Feb. 02, 2026
The
Calgary Board of Education has learned that France Éducation International has reported a cybersecurity incident involving their GAEL platform between Jan. 9-12, 2026. This online system is used for managing Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française (DELF) exam registrations from around the world.
Anyone who wrote the exam since 2005 may have been impacted.
We are doing everything possible to determine the scope of the incident and the potential impact on current and former CBE students. Some staff information may be included if teachers wrote the DELF for language proficiency.
The CBE has also reported this breach to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) of Alberta.
Learn more on the
France Éducation International website and their
FAQ page.
Questions may be directed to
ATIP@cbe.ab.ca or the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta at
oipc@ab.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are DELF exams?
Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF) are the official French language proficiency exams of the Government of France.
CBE offers optional opportunities for French Immersion students to complete DELF exams in in CBE schools. Parents/guardians provide consent to allow their child to write this exam.
How many people were affected?
The data of approximately 5.8 million people across the world who have taken the exam since 2005 may have been accessed. This includes approximately 2,700 CBE students and 30 staff members.
France Éducation International has contacted approximately 230,000 individuals directly, if their email address was known.
What information was accessed?
It was reported to CBE that the following personal information of students who wrote DELF exams was included in the breach:
- title, first name, surname
- city and country of birth
- date of birth
- nationality
- primary language
No other personal information, such as addresses or phone numbers, was accessed in the breach.
What precautions should impacted individuals take?
France Éducation International urges anyone impacted to be especially vigilant if they receive unexpected or suspicious communications or messages:
- do not reply to messages requesting personal information or documents
- be wary of calls or emails claiming to be "official" and requesting urgent action
- never send copies of identity documents without verification
- not click on links or attachments in messages of uncertain origin
