Investing in Official Languages in Alberta
The Government of Canada announces investments of nearly $5 million to support official languages in Alberta
EDMONTON, AB, March 6, 2024 /CNW/ – Official-language minority communities are a cornerstone of Canada’s identity and culture.
Today, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, announced investments of nearly $5 million to support official languages in Alberta.
Community organizations and the provincial government will benefit from this support, provided through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Official Languages Support Programs (see the attached backgrounder for more details). These programs enhance the vitality of official-language minority communities, in addition to promoting, spreading and preserving linguistic duality across the country.
The Government of Canada is investing close to $2.5 million in 2023–2024 through the various components of the Official Languages Support Programs. These funds will be allocated to projects that aim to improve access to services, infrastructure and education in French in Francophone communities in Alberta. These components include the Community Cultural Action Fund, which supports and strengthens the cultural, artistic and heritage expressions of official-language minority communities, as well as the Promotion of Linguistic Duality component, which supports activities that promote a better understanding and appreciation of the benefits of knowing and using both of our official languages. This component also encourages the offer of services in both official languages.
In addition to these significant community investments, funds are being provided to the Government of Alberta for four other projects.
It is receiving nearly $1.5 million to renovate and refurbish the premises of the Campus Saint‑Jean, the Francophone campus of the University of Alberta, to increase support for the student body and administrative staff.
Campus Saint‑Jean will also receive $427,000 to create a professional experience program in association with local businesses in order to offer Francophones and newcomers an opportunity to acquire recognizable skills and work experience.
The Government of Alberta will also receive close to $290,000 to create and promote a Francophone environment for students by offering them French identity-building services in each of the 15 schools of the Conseil scolaire FrancoSud.
Finally, through an investment of $110,000, the Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta will be able to develop two promotional campaigns and hold a summit on French‑language postsecondary education in Alberta.
The investment announced today also reflects the $62.5 million allocated over five years as part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028. That support, announced by Minister Boissonnault a few days ago in Dieppe, New Brunswick, is intended to increase base funding for official-language community organizations.
These projects are possible through funding from the Official Languages Support Programs and the Action Plan for Official Languages.
“As a proud Franco-Albertan and former student at Campus Saint‑Jean, I have made the promotion and support of the French language in Alberta a priority for me. The organizations receiving funding today are making considerable efforts to strengthen the French fact and foster a greater sense of belonging in their communities. This announcement is an important step in promoting the social and cultural vitality of Francophone communities in Alberta.”
—The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages
“Alberta’s government is committed to providing exceptional Francophone education to students in communities across the province. Our investments in new student spaces and updated and enhanced curriculum means students are able to learn and develop French language skills, while deepening their cultural connections with Alberta’s vibrant Francophone communities.”
—Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education, Government of Alberta
“Alberta’s Francophone community is growing rapidly. We therefore welcome the new funding announced today, which will support several organizations. ACFA is also thrilled with the funding received to organize a summit on French‑language postsecondary education in Alberta. This file is extremely important to our community and brings together community leaders from across the province to discuss it.”
—Nathalie Lachance, President, Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta
“The funding announced today will help the Campus Saint‑Jean offer better services to its student community and its staff. By optimizing spaces through this funding, the Campus can continue to develop to meet the needs and expectations of a growing modern university faculty.”
—Jason Carey, Dean, Campus Saint‑Jean, University of Alberta
“This is a significant investment that will enable FrancoSud to implement new projects and activities that contribute to the development of our students’ Francophone identity and culture. In real terms, this will result in the addition of three to four cultural identity facilitators to our staff, who will work directly with our students and community partners. We are very pleased by this announcement and we thank the government for recognizing the importance of identity building in Alberta’s Francophone schools.”
—Monique Baker, Superintendent, Conseil scolaire FrancoSud
After Ontario and New Brunswick, Alberta has the largest minority Francophone population in the country. According to Census 2021 from Statistics Canada, over 88,000 Albertans report French as their mother tongue.
The funding from the Government of Canada, allocated through the Official Languages Support Programs, is intended to foster the vitality of Francophone and Anglophone minority communities and promote English and French in Canadian society.
The Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028: Protection Promotion Collaboration provides for an investment of $4.1 billion to support 7 departments and 33 new or enhanced measures to protect and promote official languages in Canada. This is the largest amount ever allocated by a government to official languages.
In June 2023, Bill C 13, An Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada’s Official Languages received Royal Assent. That Act helps modernize and strengthen Canada’s linguistic regime and provide considerable benefits to Canadians in every province and territory, while taking into account their distinct linguistic realities.
Backgrounder: Investing in Official Languages in Alberta
Canadian Heritage
EDMONTON, March 6, 2024
The Government of Canada is announcing investments of nearly $5 million to support official-language minority communities across Alberta. These funds are allocated through various components of the Official Languages Support Programs that aim to foster the vitality of Francophone and Anglophone minority communities and promote English and French in Canadian society. Almost all organizations in the province that received base funding from the programs in 2022–2023 have received an increase this year. Some have also obtained funding for their projects or activities.
City
Organization
Project
Funding
Appreciation and rapprochement — Promotion of Linguistic Duality
Edmonton
Canadian Parents for French, Alberta/NWT Branch
Base funding 2023–2024
$326,813
Cooperation with the Community Sector — Development of Official Language Communities Program
Brooks
Association francophone de Brooks
Cafés des femmes francophones pour la revitalisation de la communauté
$15,254
Calgary
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta – Calgary
2023–2024 programming
$216,000
Calgary
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta – Calgary
Forum and community activities – Francophonie de Cochrane, Alberta
$12,000
Canmore
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta – Canmore/Banff
2023–2024 programming
$73,125
Calgary
Société la Cité des Rocheuses (Société du centre scolaire communautaire de Calgary)
2023–2024 programming
$60,000
Calgary
Portail de l’Immigrant Association
Free time project
$39,000
Edmonton
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta – Edmonton
2023–2024 programming
$160,650
Edmonton
Association la Girandole d’Edmonton
2023–2024 programming
$114,750
Edmonton
Association la Girandole d’Edmonton
Dance camp during the summer break
$7,250
Edmonton
Association franco-albertaine de l’UniThéâtre
2023–2024 programming
$129,375
Edmonton
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta
2023–2024 programming
$67,500
Edmonton
Fédération des ainés franco-albertains
2023–2024 programming
$74,250
Edmonton
Fédération du sport francophone de l’Alberta
2023–2024 programming
$185,625
Edmonton
Fédération du sport francophone de l’Alberta
Découvrez les athlètes d’ICI
$20,000
Edmonton
Francophone jeunesse de l’Alberta
Jeunesse leaders : la francophonie de demain
$31,110
Edmonton
Pont cultural Bridge
2023–2024 programming
$73,125
Edmonton
Société francophone des arts visuels de l’Alberta
2023–2024 programming
$109,350
Edmonton
Société historique francophone de l’Alberta
2023–2024 programming
$60,000
Edmonton
Société de la radio communautaire du Grand Edmonton
Rebuilding radio as Radio Communautaire with support from the community and expand listeners
$39,800
Grande Prairie
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta – Grande Prairie
Je te raconte la grande histoire de la Grande Prairie
$20,000
Jasper
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta – Jasper
2023–2024 programming
$78,750
Legal
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta – Centralta
2023–2024 programming
$78,750
Lethbridge
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta – Lethbridge
2023–2024 programming
$114,750
Plamondon
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta – Plamondon / Lac la Biche
2023–2024 programming
$67,500
Rivière-la-Paix
Société CKRP Radio Rivière-la-Paix
D’où vient tout ce beau monde? Nos ainés racontent leurs origines
$55,000
Rivière-la-Paix
Société CKRP Radio Rivière-la-Paix
Cultivez l’avenir: radio capsules highlighting innovation in northern agriculture
$25,000
Rivière-la-Paix
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta – Rivière-la-Paix
2023–2024 programming
$101,250
Community Cultural Action Fund — Development of Official Language Communities
Edmonton
Alliance jeunesse famille de l’Alberta Society
Les cuisines collectives et culturelles
$12,500
Edmonton
Guy Lacombe Institute of the Family
L’artiste en moi
$22,046
Edmonton
Pont cultural Bridge
Danse sociale en communauté
$20,000
Plamondon
Club de la radio communautaire de Plamondon-Lac la Biche
Inclusivité franco rurale
$30,000
Rivière-la-Paix
Société CKRP Radio Rivière-la-Paix
À la rencontre des gens d’ici – Accents Nord-Ouest 2023–2024 programming
$26,000
Community Spaces Fund
Calgary
Société de la petite enfance et de la famille du Sud de l’Alberta
Renovation of the Centre d’appui familial
$86,405
Calgary
Société la Cité des Rocheuses
Upgrading of the theatre at the Cité des Rocheuses in Calgary – Phase 2
$32,500
Legal
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta – Centralta
Replacement of 7 heating/air conditioning/air filtration systems for the community centre in Legal
$131,373
Complementary funds
Edmonton
Government of Alberta
Identity-building facilitators for schools in the Conseil scolaire FrancoSud
$289,500
Edmonton
Government of Alberta
Business training for Francophones and newcomers at Campus Saint‑Jean
$427,000
Strategic funds
Edmonton
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta
Summit on postsecondary education and promotional campaigns
$110,000
Community educational infrastructure
Edmonton
Government of Alberta
Create efficient spaces at Campus Saint‑Jean
$1,478,669
Official Languages Support Programs
Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028: Protection-Promotion-Collaboration
An Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada’s Official Languages
Campus Saint Jean, University of Alberta
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta
SOURCE Canadian Heritage