Canada launches Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative
Welcoming Francophone Communities. March 20 is la Journée internationale de la francophone – an opportunity to celebrate the many vibrant French-speaking communities throughout Canada. French is one of Canada’s two official languages (English being the other). While most French-speaking Canadians live in Quebec province, many live in other provinces or territories across Canada.
The size of Francophone communities (link opens in French only) in cities and towns outside Quebec varies. The working language in these communities is usually English. Learn more about Francophone communities outside of Quebec.
There are many reasons to choose to live in a Francophone community outside Quebec. You and your family will be able to:
- benefit from French and English job opportunities
- speak both French and English in your everyday life
- learn or improve your English skills
- permanent residents can take free language courses
- attend French-language schools
- enjoy community, health-care or daycare services in French
- get support from your community to help you settle, and feel at home right from the start
About the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative
Welcoming Francophone Communities is an initiative to support French-speaking newcomers to Canada. Immigration, Refugees an Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says that “It’s important to encourage a newcomer’s sense of belonging to their new community. Activities help build links between French speaking newcomers and their host community, which help support Francophone minority communities across Canada.”
14 communities were selected to get $12.6 million (over 3 years) for projects to make Francophone newcomers feel welcome in their new community. The 14 communities were selected across Canada (except Quebec) based on:
- the French-speaking immigrants that are in the community
- the services available in French
- the community’s willingness to attract and keep French-speaking newcomers
- how proactive the community is
- if the community is geographically limited
The members of the Communautés francophones en milieu minoritaire (CFSM) created the selection process. Communities led the process themselves.
The Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative is co-led by:
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- the Francophone communities:
- the 13 Réseaux en immigration francophone (RIF) (Francophone Immigration Networks),
- the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) (federation of Francophone and Acadian communities) and
- the Comité atlantique sur l’immigration francophone (Atlantic immigration committee).
The funding for the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative comes from the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023: Investing in our Future. It was announced in Budget 2018.
Communities selected for Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative
Choosing a Francophone community outside Quebec
The job market
- Use the services provided by the Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité Canada to help you enter the job market or start a business.
- Use the Job Bank to see what the market looks like for your job.
Resources by province
Alberta
British Columbia
- Living in British Columbia
- Working in British Columbia
- Employment services centres (in French only)
- Immigration and settlement
- Employment
Videos
- Watch video testimonials from Francophone immigrants in British Columbia:
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Videos
- Welcome to New Brunswick Video Testimonial – Jack Lee
- Welcome to New Brunswick Video Testimonial – Nicolas Parisi (in French only)
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Fédération des Francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador
- Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration
- Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador
- Working in Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
- Working in the Northwest Territories
- Fédération Franco-Ténoise (in French only)
Videos
- Immigration Territoires du Nord-Ouest (in French only)
Nova Scotia
- Immigration francophone Nouvelle-Écosse (in French only)
- Working in Nova Scotia
- Conseil de développement économique en Nouvelle-Écosse
- Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (in French only)
Videos
- Trouver la France en Nouvelle-Écosse (in French only)
Ontario
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) – French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
- Information about municipalities (in French only)
- Get settled in Ontario
- Work in your profession or trade
- Information for Francophone newcomers to Ontario
Prince Edward Island
- Working in Prince Edward Island
- Coopérative d’intégration francophone de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard (CIFIPÉ)
- PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada
Videos
Saskatchewan
Yukon
- Working in Yukon
- Direction Yukon (in French only)