Located on Canada’s east coast and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the province of New Brunswick shares its borders with Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the state of Maine in the United States. New Brunswick’s strategic geographical position allows it to serve as a vital hub for various markets. As the country’s only officially bilingual province, it embraces both English and French. With a population of around 850,000, one-third of whom are French-speaking, New Brunswick is home to the second-largest Francophone community in Canada, after Quebec.
Francophonie plays a central role in New Brunswick and is a key part of the province’s identity. The Francophone community, predominantly of Acadian origin, is widely recognized for its vibrancy, cultural vitality, and welcoming nature.
Internationally, New Brunswick is recognized for its vibrant Francophone music scene, high-quality seafood, stunning natural landscapes, and exceptional quality of life—attributes that continue to attract expatriates. The province also stands out for its innovative and inclusive education system. In recent years, New Brunswick has increased its visibility within the international Francophonie, actively contributing to the promotion of the French language within the province.
Launched in 2018 through the Bureau des Relations et de l’Éducation internationales – Canada Nouveau-Brunswick (BREI) [Office of International Relations and Education – Canada New Brunswick], the international action of New Brunswick’s Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) reflects decades of active involvement and strong connections developed by the provincial government within the international Francophonie.
The BREI’s mandates are intended to address the growing international interest from institutions and entrepreneurs seeking to collaborate with the province. These efforts support the sharing of New Brunswick’s educational expertise while strengthening international Francophonie partnerships. The BREI also aims to serve as a hub for attracting new talents in education.
Initiatives led by the BREI are guided by a humanistic approach that reflects a commitment to sharing educational values and proven pedagogical practices. At their core is a dedication to supporting the development of youth on an international scale. Youth remain a key priority for New Brunswick, especially through its active engagement within the international Francophonie.
Its mandates fall into four key areas of action:
New Brunswick’s Department of Education and Early Childhood Development international action draws on the province’s longstanding history of international involvement. Since the 1970s, the province contributes actively within various Francophonie organizations, such as the Conference of Ministers of Education of French-speaking States et Governments (CONFEMEN), the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), l’Institut de la Francophonie pour l’Éducation et la Formation (IFEF) and the Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports of the Francophonie (CONFEJES). Through its active involvement, New Brunswick has built strong relationships and hosted large-scale international events, including the Francophonie Summit in Moncton (1999) and CONFEMEN ministerial meetings in Caraquet (2008) and Bathurst (2018).
Numerous actors within New Brunswick’s Francophone education sector express a willingness to collaborate on international education initiatives through the province’s Linguistic and Cultural Development Policy (LCDP). A key strategic component of the LCDP encourages the development and implementation of educational and outreach programs—designed for students, school staff, and the broader community—that promote international exchanges, support the development of intercultural skills, and cultivate a global outlook. 2014
2015
EECD, the Université de Moncton, and their partners come together to align their efforts in international education.
2018
EECD adopts an internal strategy for the development of an innovative project leading to the establishment of the Direction des Relations et de l’Éducation internationales (DREI).
2021
The DREI changes its name to the Bureau des Relations et de l’Éducation internationales – Canada New Brunswick (BREI). Rationale for establishing the BREI:
2023
The BREI’s mandates are expanding and now fall within four key areas of action:
- International Francophonie
- Educational Cooperation and Intercultural Relations
- Mobility and Recruitment of a Qualified Workforce in Education
- Programme des Écoles francophones internationales autorisées (ÉFIA) Canada New Brunswick
Vision
A prosperous New Brunswick.
Mission
To contribute to the vitality of New Brunswick’s Francophonie by opening New Brunswick to the world, and the world to New Brunswick, through education.
Values
- Openness
- Collaboration
- Innovation
Our team is made up of passionate and dynamic individuals who are fully committed to student success. We work with care, precision, and transparency to deliver high-quality services. Our goal is to build strong, lasting relationships based on trust with our partners and collaborators. .
Hours:
Monday to Friday 8:15 to 4:30
Phone number:
(506) 453-3678
Place 2000
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB, E3B 5H1
Canada
Email: [email protected]@gnb.ca