Infographic: The French Presence in Saskatchewan

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The French presence in Saskatchewan. Details in text following the infographic.

Text version: The French Presence in Saskatchewan

5% of the population (51,360 people) can speak both English and French
French is the mother tongue of 1.5% of the population (16,373 people)
French is the first official language of 1.3% of the population (14,440 people)

Education

36,423 students are enrolled in core French (21% of eligible enrollment) (2015-2016)
13,868 students are enrolled in French immersion (8% of eligible enrolment) (2015-2016)
12 French-language elementary schools and 2 French-language high schools
1,603 students enrolled (2015-2016)
The University of Regina is home to la Cité universitaire francophone, created in 2015 to strengthen the university’s French-language education and services.

Where do Francophones live?

There are three main French-speaking regions in the province: along the North and South Saskatchewan rivers, in the southeast and in the southwest of the province.

Economic Regions

Regina–Moose Mountain: 26%
Swift Current–Moose Jaw: 13%
Saskatoon–Biggar: 30%
Yorkton–Melville: 3%
Prince Albert: 27%
Northern: 1%

Where were Francophones born?

In Saskatchewan: 56%
Elsewhere in Canada: 29%
Abroad: 16%

Where were French-speaking immigrants born?

Africa: 57%
Europe: 22%
Asia: 18%
Americas: 6%

Media

Newspaper: L’Eau Vive
Radio: CFRG FM 93.1 (Gravelbourg), and Radio-Canada ICI Première and ICI Musique
Television: ICI Radio-Canada Télé and Unis TV

Celebrate!

July:

The Fête Fransaskoise showcases Francophone art, culture and music.

November:

The Rendez-vous Fransaskois brings the community together to discuss and celebrate its vitality and development.

History

Fort à La Corne was built on the Saskatchewan River from 1752 to 1755, marking the westernmost French fortification. Members of the Roman Catholic Church arrived in the 1800s and established a mission at Île-à-la-Crosse, a trading post where a large population of French-speaking Métis gathered.
In 1877, the Parliament of Canada amended the North-West Territories Act to add guarantees of parliamentary, legislative and judicial bilingualism. At the time, the North-west Territories included the future provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta.
In 1891–1892, some members of the Territorial Assembly made an unsuccessful attempt to abolish parliamentary, legislative and judicial bilingualism. However, teaching in French was outlawed.
In 1905, the Parliament of Canada passed twin laws creating the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The bilingualism guarantees granted in 1877 remained technically in effect, but were not applied.
In 1912, the Association franco-canadienne de la Saskatchewan was founded. This organization, which is now known as the Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise, represents Saskatchewan’s French-speaking community.
In the 1920s, Francophones from elsewhere in Canada and from Europe settled in the province of Saskatchewan. At the same time, many non-Francophone settlers arrived to work on the railway.
The province’s Education Act was amended in 1968 to allow French-language education. Fransaskois parents were given control of their own schools in 1993.
In 2003, Saskatchewan adopted a French-language services policy to support the community’s development and vitality.
The provincial government declared 2012 as the Year of the Fransaskois.