connect students with their culture

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Do you have a desire to maintain your culture and heritage? Most people do. It connects you to your family, your past and perhaps even your future.

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What do you want your children or grandchildren to know, maintain and hand down when it comes to traditions?

The principal at St. Albert’s Learning Centre, Christina Raso, shared that the site is used for adult learning Monday to Friday. “We offer alternative education opportunities for students under 18 for our school board,” Raso said.

This building at 504 St. Raphael St. is part of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

On the weekend, however, younger students take over. “We also offer international and heritage language courses on Saturdays,” Raso said.

“Historically we offered them and about two-and-half years ago we brought them back. These are for children Kindergarten to Grade 8 who are enrolled in a publically funded day school. Our programs are built on partnerships.

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“We are stronger when we recognize all the members of our community,” Raso said. “Newcomers especially need to see themselves not only as Canadian but not to fear the loss of their culture.”

This year, St. Albert’s Learning Centre is offering Italian, Igbo and Yoruba for students to explore and celebrate their cultural roots. “This is the first time we are starting all three classes at the same time.

“I found out we could start this for children here. Typically we have over 100 students on Saturdays. Our instructors are from the community. They follow an interview process and are evaluated for their command of the language … we also have a strong partnership with the Nigerian community of Sudbury.

“We started with a survey sent to parents asking them about their interest in these classes. The research shows learning more than one language benefits the child. Because a lot of culture and traditions are attached to food our activities do feature that. Then there is song and dance.”

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Raso pointed out how collaboration with The Caruso Club has been – and continues to be – beneficial. Sudbury has a long-standing Italian essence, but what of the other languages? Sudbury’s demographic makeup is evolving. You only have to drive across the Bridge of Nations to realize the richness of our composition.

Igbo and Yoruba are African languages. Igbo is used by more than 44 million people in Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Yoruba is also spoken in Nigeria, but also Benin, Togo, parts of Ghana and Sierra Leone. It also is woven into Brazil, Cuba and the pan-Caribbean. At 20 million, it is one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa.

“Naturally, we have a year-end celebration,” Raso said. “We are already thinking forward to this June 2025 event. Last year it was so well attended. Not just by the immediate family, but the extended families, and community partners. ”

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Discover Your Roots: Enrol now as language classes are about to start. Classes run every Saturday (except holiday weekends) at the St. Albert Learning Centre.

Classes are scheduled to begin Nov. 23 and conclude on June 14, 2025

There is a minimal activity fee: $25 for students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 attending any publicly funded school are eligible to enrol.

Click on the link to register: forms.gle/bAprFqxqPJutHn8h7.

For more information call 705-673-3031 and ask to speak to Christina Raso.

The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible through funding from the federal government.

[email protected]

X: @SudburyStar

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