French: A Truly Official Language
This brochure provides a brief overview of French in Canada. Our country has two official languages: English and French. More than 9 million
Canadians, spread over a territory covering more than 9 million square kilometres, speak French. French is part of Canadians’ everyday lives. As one of Canada’s two official languages, French can be heard in all regions of the country.
In order to grow, the French language must, and does, co-exist with English, the language spoken by 300 million North Americans. Although this challenge may seem daunting, native-born Canadians and new Canadians from around the world, as well as leaders and governments, nevertheless take it up every day.
A number of events will be held in 2004 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first French settlement in the Americas. Acadia will be marking this historic event, which celebrates 400 years of French culture thriving on this continent (1604-2004).
In terms of its land mass, Canada is the second largest country in the world. Its territory encompasses six time zones and touches on three oceans. French is spoken throughout this land, from the temperate climes of its southernmost tip to the far north. How is this possible, you might ask? French is the native language of nearly one-quarter of Canadians. In addition, close to 3 million other Canadians speak French as their second language.
In Canada, French is spoken mostly in Quebec. Three times the size of France, Quebec is the largest of Canada’s provinces in terms of land mass. With a population of 7.5 million, including 6.7 million Francophones, it comes second among Canadian provinces in terms of population and economy. A vibrant society, Quebec is unquestionably the heart of the Francophonie in the Americas.
In Ontario, which is ranked first among Canada’s provinces in population and economy, 1.3 million people speak French.
In Atlantic Canada, which includes New Brunswick, the only officially bilingual province, more than 400,000 people speak French.
In Western Canada, which includes Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, more than 600,000 people are French-speaking.
In Canada’s three territories, Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, slightly more than 7,000 people have knowledge of French.
Canada’s French-speaking population at a glance: provinces and territories
Newfoundland and Labrador 21,040
Prince Edward Island 16,085
Nova Scotia 91,055
New Brunswick 312,280
Quebec 6,739,050
Ontario 1,362,025
Manitoba 104,085
Saskatchewan 49,355
Alberta 204,795
British Columbia 271,175
Yukon Territory 2,940
Northwest Territories 3,165
Nunavut 1,040
TOTAL 9,178,100
Source: Statistics Canada, 2001.
Safeguarding this legacy for future generations
French has been spoken in this part of the world since the 16th century. This makes Canada the “senior statesman” among Francophone states outside Europe. Canada’s history under the British and the French has conferred a rich cultural heritage upon our country. Today, Canadians stand solidly behind this heritage and have taken steps to ensure that it continues to thrive, by allowing their two official languages, which are spoken across the country, to co-exist peacefully.
French is also commonly used as a language of business in Canada. The Mouvement Desjardins in Quebec, the Fédération des caisses populaires acadiennes, the Fédération des caisses populaires de l’Ontario, the Fédération des caisses populaires du Manitoba, the Conseil canadien de la coopération, the Société l’Assomption and the National Bank of Canada, as well as multinational corporations such as Quebecor and Bombardier, attest to the economic clout and dynamism of French-speaking Canadians.
French is thus the means of expression of a multifaceted people who are attached to their history, yet live in the modern world, their heritage strengthened by the support of their country.
Passing on our French heritage
In Canada, the English and French cultures live together in harmony. Ours is a country where two of the largest linguistic communities in the world meet. The French language occupies important cultural space in Canada and in the world.
Anglophones, who constitute the majority in Canada, are taking a growing interest in our country’s second official language, the language of the fathers of contemporary Quebec song, the language of Félix Leclerc, Gilles Vigneault and many other artists.
The number of Canadians with knowledge of both English and French has almost doubled in the last forty years.
Canada is known throughout the world for its expertise in teaching English and French as second languages. One association of English-speaking parents, Canadian Parents for French, encourages Canadians to learn French as a second language. These programs are gaining in popularity, and half of young English-speaking Canadians are learning French in school.
Government and the law
French is recognized through both Canada’s Constitution and its democratic system. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Official Languages Act guarantee the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society.
The Government of Quebec, through its Charter of the French Language, is a French-speaking government for all intents and purposes. The Government of New Brunswick supports bilingualism in that province through its own Official Languages Act, while several provinces have enacted legislation to ensure access to public services and justice by Francophones.
Through this legislation, governments have enshrined an openness that is naturally expressed through the democratic process. In the last century, Canadians have elected Anglophone and Francophone prime ministers as their leaders.
With 308 members of Parliament, of whom one quarter are French-speaking, the federal government is representative of the Canadian population. It was with this in mind that the Government of Canada made French one of the two languages of service and of work in the federal public service. Twenty-seven percent of federal public servants are French-speaking, and they hold positions at all levels.
That being said, a language must be used for purposes other than the business of state to be considered a true means of cultural and popular expression. This is precisely the objective that the Canadian government is pursuing. To this end, the provinces and the federal government itself have, together, implemented a number of measures that aim for a significant sociocultural impact. For example, by providing funding to various cultural organizations, the Government of Canada works to enhance the vitality of Canada’s cultures from sea to sea to sea.
Government action at the provincial level also extends to Frenchlanguage instruction, whereby Francophone communities in each province and territory oversee a network of publicly funded Frenchlanguage schools. Young people can attend French-language colleges and universities, as well as gain access to the justice system and the development of health care for French-speaking minorities.
Moreover, the Government of Canada instituted the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages to monitor the performance of its institutions. The Commissioner of Official Languages serves as an ombudsman to whom Canadians may turn to obtain information or file complaints if they believe that any federal institution is disregarding their language rights.
These are but a few examples of practices that are now an integral part of the socio-political landscape of Canada. Such practices give Canada a distinct "personality" on the international stage, something of which our country is proud and which it seeks to protect.
Canada has been a member of the Agence intergouvernementale de la Francophonie since the agency’s inception. Two provincial governments are also members – Quebec and New Brunswick.
Promoting the French language internationally
Under the language policy adhered to by the federal government, the state and its citizens combine their resources and ideas and work together, not only for the betterment of society, but also to make Canada’s contribution to international Francophonie as generous and as creative as possible.
The results achieved speak for themselves. Canada is the birthplace of artists such as Daniel Lavoie, who hails from Manitoba, and Céline Dion, whose roots are in Quebec, both of whom have sung on some of the most famous stages in the world, as well as writers such as Acadian Antonine Maillet, recipient of the prestigious Prix Goncourt, and playwright and novelist Michel Tremblay, who has brought Quebec to the world. To this lengthy list can be added the internationally acclaimed Cirque du Soleil, which was created by Quebeckers, the world-renowned painter Jean-Paul Riopelle, as well as theatre producer Robert Lepage and filmmaker Denys Arcand, to name but a few of the many ambassadors of Canadian culture.
The large television networks are partners in TV5, the international French-language network. As well, Canada is a world leader in the area of short-wave radio broadcasting: Radio-Canada International has been broadcasting in French in many regions of the world since 1945.
A few facts about our French media:
* There are more than 150 national, regional and community radio stations broadcasting in French in Canada.
* In addition to the national public broadcaster, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Radio-Canada, there are more than 50 private, community and public French-language television stations in operation in Canada.
* There are eleven French-language dailies in Canada.
* Canada has a French-language press agency.
* Canada publishes hundreds of general-interest magazines and trade journals in French.
Reaching out to the world through trade and exchanges
French-speaking Canadians are also active players in international trade. Many businesses are known for their significant capacity for innovation.
International assistance is another field of endeavour where French-Canadians have made their mark. Cooperative projects between the Acadia region of New Brunswick and Haiti in fishing and agriculture, and the involvement of the Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada in the introduction of radio broadcasting in Senegal, attest to the important role played by French-speaking Canada in this regard.
Francophones in Ontario have been able to bring together business people from French-speaking countries around the world. As a result of the efforts of the Mondial de l’entreprenariat, it has been possible to create a truly international business community for French speakers. This has been accomplished by holding regular meetings of French-speaking entrepreneurs from around the world.
As well, the Office franco-québécois de la jeunesse has helped to expand commercial and cultural exchanges with France. Another body, the Société Nationale de l’Acadie, also maintains ties with France.
This same spirit is reflected in Canada’s large educational institutions. Most French-language or bilingual colleges and universities in Canada have an international component, which takes the form of training or cooperation programs.
Université Laval, the oldest French-language university in North America, has adopted an international-cooperation policy, which defines its relations with foreign institutions. Other educational institutions, such as the Université de Montréal and the University of Ottawa, have taken a similar approach.
The Centre international de la common law en français, at the Université de Moncton Faculty of Law, has translated the texts of one of the oldest legal systems in the world.
The University of Ottawa teaches, in French, both common law and civil law, two of the most widespread legal systems in the world.
These examples provide an overview of the post-secondary educational system.
Embracing the world
Canada has:
# More than 3, 000 French-language schools
# More than 120 French-language community colleges
# More than 20 French-language or bilingual universities across the country
# More than 100 French-language university research centres
Our French-language educational institutions host students from throughout the Francophonie. In short, they open their doors to citizens of the world who wish to study in French.
It is said that music is an international language. For Francophones in Canada, music is also a wonderful excuse to celebrate their language and culture and to share it with others.
Artists from around the world meet at international performing arts events such as the International Summer Festival, held in Québec City, the Montréal International Jazz Festival, and the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival, Lamèque being a town in the Acadia region of New Brunswick.
In the Atlantic provinces, the Franco-Fest, held in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, celebrates Francophone culture in the Avalon Peninsula. The provincial Week of the Francophonie, in Prince Edward Island, boasts a theatre festival. The solid reputation of Nova Scotia handicrafts rests in part on DACADIE rugs, which are made by Francophone artists in that province.
The Festival franco-ontarien has been celebrating French culture since 1976. Held in Ottawa, this festival has featured performances by French-speaking singers and musicians as well as a lively program of cultural activities.
Since 1983, the Société franco-manitobaine has been organizing an annual Soirée Gala du Prix Riel, a gala evening honouring Francophones who have contributed to the development of their community by helping to keep French culture strong in the province.
Every year, the Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise, in Saskatchewan, holds the Fête fransaskoise, while, in Alberta, le Parlement franco-canadien du Nord et de l’Ouest, created by the Francophonie jeunesse, works to raise awareness about the parliamentary system among Canadian youth.
The Théâtre la Seizième, the only French-language professional theatre company in British Columbia, puts on contemporary plays for theatregoers of all ages.
In the Northwest Territories, the Fédération Franco-TéNOise invited Quebec sculptor Armand Vaillancourt to work with Aboriginal artists to create a monumental sculpture, which has been christened Carrefour culturel de Yellowknife.
Thanks to the support of the Association des francophones du Nunavut, the French-language community radio station in Iqaluit broadcasts in French 24 hours a day.
Canada has become a powerful force
within the Francophonie, as it strives to advance the French language around the world and to ensure its survival and vibrancy in the Americas.
http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/html/fr_canada_e.php
This brochure provides a brief overview of French in Canada. Our country has two official languages: English and French. More than 9 million
Canadians, spread over a territory covering more than 9 million square kilometres, speak French. French is part of Canadians’ everyday lives. As one of Canada’s two official languages, French can be heard in all regions of the country.
In order to grow, the French language must, and does, co-exist with English, the language spoken by 300 million North Americans. Although this challenge may seem daunting, native-born Canadians and new Canadians from around the world, as well as leaders and governments, nevertheless take it up every day.
A number of events will be held in 2004 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first French settlement in the Americas. Acadia will be marking this historic event, which celebrates 400 years of French culture thriving on this continent (1604-2004).
In terms of its land mass, Canada is the second largest country in the world. Its territory encompasses six time zones and touches on three oceans. French is spoken throughout this land, from the temperate climes of its southernmost tip to the far north. How is this possible, you might ask? French is the native language of nearly one-quarter of Canadians. In addition, close to 3 million other Canadians speak French as their second language.
In Canada, French is spoken mostly in Quebec. Three times the size of France, Quebec is the largest of Canada’s provinces in terms of land mass. With a population of 7.5 million, including 6.7 million Francophones, it comes second among Canadian provinces in terms of population and economy. A vibrant society, Quebec is unquestionably the heart of the Francophonie in the Americas.
In Ontario, which is ranked first among Canada’s provinces in population and economy, 1.3 million people speak French.
In Atlantic Canada, which includes New Brunswick, the only officially bilingual province, more than 400,000 people speak French.
In Western Canada, which includes Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, more than 600,000 people are French-speaking.
In Canada’s three territories, Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, slightly more than 7,000 people have knowledge of French.
Canada’s French-speaking population at a glance: provinces and territories
Newfoundland and Labrador 21,040
Prince Edward Island 16,085
Nova Scotia 91,055
New Brunswick 312,280
Quebec 6,739,050
Ontario 1,362,025
Manitoba 104,085
Saskatchewan 49,355
Alberta 204,795
British Columbia 271,175
Yukon Territory 2,940
Northwest Territories 3,165
Nunavut 1,040
TOTAL 9,178,100
Source: Statistics Canada, 2001.
Safeguarding this legacy for future generations
French has been spoken in this part of the world since the 16th century. This makes Canada the “senior statesman” among Francophone states outside Europe. Canada’s history under the British and the French has conferred a rich cultural heritage upon our country. Today, Canadians stand solidly behind this heritage and have taken steps to ensure that it continues to thrive, by allowing their two official languages, which are spoken across the country, to co-exist peacefully.
French is also commonly used as a language of business in Canada. The Mouvement Desjardins in Quebec, the Fédération des caisses populaires acadiennes, the Fédération des caisses populaires de l’Ontario, the Fédération des caisses populaires du Manitoba, the Conseil canadien de la coopération, the Société l’Assomption and the National Bank of Canada, as well as multinational corporations such as Quebecor and Bombardier, attest to the economic clout and dynamism of French-speaking Canadians.
French is thus the means of expression of a multifaceted people who are attached to their history, yet live in the modern world, their heritage strengthened by the support of their country.
Passing on our French heritage
In Canada, the English and French cultures live together in harmony. Ours is a country where two of the largest linguistic communities in the world meet. The French language occupies important cultural space in Canada and in the world.
Anglophones, who constitute the majority in Canada, are taking a growing interest in our country’s second official language, the language of the fathers of contemporary Quebec song, the language of Félix Leclerc, Gilles Vigneault and many other artists.
The number of Canadians with knowledge of both English and French has almost doubled in the last forty years.
Canada is known throughout the world for its expertise in teaching English and French as second languages. One association of English-speaking parents, Canadian Parents for French, encourages Canadians to learn French as a second language. These programs are gaining in popularity, and half of young English-speaking Canadians are learning French in school.
Government and the law
French is recognized through both Canada’s Constitution and its democratic system. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Official Languages Act guarantee the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society.
The Government of Quebec, through its Charter of the French Language, is a French-speaking government for all intents and purposes. The Government of New Brunswick supports bilingualism in that province through its own Official Languages Act, while several provinces have enacted legislation to ensure access to public services and justice by Francophones.
Through this legislation, governments have enshrined an openness that is naturally expressed through the democratic process. In the last century, Canadians have elected Anglophone and Francophone prime ministers as their leaders.
With 308 members of Parliament, of whom one quarter are French-speaking, the federal government is representative of the Canadian population. It was with this in mind that the Government of Canada made French one of the two languages of service and of work in the federal public service. Twenty-seven percent of federal public servants are French-speaking, and they hold positions at all levels.
That being said, a language must be used for purposes other than the business of state to be considered a true means of cultural and popular expression. This is precisely the objective that the Canadian government is pursuing. To this end, the provinces and the federal government itself have, together, implemented a number of measures that aim for a significant sociocultural impact. For example, by providing funding to various cultural organizations, the Government of Canada works to enhance the vitality of Canada’s cultures from sea to sea to sea.
Government action at the provincial level also extends to Frenchlanguage instruction, whereby Francophone communities in each province and territory oversee a network of publicly funded Frenchlanguage schools. Young people can attend French-language colleges and universities, as well as gain access to the justice system and the development of health care for French-speaking minorities.
Moreover, the Government of Canada instituted the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages to monitor the performance of its institutions. The Commissioner of Official Languages serves as an ombudsman to whom Canadians may turn to obtain information or file complaints if they believe that any federal institution is disregarding their language rights.
These are but a few examples of practices that are now an integral part of the socio-political landscape of Canada. Such practices give Canada a distinct "personality" on the international stage, something of which our country is proud and which it seeks to protect.
Canada has been a member of the Agence intergouvernementale de la Francophonie since the agency’s inception. Two provincial governments are also members – Quebec and New Brunswick.
Promoting the French language internationally
Under the language policy adhered to by the federal government, the state and its citizens combine their resources and ideas and work together, not only for the betterment of society, but also to make Canada’s contribution to international Francophonie as generous and as creative as possible.
The results achieved speak for themselves. Canada is the birthplace of artists such as Daniel Lavoie, who hails from Manitoba, and Céline Dion, whose roots are in Quebec, both of whom have sung on some of the most famous stages in the world, as well as writers such as Acadian Antonine Maillet, recipient of the prestigious Prix Goncourt, and playwright and novelist Michel Tremblay, who has brought Quebec to the world. To this lengthy list can be added the internationally acclaimed Cirque du Soleil, which was created by Quebeckers, the world-renowned painter Jean-Paul Riopelle, as well as theatre producer Robert Lepage and filmmaker Denys Arcand, to name but a few of the many ambassadors of Canadian culture.
The large television networks are partners in TV5, the international French-language network. As well, Canada is a world leader in the area of short-wave radio broadcasting: Radio-Canada International has been broadcasting in French in many regions of the world since 1945.
A few facts about our French media:
* There are more than 150 national, regional and community radio stations broadcasting in French in Canada.
* In addition to the national public broadcaster, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Radio-Canada, there are more than 50 private, community and public French-language television stations in operation in Canada.
* There are eleven French-language dailies in Canada.
* Canada has a French-language press agency.
* Canada publishes hundreds of general-interest magazines and trade journals in French.
Reaching out to the world through trade and exchanges
French-speaking Canadians are also active players in international trade. Many businesses are known for their significant capacity for innovation.
International assistance is another field of endeavour where French-Canadians have made their mark. Cooperative projects between the Acadia region of New Brunswick and Haiti in fishing and agriculture, and the involvement of the Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada in the introduction of radio broadcasting in Senegal, attest to the important role played by French-speaking Canada in this regard.
Francophones in Ontario have been able to bring together business people from French-speaking countries around the world. As a result of the efforts of the Mondial de l’entreprenariat, it has been possible to create a truly international business community for French speakers. This has been accomplished by holding regular meetings of French-speaking entrepreneurs from around the world.
As well, the Office franco-québécois de la jeunesse has helped to expand commercial and cultural exchanges with France. Another body, the Société Nationale de l’Acadie, also maintains ties with France.
This same spirit is reflected in Canada’s large educational institutions. Most French-language or bilingual colleges and universities in Canada have an international component, which takes the form of training or cooperation programs.
Université Laval, the oldest French-language university in North America, has adopted an international-cooperation policy, which defines its relations with foreign institutions. Other educational institutions, such as the Université de Montréal and the University of Ottawa, have taken a similar approach.
The Centre international de la common law en français, at the Université de Moncton Faculty of Law, has translated the texts of one of the oldest legal systems in the world.
The University of Ottawa teaches, in French, both common law and civil law, two of the most widespread legal systems in the world.
These examples provide an overview of the post-secondary educational system.
Embracing the world
Canada has:
# More than 3, 000 French-language schools
# More than 120 French-language community colleges
# More than 20 French-language or bilingual universities across the country
# More than 100 French-language university research centres
Our French-language educational institutions host students from throughout the Francophonie. In short, they open their doors to citizens of the world who wish to study in French.
It is said that music is an international language. For Francophones in Canada, music is also a wonderful excuse to celebrate their language and culture and to share it with others.
Artists from around the world meet at international performing arts events such as the International Summer Festival, held in Québec City, the Montréal International Jazz Festival, and the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival, Lamèque being a town in the Acadia region of New Brunswick.
In the Atlantic provinces, the Franco-Fest, held in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, celebrates Francophone culture in the Avalon Peninsula. The provincial Week of the Francophonie, in Prince Edward Island, boasts a theatre festival. The solid reputation of Nova Scotia handicrafts rests in part on DACADIE rugs, which are made by Francophone artists in that province.
The Festival franco-ontarien has been celebrating French culture since 1976. Held in Ottawa, this festival has featured performances by French-speaking singers and musicians as well as a lively program of cultural activities.
Since 1983, the Société franco-manitobaine has been organizing an annual Soirée Gala du Prix Riel, a gala evening honouring Francophones who have contributed to the development of their community by helping to keep French culture strong in the province.
Every year, the Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise, in Saskatchewan, holds the Fête fransaskoise, while, in Alberta, le Parlement franco-canadien du Nord et de l’Ouest, created by the Francophonie jeunesse, works to raise awareness about the parliamentary system among Canadian youth.
The Théâtre la Seizième, the only French-language professional theatre company in British Columbia, puts on contemporary plays for theatregoers of all ages.
In the Northwest Territories, the Fédération Franco-TéNOise invited Quebec sculptor Armand Vaillancourt to work with Aboriginal artists to create a monumental sculpture, which has been christened Carrefour culturel de Yellowknife.
Thanks to the support of the Association des francophones du Nunavut, the French-language community radio station in Iqaluit broadcasts in French 24 hours a day.
Canada has become a powerful force
within the Francophonie, as it strives to advance the French language around the world and to ensure its survival and vibrancy in the Americas.
http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/html/fr_canada_e.php