Ottawa Proclaims Language Advocacy Day 2026!

Dear Mayor and Members of Council,

On behalf of the Language Access Coalition of Canada and the broader community we serve, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the City of Ottawa for officially proclaiming February 22 as Language Advocacy Day. This meaningful recognition affirms the importance of linguistic inclusion, cultural expression, and equitable access to services for all residents.

Language underpins identity, dignity, and belonging. For newcomers, refugees, and multilingual families, robust language access directly influences employment outcomes, health literacy, educational progress, and civic engagement. By proclaiming Language Advocacy Day, the City of Ottawa signals a clear commitment to inclusive policy and community partnerships that reduce barriers and strengthen municipal resilience.

Also, we are deeply grateful for the collaborative spirit that made this proclamation possible. In partnership with 613 Refugees, we amplified the voices of residents whose experiences illuminate both the challenges and the transformative power of language access. Their advocacy, community mobilization, and inclusion of lived expertise were instrumental in bringing this initiative forward. This proclamation reflects not only institutional leadership but also grassroots commitment to ensuring that every resident—regardless of first language—has an equitable opportunity to thrive.

Finally, by recognizing Language Advocacy Day, the City signals that multilingualism strengthens—not hinders—our collective well-being, that diversity enriches our social fabric, and that policy must meet the realities of a global, interconnected world. It also underscores Ottawa’s leadership in inclusion by dismantling systemic barriers faced by newcomers and marginalized groups.

As we mark February 22 as Language Advocacy Day, we recommit to keep promoting sustained partnerships with municipal leaders, community organizations, and residents to expand interpretation and translation services with ethical and bias - mitigated use of the AI, further promote language education and revitalization, and keep enhancing culturally responsive service delivery across sectors for better access and outcomes.

Thank you for your leadership and partnership as we work toward an Ottawa where every voice is heard and understood. We are honoured to collaborate with you on the next steps to deepen inclusion citywide.

With appreciation,

Language Access Coalition of Canada