All events for 1980 – 1989
1980
Prince Edward Island amends its School Act
The amended School Act reflects the provisions of section 23 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, officially adopted in 1982.
1980
Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Education creates the French Education Branch
The Branch is responsible for establishing and improving French-language education programs.
1980
The Fête Fransaskoise is created
This event was inspired by the 1979 celebration called “On s’garroche à Batoche!”
1980
The Franco-Manitoban flag is unveiled
The flag’s design was chosen in a provincial competition organized by the Conseil jeunesse provincial.
1980
The first federal parliamentary committee exclusively responsible for studying official languages issues is created
In 1980, this committee includes members of the Senate and the House of Commons.
1980
The Saskatchewan branch of Canadian Parents for French is founded
It is the fifth provincial/territorial branch of the Canadian Parents for French network.
1981
New Brunswick recognizes both official language communities
The Act Recognizing the Equality of the Two Official Linguistic Communities in New Brunswick is passed.
1981
Hockey fans in the North form a group to get Montréal Canadiens games broadcast in French
In the 1970s, Bell Canada had recruited a number of French-speaking Quebecers to build the infrastructure needed in Frobisher Bay, Northwest Territories (now Iqaluit, Nunavut).
1981
Nova Scotia adopts a new Education Act
The new Education Act is passed, giving Acadians in Nova Scotia the right to be provided with French first-language education.
1981
The Government of Manitoba creates the French Language Services Secretariat
The Secretariat facilitates, guides and monitors all government department activity concerning French-language services.
1981
The Manitoba branch of Canadian Parents for French is founded
It is the sixth provincial/territorial branch of the Canadian Parents for French network.
1981
The National Program for the Integration of Both Official Languages in the Administration of Justice is created
This program focuses on improving access to justice in both official languages.
1982
Alliance Quebec is created
Alliance Quebec is formed to advocate for the province’s English-speaking community.
1982
An Alberta winter festival celebrates French-Canadian culture and tradition
The Carnaval de St-Isidore is a unique opportunity for English- and French-speaking residents and visitors to celebrate Franco-Albertan culture.
1982
A new flag flies over British Columbia’s French-speaking communities
Raymond Lemoine, principal of École des Pionniers in Maillardville, designs the winning entry in a 1981 contest to create the new Franco-Columbian flag.
1982
The report entitled Towards Equality of the Official Languages in New Brunswick is published
The Poirier-Bastarache report describes the findings of a New Brunswick task force on official languages.
1982
Yukon Francophones form the Association franco-yukonnaise
The Association works with its partners to create and develop the services, activities and institutions needed in order for Yukon’s French-speaking community to remain dynamic.
March 6, 1982
The Franco-Albertan flag flies for the first time
Jean-Pierre Grenier wins the design competition organized by Francophonie jeunesse de l’Alberta.
April 17, 1982
The Constitution is repatriated and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is adopted
The Government of Canada repatriates the Constitution and entrenches the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms within it.
1983
Fransaskois parents mobilize for the right to govern French-language schools in Saskatchewan
Along the way, they found the Association des parents fransaskois.
1983
The Newfoundland and Labrador branch of Canadian Parents for French is founded
It is the seventh provincial/territorial branch of the Canadian Parents for French network.
1983
The Quebec branch of the Canadian Parents for French is founded
It is the eighth provincial/territorial branch of the Canadian Parents for French network.
1983
Toronto’s Franco-Fête is created
The event used to be called Semaine Francophone (French Week).
1983
Franco-Yukonnais newspaper L’Aurore boréale is founded
The bi-monthly publication reports on Yukon’s current events and is the main source of communication within the territory’s French-speaking community.
1984
D’Iberville Fortier is appointed as the third Commissioner of Official Languages
Commissioner Fortier believes that official language minority communities need better protection.
1984
A French-language school opens its doors in Newfoundland and Labrador
École Sainte-Anne is the first French-language school in the province.
1984
The first Jeux d’hiver franco-labradoriens are held
This sporting and cultural event is an initiative by the Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador.
1984
The Nova Scotia branch of Canadian Parents for French is founded
It is the tenth provincial/territorial branch of the Canadian Parents for French network.
1984
The Northwest Territories passes its first official languages legislation
The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories adopts the Official Languages Ordinance, giving English and French equal status in government services.
1984
The Ontario Court of Appeal rules that proposed restrictions on minority language education and minority language school boards are unconstitutional
In response to four questions referred by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that the proposed amendments to the Education Act—which would place restrictions on the beneficiaries of rights under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, give school boards greater discretion in determining whether to provide French-language schools and instruction, restrict the section 23 “where numbers warrant” test and impose territorial limitations on school boards that would affect rights holders—were unconstitutional.
1984
The New Brunswick branch of Canadian Parents for French is founded
It is the ninth provincial/territorial branch of the Canadian Parents for French network.
1984
The Supreme Court of Canada renders its first decision regarding minority language education under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that parents who received instruction in English in Canada have the right to send their children to English-language schools in Quebec.
1984
Creation of Yukon’s first French language school
The school is named after Émilie Tremblay, who, in 1894, became one of the first Francophone women from Quebec to make the long journey to Dawson City, Yukon.
June 7, 1984
New Brunswick’s independent French-language newspaper, Acadie Nouvelle, publishes its first edition
The first copies of the paper are delivered in 1984, and readership is still growing.
October 5, 1984
The first edition of Le Gaboteur, Newfoundland and Labrador’s French-language newspaper, hits the newsstands
The newspaper’s name is a derivation of the nautical term “caboteur” (or “coaster” in English), which means a ship that travels along the coast from port to port, bringing news and supplies.
1985
La Troupe du Jour arrives on the scene in Saskatchewan
La Troupe du Jour is the only professional French-language theatre company in the province.
1985
The Committee of Deputy Ministers on Official Languages is created
The Committee’s mandate is to coordinate the management of the government’s official languages priorities and programs.
1985
The Supreme Court of Canada declares all of Manitoba’s legislative documents to be invalid because they were adopted in English only
In order to avoid a legal vacuum, the Court grants the province a period during which the statutes will remain valid.
1986
Quebec passes a bill to provide its English-speaking citizens with health care and social services in their language
Section 15 of the Act respecting health services and social services recognizes the right of English-speaking Quebecers to receive health care and social services in their language.
1986
Ontario passes the French Language Services Act
The French Language Services Act guarantees many language rights for Franco-Ontarians.
1986
Ontario’s High Court of Justice rules that publicly funded minority language educational facilities are warranted in Penetanguishene
Ontario’s High Court of Justice ruled that under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, rights holders are entitled to receive education in their language that is of equal quality to that which is provided to the majority.
1986
The Centre fransaskois de ressources culturelles et pédagogiques is founded
This Centre is the result of the efforts of Collège Mathieu’s executives.
1986
The Franco-Newfoundland and Labrador flag is adopted
The three unequal panels of red, white and blue represent the community’s French origins.
1986
The Franco-Yukonnais flag shows its colours for the first time
The flag’s colours are blue, gold and white.
1986
The newspaper L’Aquilon hits the stands in the Northwest Territories
The newspaper covers Franco-Ténois news and is a source of social, cultural and political information.
1986
The Supreme Court of Canada adopts a restrictive approach to the way in which language rights are considered
The Court renders its decisions in the MacDonald, Société des acadiens du Nouveau-Brunswick and Bilodeau cases.
1986
The first Summit of La Francophonie is held in Paris
Canada is represented by the federal government and the provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick.
1987
French-language channel La Chaîne hits the airwaves
The French arm of TVOntario changes its name to TFO in 1995 and becomes independent in 2006.
1987
The first États généraux de la Société franco-manitobaine is held
The report, which was submitted in 1988, focused on the major concerns in seven sectors: education, services, culture-heritage-leisure, media, youth, economy and the Francophone community’s internal and external relations.
1987
The 1987 Summit of La Francophonie in Québec City
Québec City plays host to the second-ever international Summit of La Francophonie.