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Live, learn and create togetherNewfoundland’s three Francophone communities by Carol Doucet, Moncton, New Brunswick
Acadian Ali Chaisson is from Stephenville. He spent his childhood in Cap Saint-Georges and now lives in St. John’s. For eight years, he was head of the Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador. “The Francophonie here is evolving,” he says. “We have three different Francophone communities representing three different realities, but connections between these three realities are becoming more apparent.” The Port-au-Port region is home to old-stock Francophones. Both Acadian and French people live in this region. In Labrador City, there are also old-stock Francophones—mostly Quebecers who moved to there in the 1950s to work in mining. Lastly, there is St. John’s, the capital, which is home to a diverse Francophone community whose members are Acadian, Quebecer, French, Belgian and Swiss. “The realities of these three communities are quite different. But with the arrival of school community centres, the three Francophone communities in Newfoundland have come together,” says Mr. Chaisson. “Also, we now have a third generation of Francophones in Labrador City, just like in St. John’s. And unlike their parents and grandparents, young people in these regions identify themselves as Francophones from Newfoundland.” Immersion programs in schools, as well as French-language programs at Memorial University From Montréaler to Newfoundlander
“When we brought numerous Francophone organizations from St. John’s together under one roof, we were able to create closer ties between them. It was very exciting for everyone. We saw a greater sense of cooperation develop among Francophones, and this dialogue has spread throughout the province,” he says. Arts and culture in the lives of Francophones and Francophiles in Newfoundland and Labrador is, according to Mr. Georges, important for the vitality of this province’s French-speaking community. “Many artists and artisans are involved in community development organizations,” he explains. “Many artists are leaders here.” Although Francophones in Newfoundland and Labrador make up barely 1% of the population, they still play a key role in the province, at all levels. Francophones have a much greater presence now when it comes to government decision-making. “Today, we can no longer say that Francophone organizations are necessarily funded by Anglophones; rather, the two communities are working together on the Francophonie’s planning and development,” says Mr. George. A few links on the Francophonie of Newfoundland and Labrador Association communautaire francophone de Saint-Jean (ACFSJ) Association régionale de la côte Ouest (ARCO) Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador Conseil scolaire francophone provincial de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador (CSFP) Fédération des parents francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador (FPFTNL) Franco-Jeunes de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador (FJTNL) Credit Credit: Valérie Roy |
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Some Francophones were born in Newfoundland; others have lived there for many years. Either way, we can all agree on one thing: the Francophonie, in this province located at the far east of the country, has changed a great deal over the years.
, have also largely contributed to the vitality of Newfoundland’s Francophone community. Many English speakers who learned French and fluently speak the language, or even rights-holder families with one French-speaking parent and one English-speaking parent, send their children to French-language school and actively participate in Francophone community life and culture.
Xavier Georges is originally from Montréal and has been living in Newfoundland for five years. He is the coordinator of the Réseau culturel francophone de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador, a network that he founded, and he is the former director of the school community centre in St. John’s. Like Mr. Chaisson, he believes that the school community centres are what helped bring together the various Francophone communities in the province.Let us know.