Meet RAWQ’s Rock!

The new Executive Director of the Regional Association of West Quebecers (RAWQ), Brian Rock, has a long history of teaching and community involvement in Quebec. Originally from Montreal, Rock began his teaching career at Baie-Comeau High where he later became principal.

After spending more time teaching with his wife in the Gaspé, Rock decided to retire to the Gatineau region with his wife to be closer to family. While he was in the Gaspé, Rock joined the Committee for Anglophone Social Action (CASA); thus, when he arrived in the Outaouais, he was already familiar with RAWQ and wanted to continue his community involvement.

He began as a member of the Education, Youth and Sports Committee before becoming RAWQ Secretary. On August 21, 2015, Rock was elected as Executive Director of RAWQ.

This was a natural move for Mr. Rock, who said his interest in the welfare of the Anglophone community stretches back 40 years.  “Since Bill 22 was introduced, I have been concerned for English rights in the province,” Rock said. Bill 22 had been introduced in 1974 by Liberal Premier Robert Bourassa and it made French the official language of Quebec.

Forty years later, Rock is still concerned for the rights of Anglophones in Quebec and actively advocates for them through RAWQ. For example, said Rock, “so far this year, RAWQ has held two focus groups for seniors to address their concerns with the community.” Those are issues with services and transportation for seniors who feel isolated, Rock explained.

Rock said that RAWQ encourages integration and for its members to be bilingual. To this end,  RAWQ has created a bilingual historical trivia game called “In search of the Outaouais”.

“‘In search of the Outaouais’ was our student youth project this year,” said Rock. “There are 2,017 trivia questions for students and 2,017 for adults and it will be released to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Canada, which begins this July.”

Rock added that he, RAWQ, and other minority rights groups in Quebec have been voicing their concerns to the Quebec government over its recent Bill 86.  “Proposed Bill 86, if it passes without amendment, will end school board elections in this province,” Rock said. “The Bill will prematurely end the terms of elected school board commissioners when it comes into effect, and if there are to be future elections at all, more than 15 per cent of parents in each school district must indicate that they are in favour of them.”

Rock’s position is that Bill 86 can be challenged under the Canadian Constitution which provides minorities control over their school boards.  Alongside RAWQ President Jim Shea, Rock presented a brief to the Committee on Culture and Education to voice the concerns of West Quebecers over Bill 86.

In addition to his work for RAWQ, Brian Rock also writes a bi-weekly column for the Bulletin d’Aylmer, Journal du Pontiac and West Quebec Post.