Opinion

QCGN President Marlene Jennings went on CJAD 800 to discuss the recent meeting with Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette. During this meeting, QCGN representatives presented the concerns of English-speaking Quebec ahead of coming proposals to reinforce Bill 101. Without providing details of his plan, Minister Jolin-Barrette said he aims to protect and promote French while respecting the … Read more

Marlene Jennings says she was wrong to back Premier François Legault when he suggested the English Montreal School Board was not qualified to decide about school openings and closings. “When you are wrong, you are wrong!,” Jennings, head of the Quebec Community Groups Network, said in a tweet Thursday. “And boy was I wrong to support Legault … Read more

English-speaking Quebecers, and indeed all Canadians, should be wary of the consequences of the measures that are being considered. In September’s speech from the throne, the federal government declared that “the defence of the rights of francophones outside Quebec, and the defence of the rights of the English minority within Quebec, is a priority for … Read more

An unexpected area of funding was the $4 million for English-speaking Quebecers, money the Quebec Community Group Network (QCGN) expects to help get English speakers better access to government services. “To gather actual statistical data that can be used to determine where the gaps are, where we need help,” said QCGN president Marlene Jennings. Read … Read more

For the second year in a row, the usual St. Patrick’s Day merrymaking is being curtailed by the pandemic Normally at this time of year, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations would be in full swing. But for the second year in a row, COVID-19 has curtailed many plans for in-person merrymaking. We’ll have to wait at … Read more

Families with loved ones living at the Fulford Residence for women were shocked to learn that the home is closing in September due to financial difficulties. Now in a race against the clock, Christopher Holcroft, whose 76-year-old mother lives at the residence on Guy Street, has started a movement to fight the reallocation. “During a … Read more

The agency was born out of DESTA Black Youth Network — a non-profit Montreal community group founded in 2006 that aims to reduce individual and systemic barriers to employment for Black youth. It offers professional services in graphic and web design, communications and marketing. CBC Montreal had the chance to speak to DESTA graphic designer Kamden Biggart and multidisciplinary designer Peeta … Read more

Literacy Quebec has unveiled a free Literacy Helpline (1-888-521-8181) to help adult English speakers connect with their provincial network of literacy organizations in February 2021. Their support comes at a time when an easy access route to resources is more important than ever with so many people stuck at home alone or trying to support their … Read more

With the pandemic entering its second year and tight restrictions still in place in Montreal, women who are experiencing poverty, homelessness and domestic violence have had to face the additional burden of a relentless public health crisis over the past 12 months. The city, which has been hard hit by COVID-19 since last March, has … Read more

Feeling pressured to overperform and prove himself is something 27-year-old Jama Jama can relate to, especially after landing a temporary job in October as an administrative clerk. He describes it as “feeling stuck, feeling that it’s never enough, like most students or people of my generation.” He’s been working remotely during the pandemic since graduating … Read more

(VIDEO) “For me the reality right now is a whole lot different. I’ve lowered my standards,” says an English-speaking Black Montrealer about her job search during the pandemic. Sacha Obas has more. Go to video

By Marlene Jennings  •  Special to Montreal Gazette Let’s protect French without diminishing the vitality and viability of Quebec’s English-speaking communities, which are increasingly fragile. The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) and many English-speaking Quebecers are determined to serve as crucial and constructive voices throughout upcoming debates that are bound to prove emotional and sometimes acrimonious. We … Read more

“This whole French-language debate excludes the interests of our community,” says the new president of the Quebec Community Groups Network. “It’s been non-stop busy,” said Marlene Jennings, looking back on 2020. “I’m still trying to catch my breath; and I haven’t been able to do that yet.” In September, she ended a whirlwind, one-year stint … Read more

(VIDEO) As a former Liberal MP and someone who has dedicated most of her life to community involvement and public service, Marlene Jennings is now working to unite English-speaking community members in her new roles as president of the Quebec Community Groups Network. In this year in review, Global’s Laura Casella speaks to Jennings about … Read more

(VIDEO) Marlene Jennings has taken on a new role. She joins Global’s Laura Casella to talk about her vision for the English-speaking communities across Quebec. Go to video

The president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) is facing a challenge for his job in an election to be held on Nov. 5. Geoffrey Chambers, who is completing his first two-year term as president of the Quebec anglophone lobby group, will be up against Marlene Jennings, the current QCGN treasurer and former Liberal … Read more

Marlene Jennings has an extensive career in public service as a member of the Quebec Police Commission, an elected Member of Parliament, and several community groups. She served as a Trustee for the English Montreal School Board and has recently been elected as President of the Quebec Community Groups Network. “I grew up in the … Read more

December 6, 2020 – Marlene Jennings, a former Liberal MP, is working to unite English-speaking community members in her new role as president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN). QCGN, a non-profit linking 53 English-language community organizations across the province, was subject to a public rift among its members last fall. Several organizations opted … Read more

November 24, 2020 – The Coalition Avenir Québec government will soon make changes to Quebec’s French language charter. Simon Jolin-Barrette announced that he will table legislation to modify Bill 101 early in the new year. But as Gobal’s Raquel Fletcher reports, he has revealed few details of what that plan will actually look like, which … Read more

November 20, 2020 – For arts organizations, as indeed for all of us, 2020 has meant adapting on the fly. Read Quebec: Holiday Book Fest, a joint project of the Association of English-Language Publishers of Quebec and the Quebec Writers’ Federation, is a perfect case in point. From its launch in 2015, the event initially … Read more

November 9, 2020 – Tyndale St-Georges and Family Ties New Carlisle have been selected as our charities this holiday season. Throughout November and December, CBC will collaborate with both charities to showcase stories of people in our communities who are making a difference. Read more

On Nov. 5, a few days after completing her tenure as trustee of the English Montreal School Board, Marlene Jennings took the mantle at the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) an umbrella organization of English-language groups across the province. The 69 year-old Jennings was elected president in an online annual general meeting, defeating the long … Read more

November 18, 2020 – (AUDIO) QCGN President Marlene Jennings was the guest on CBC Montreal’s Radio Noon with Shawn Apel Wednesday. A wide-ranging discussion covered school board elections during the pandemic, QCGN’s relationship with the Quebec government, and the future of the Network. Listen here   

November 17, 2020 – We were six long-time friends who would gather regularly for breakfast at Barbie‘s in Dorval. COVID-19 not only put an end to the breakfasts, but sadly closed Barbie’s for good. When we last met, there was one empty chair. Pat Rourke had left us some time before, after a prolonged battle … Read more

November 16, 2020 – Advocates for and officials at Quebec’s English-language school boards are sounding the alarm over the fast-approaching election date to fill any seats that weren’t filled by acclamation this fall. The province quietly announced late Friday that those elections would be held on Dec. 19 and 20. They were originally scheduled for … Read more