More voices are being heard in Sherbrooke denouncing the government’s intention to increase tuition fees at English-speaking universities for students outside Quebec.
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Current and former Bishop’s University athletes say they fear for the survival of many Gaiters teams.
Almost half of the athletes making up these teams come from other provinces.
In their opinion, their presence does not pose a threat to the French-speaking culture already established on campus.
Recording by TVA Nouvelles
The women’s hockey program is in its third year. Fourteen of the team’s 26 players come from outside the province. Some chose Bishop’s because of the size of the campus and its cultural diversity.
Originally from Ontario, Charley Wing probably would have chosen a university in his province if the tuition had been twice as high.
Matt McBrine barely spoke French when he came from New Brunswick to play soccer in the early 1990s. He is a perfect example of integration. Thirty years later, he is the university’s athletic director.
Recording by TVA Nouvelles
“I married a woman I met here on campus. Today she teaches French and we have two fully bilingual daughters,” he said.
Almost half of the 330 athletes who make up the ten sports teams come from outside Quebec.
Without access to scholarships that match tuition fees, the best would not have chosen Bishop’s.
If the government does not change course, certain sports will disappear.
Recording by TVA Nouvelles
Gordon Glass is originally from Lennoxville. His father was deputy rector of the university.
The Ohio resident’s two sons play lacrosse. They preferred to pursue their academic careers at Bishop rather than at an American university.
“They were looking for a unique experience, mixing different cultures, including Quebecois, in an ideal environment due to the small size of the campus.”
As an English-speaking institution, Bishop’s has always supported French-speaking culture within its student community.
Sport is an essential part of the bonds of belonging on campus and, above all, does not pose a threat to French-speaking culture, emphasized Matt McBrine.