success stories

Bilingualism can shape a career — and strengthen an entire community. For Miramichi Mayor Adam Lordon, choosing to learn French through late immersion was about “keeping as many doors and opportunities open as possible” in a bilingual province and country. That choice has had a lasting impact.

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After building a successful media career in Toronto, including work on The Marilyn Denis Show, Adam returned home to New Brunswick and quickly realized the value of his bilingualism. Today, as mayor, he connects with residents in both official languages, helping foster inclusion and trust across linguistic communities. As he notes, making the effort to speak both languages “brings people together” and reflects the true social and cultural value of a bilingual province.

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His bilingualism has also opened doors professionally. From producing national television projects like The Amazing Race Canada to directing bilingual campaigns for Destination Canada, his ability to work in both English and French has led to unique, high-impact opportunities across the country.

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Adam’s journey — from media professional to the youngest mayor in Miramichi’s history — is a powerful example of how bilingualism is more than just a skill. It’s a tool for leadership, a driver of opportunity, and a bridge that connects people, careers, and communities across New Brunswick and beyond.

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Danielle Dorris a renowned Paralympic swimmer and multiple medal champion, has captured global attention for her resilience and determination. Originally from Fredericton and now living in Moncton, New Brunswick, Dorris is a notable competitor in the pool while being  master of communication, navigating the world fluently in both English and French. Her bilingualism has been an asset in her athletic career allowing her to connect with francophone coaches, teammates competitors and fans throughout her extensive travel to competitions.

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Dorris was born with bilateral radial dysplasia and, by all accounts this has never slowed her down. She was raised in a bilingual household by her French speaking father Jean-Pierre, and her English speaking mother, Wanda. During a four year period when the family lived in Texas, their use of French all but disappeared. The French just kind of stopped for a little bit. In that time they learned a lot of Spanish which was great. Her French was quickly revived though when the family returned to Canada, and she has been speaking both French and English effortlessly ever since.

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Source: Excerpt taken from EDIT Magazine

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David Myles, a Fredericton-born Juno Award-winning musician, has built a career that not only celebrates musical excellence but also reflects a deep and sustained commitment to bilingualism in New Brunswick and across Canada.

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Throughout his career, David has embraced both of Canada's official languages, using music as a bridge between communities. In 2018, he made a bold artistic and cultural statement by releasing his first fully French-language album, Le Grand Départ. That project showcased not only his command and respect for the French language, but also his belief that bilingualism strengthens identity, creativity, and connection.

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David's commitment to bilingualism extends well beyond the studio. He has consistently performed in both English and French, reaching audiences across linguistic communities and demonstrating that music can unite rather than divide. His journey reflects the unique linguistic fabric of New Brunswick — Canada's only officially bilingual province — and embodies what it means to be proudly bilingual on the national stage.

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In 2024, David represented Canada and New Brunswick on an international stage, performing at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. As a featured musical ambassador at Canada Olympic House, he brought Canadian culture to a global audience, embodying artistic excellence and linguistic duality.

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David Myles' journey is an inspiring example of how cultural leadership and bilingualism can go hand in hand. Through his music, he continues to promote connection, celebrate identity, and inspire pride in both official languages — at home in New Brunswick and on the world stage.

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The most inspiring and useful thing for me is the fact that I learned French in elementary school and daycare in Fredericton. It was a priority for my parents that their children could speak French and I still use this skill in my life, in my translations, in my life as an artist to communicate in another language. I did my master's degree in Germany, so I also speak German. I know that languages are gateways to cultures that are foreign to us, cultures with which we grew up. So I wanted to learn many languages in order to save time in my translations above all, and the syntax or rhythm of a language also gives us access to a culture and is also good for the brain.

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I would like to be an example or a role model for my children so that they are curious in life and draw inspiration from sources outside our experience and know that in New Brunswick, the only officially bilingual province in all of Canada, it really is a gift. I never want to see the day when New Brunswick is no longer bilingual because I think it is a truly special identity and a national identity that preserves us as representatives of national culture. That is why I am so proud to have been born and raised in New Brunswick.

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Over the years, as the Educational Supervisor of French as a Second Language in New Brunswick School District 6, Richard Rice worked to foster harmony between the Anglophone and Francophone communities of New Brunswick. He worked to promote the teaching of French at the national, provincial and local levels.

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At the national level, he was active in the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers and the French Immersion Teachers' Association. At the provincial level, he led very successful student exchanges with Quebec. During the 1980s, he served as a consultant in French as a Second Language for New Brunswick.

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At the local level, he regularly spoke to parents and community associations about second language acquisition. He held information sessions on the French as a Second Language programs available and recruited community members who could express themselves in both official languages to share their ideas and principles with others.

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Richard Rice embodied service, leadership, and commitment to the core values of linguistic harmony in the province of New Brunswick.

Jenna Morton shares how her family went from hesitation to full confidence and why starting in Grade 1 changed everything. If you've ever wondered whether early French immersion is worth it, this mother's story will give you all the answers.