Francophone star hockey player chose Concordia to better her English

The controversy around Quebec’s French-language law Bill 96 continues with a recent injunction filed on behalf of English-speakers at the Superior Court of Montreal on Jan. 17.

But star hockey player and Concordia University student Léonie Philbert, is choosing to use her studies to brush up on her spoken English – despite her proud French upbringing.

“Until you’re really into the environment that’s like an English environment, you can’t really improve as much,” the Saint-Bruno-native says.

At 24, Philbert is a first-year master’s student in mathematics. She is also assistant captain of the Concordia Stingers women’s hockey team.

Despite attending both elementary school and high school in French, Philbert decided to pursue post-secondary studies at Dawson College, and then at Concordia. Having completed an undergraduate degree in pure and applied mathematics with honours in 2023, she has no regrets.

“When you get services from hospitals or restaurants, you want to make sure that you can get both languages. I think you have to be open for both French [people] to learn English, and English people to learn French. You have to find a balance between these two.”

Still, she understands opposing points of view.

 “I think it’s important if you’re coming to Quebec to like at least have a certain interest into French. If we look at Canada, we have two official languages,” the sports star says. Philbert believes both English and French can co-exist in Quebec on and off the ice.

Looking ahead, with interests in both professional hockey and teaching at the CEGEP-level, the player expects both languages will continue to hold a place in her life.

“I can see that [English] opens doors. I can be in the francophone CEGEP or in Anglophone. I don’t mind, I could do both,” she told CityNews.