Infographic: The French Presence in Nunavut
Text version: The French Presence in Nunavut
- 4.3% of the population (1,525 people) can speak both English and French
- French is the mother tongue of 1.7% of the population (616 people)
- French is the first official language of 1.8% of the population (625 people)
Education
- 147 students are enrolled in core French (1.7% of eligible enrolment) (2015-2016)
- Nunavut is home to the world’s northernmost French-language school: l’École des Trois-Soleils (kindergarten to grade 12). The name “Trois-Soleils” symbolizes the harmony between Francophones, Inuit and Anglophones, the three cultures present in Nunavut’s capital city of Iqaluit.
Where do Francophones live?
Most Francophones in Nunavut live in the capital, Iqaluit.
Economic Regions
- Baffin (Iqaluit): 86%
- Keewatin: 10%
- Kitikmeot: 4%
Where were Francophones born?
- Elsewhere in Canada: 77%
- In Nunavut: 13%
- Abroad: 10%
Media
- Newspaper: Le Nunavoix
- Radio: CFRT FM 107.3 (Iqaluit)
Celebrate!
The Association des francophones du Nunavut hosts events throughout the year, such as French-language film screenings, music concerts and book fairs.
Spring:
- The Rallye familial de motoneiges (family snowmobile rally) is held during the spring festival in Iqaluit and brings together Francophone families.
Fall:
- The Partie d’huîtres (oyster supper) is a traditional activity that has been held for the past 18 years in Iqaluit’s French-speaking community.
History
- The first Francophones to come to the area that would become Nunavut were members of whaling crews in the 1800s.
- In the 1970s, the federal government opened regional offices with bilingual staff in Frobisher Bay.
- In 1981, the organization that is now the Association des Francophones du Nunavut was founded.
- The first French mother tongue education program started in 1993 (grade 1 to 6).
- Nunavut was created in 1999.
- Nunavut’s only French-language school was opened in 2001.
- The Commission scolaire francophone du Nunavut was created in 2004.
Sources
- Statistics Canada, 2016 Census of Population
- Statistics Canada, 2011 National Household Survey
- Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (in French only)
- Profiles of the Francophone and Acadian Communities of Canada
- Canadian Parents for French
- L’Association des francophones du Nunavut (in French only)
- École des Trois-Soleils (in French only)
Date modified:
2020-09-18