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.  

Quotes

"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

Quick Facts

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.

Related Products

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

Associated Links

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

Conseil scolaire FrancoSud

SOURCE Canadian Heritage

(media only), please contact: Mathis Denis, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, [email protected]; Media Relations: Canadian Heritage, 819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected]